Pop quiz time: Where were you 36 years ago?
Rogelio Rojas Ruelas, a native of Jalisco, Mexico, was at NCGA member course Poppy Hills working as a greenskeeper. But alas, all good things come to an end.
After nearly four decades helping to make Poppy Hills look its best, Ruelas is hanging up his hardhat and overalls.
In March, the 65-year-old announced his retirement. He’s certainly due for a break. Ruelas, who first came to America in 1976 to pick strawberries in Watsonville, originally arrived at what was to become Poppy Hills around 1984. He then toiled for the construction company that was assembling architect Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s design, which would officially open in 1986. It wasn’t until a few years later that Ruelas shifted over to working for the Poppy Hills maintenance team.
While Ruelas is stepping down, he literally leaves a legacy on the Monterey Peninsula golf scene. His son, Rogelio Jr., is currently at Bayonet/Black Horse GC in Seaside, working as the master mechanic. His grandson, Aron, meanwhile, has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps. Aron joined the Poppy Hills maintenance staff in 2024.
We recently caught up with Rogelio Sr. to bid him farewell and thank him for all of his hard work.
Q: Do you still remember your first week of work on the Poppy Hills property?
RRR: I do, I started in irrigation and I remember moving a main water line deeper into the ground. That project itself kept me busy my entire first week.
Q: You were at Poppy Hills when the course was originally being built. What are your memories of that?
RRR: We started with cleaning tree branches out of the fairways. Then we began installation of the irrigation system for each of the 18 holes. There was a lot going on.
Q: What did you love about your job?
RRR: Poppy Hills is a great place to work, and I loved the entire staff. We always worked together to get things done.
Q: What tips would you give to a new greenskeeper?
RRR: Don’t be afraid to learn new skills and ask about things that you have an interest in. Poppy Hills was a great place for me when it came to learning about golf course maintenance.
Q: What will you miss?
RRR: The camaraderie of the staff. Everyone was like family.
