INDUSTRY PARTNER - A.J. RINGS
A.J.
Rings 1
A.J. Rings has worked in commercial sales for Spartan Distributors for 16 years; the last 14 in his current position. He holds a two-year turf management degree from Michigan State University. A. J. is 46, a native of Grand Rapids, and lives in the Grand Rapids suburb of Comstock Park; just two miles from where he grew up. His sales territory is roughly the western half of the state from Saugatuck to Petoskey. He and Sherry, his wife of 21 years, have two daughters: Shaylin, 17 and Leah, 14.
2 3
4 5
6
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE GOLF BUSINESS? My high school golf coach (Jeff Hoag) owned Scott Lake Country Club where the team played and practiced. To get free golf, we were all employed as cart kids. I did that through high school then moved to the grounds crew for about eight years total. During that time, Jeff and Paul paid for my tuition to MSU. I was there when they built new holes and helped with that for two more years after finishing at MSU. I then went to Kent Country Club as an assistant to Keith Paterson for 5 years. While working there, I was recruited to do irrigation for Spartan Distributors. I was in service and sales for two years, mostly service, before moving into my current position. WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCE IN PERSONAL LIFE? My wife and a close-knit group of friends. We have all learned from and helped each other throughout the years. WHO WAS YOUR GREATEST INFLUENCE IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL LIFE? I have three of them. Paul Hoag (co-owner and grounds superintendent at Scott Lake) taught me about work effort and work ethic. Keith Paterson became a real good friend and mentor. And Gabe Ross (former Spartan employee) got me hired in my current position and taught me everything I know about the sales world. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING SUPERINTENDENTS TODAY? Finding and keeping employees. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS WHEN WORKING WITH THE MICHIGAN GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION? I expect them to provide social and educational events to bring everybody together with their peers. They do a good job of it. I attend many of the events. DO YOU HAVE AN EMBARRASING CAREER MOMENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? In 1991, I was on the first mower that I was ever taught on – a 1989 84-inch National. I was mowing tee banks and, as I was going around, I noticed the rear unit wasn’t cutting and it was starting to smoke. I waved the super over. Without a word, he pulled my sweatshirt I had just taken off from the cutting unit. He handed it to me, all in pieces, without saying a word. Then he took off on his merry way.
Course Conditions
| Issue #46 - Q1 2020
37
