In the previous issue of Lone Star Golf, we asked TGA Members to thank their course’s superintendent and crew on social media or in an email and they responded with unbridled enthusiasm.
It was clear from the overwhelming number of “shoutouts” we received that golfers all over the state are deeply appreciative of the hard work and long hours the supers and their staffs put in to keep the courses, practice facilities and surrounding areas in superior condition.
Our cover story featured Kyle Moore of Rolling Hills Country Club in Arlington, but dozens of other supers also got a hefty number of salutes from a grateful membership.
We wanted to highlight a few of those supers, whose dedication to the job inspired such an outpouring of praise. We hope you enjoy.
We definitely have experienced more rounds due to COVID-19. Our members didn’t leave the Rio Grande Valley for summer vacations this year like they usually do and instead opted to stay home and play golf because that was a safe outdoor activity that could still be enjoyed. The only real problem with that was we do all our aerifications and heavy topdressing during the summer, so the members never got to experience greens that were rolling a ‘12’ on the Stimpmeter, let’s say.
For me, the toughest thing is spending so much time away from my wife and kids. I have twin 5-year-old girls and it’s hard being away from them for long periods of time. Recently my wife has started bringing the girls to the club for lunch or we’ll go out on the course where they can look at all the pretty flowers, feed the ducks and learn a little about the game. It's become a special time for me and I like having my family enjoy a place I spend so much time trying to make perfect.
It’s always nice to be appreciated. The crew really responds well when members tell them how great the course is because of their hard work. Over the past two years, we’ve worked really hard to improve course conditions and create a winning culture where everyone is encouraged to take ownership of their job.
You could say it’s a family tradition. My dad was (and still is) a superintendent, so my brother Ryan and I grew up around the business. We both loved it and wanted to make it our career paths, too.
Since 2012. My brother joined me here a few years later to team up in managing the Agronomy Department. My dad is the General Manager at Star Ranch, so we have three people on staff with turf management degrees. It’s a unique situation, especially for a daily-fee course, but I think you see it in the conditioning.
It’s always very rewarding to hear compliments from our golfers. We don’t have the biggest crew, so we work very hard to provide consistent, playable conditions. To have that recognized motivates us to continue with that hard work.
Aside from growing Bentgrass greens in North Texas, one of our biggest challenges was in 2018 when we had a flood that required major silt removal and renovations to bunkers and cart paths. Our team worked really hard and in less than one week had the course in great condition for the club’s big Member-Guest tournament. Over the next 18 months, our team handled over a million dollars’ worth of flood-related renovation projects with minimum disruption to play.
Right now! I love October because the air is cooler, the leaves are just starting to turn color and the stresses of summer have faded. Golf in October is a reminder to slow down and enjoy the day, the game and the season.
Royal County Down in Northern Ireland.
Humbled. It is our highest aspiration to exceed our members’ expectations. I am thrilled that they spoke so highly of our team and the conditions that we provide. I make it a point to speak with members every day to hear the good and the bad. I love my job and everything about it, even the tough stuff.
It was while I was in college at the University of Northern Colorado. At the time, working on the grounds crew was just a way to get course privileges so I could play golf as much as possible, but I ended up falling in love with the industry. I switched majors from education to turf maintenance and it was the best decision ever.
I love coming into work every day and watching the members and guests have fun and interact with the staff. The laughter and smiles make this whole experience FANTASTIC. Plus, I get to see almost every sunrise and sunset.
It’s very humbling that our members would give us such praise. It takes the dedication of a whole team to be successful, starting at the top with great ownership to the hard-working staff both inside and outside. Our goal has always been to meet and exceed our members’ expectations. Sometimes we fall short, but our dedication is always on point.
There isn’t enough space in Lone Star Golf to profile all the supers and crews who earned special recognition. That’s why the TGA created a special web page that shows all the submissions received from TGA Members and TGA Member Clubs thanking their superintendents and grounds crews, as well as a tribute video dedicated to all those who work hard each day to provide the excellent playing conditions that add to the enjoyment of the game.