It was a moment that Kelly Lynch never thought she would see in her lifetime: a roomful of female professionals in the golf and turfgrass industry – especially at one of the most elite clubs in the country.
There she was – with more than 30 years of her own experience – in front of the room at The Olympic Club in California. As a regional manager for Pure Seed, Lynch knew almost every face after building up a network of women who work in the golf course maintenance and turfgrass industry.
“I raise my hand, and I’m like, ‘So essentially is this the moment that we just broke the grass ceiling?’
“Everyone was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is it. This is history in the making.’”
The group of 30 volunteers before her had come from across the country to create an all-female maintenance crew to assist the regular crew for the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open. It was an idea modeled into reality by Lynch and Troy Flanagan, the director of golf maintenance at Olympic Club.
The “grass ceiling society” reunited this year at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club for this year’s Women’s Open. Women from across the country – and from across town – have stepped away from their regular golf course jobs this week to help a Pine Needles crew that numbers less than 15 full-time workers.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s pretty gratifying. It’s time away, but it’s the camaraderie that you get to build with like-minded people that makes it worth it,” said Tracey Cattelino, a maintenance worker on Pinehurst No. 6.
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