SUPERSpotlight: My career has passed thru areas of Hilton head Is., Myrtle Beach, Braselton, Ga. And now Young Harris, Ga. Several superintendents come to mind as I have taken the best knowledge of each superintendent to help me along with my career. Jerry Wells GCS of Wexford Plantation, Hilton Head Is., Gary Snyder GCS of The Haig Point Club on Daufuskie Is., Dave Downing CGCS of Wild Wing Plantation, Conway, Sc. and Mike Brisbois GCS of The Legends at Chateau Elan. All of these men have lead me to a long standing career at Brasstown Valley Resort. I am very proud to have been here in Young Harris, Ga. From the conception of the Resort to where we are now 24 years later and all of this could not have been done without all of the wisdom and instilled work ethic that I have learned from these four Superintendents. Since starting at Brasstown Valley in 1994, I have never forgotten how I have gotten here and the crew members that I have worked with. We were the ones
Steve Gonyea Golf Course Superintendent
that made everything click and helped made the Superintendent shine. So in 1996 I started a seminar/golf outing for golf maintenance staff members only, in Georgia and surrounding states. The Greens Care Appreciation Tournament was born. Twenty-Two years later the tournament still lives on. Many thanks go to all the vendors and sponsors who have supported the Tournament and who have donated many gifts and wearables for the invited maintenance staff members. Plenty of gifts, Bar-B-Q and loud music is a hit in the Brasstown Valley for the day. This is their day to have fun while this time the boss is back at work raking bunkers. In 2004, I wanted to encourage junior golf in our small community that is mostly hunting, fishing and football. TheTri-County Junior Golf Association, that fall, started after school tournaments for kids age 5-17. That year 32 kids entered the season and from that first group of kids, eight kids received scholarships to play golf after High
School in College. Since then a group of three girls have taken 2nd place in State High School 2A State of Georgia and the neighboring town another group of three girls were Class 1A State of Georgia Champions. There are five area courses that give the association free reign when hosting at their facility. I have volunteers from area clubs and golf enthusiasts that help marshal the kids with rulings and scoring. The program is still going strong with an average of 45 boys and girls. Each year new kids come along get excited, learn the game and most of all having fun!
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Golf Central • Volume 18, Issue 2