Is it the club’s CPGA Professional staff? These men and women know everything about teaching, playing, rules, clubs, merchandising, finances, and many other aspects of the game.

Is it the club manager? This person oversees everything that goes on at the club, including food and beverage, weddings, parties, and a zillion other duties.

These two are important, even indispensable members of the team. Then there’s the owner who took the risk to get it started, the governing body of golf, the NSGA and RCGA who uphold the integrity of the game.

But the most important person? THE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT!

If your course has burned out greens, nobody will play. If the grass is uncut on the fairways, or full of weeds, they will go elsewhere. Bunkers of mud, drainage issues resulting in standing water, and broken down golf cars will put the pro and manager out of a job.

The Super is a politician, diplomat, environmentalist, manager, accountant, machinist, psychologist, boss, and employee, to name a few.

At The Links at Penn Hills, ‘Super Dave’ watches over the course like a mother hen. And you can tell-it’s a pleasure to play, great greens, green grass, beautiful bunkers, golf carts that run, drains that actually drain, tee markers that aim in the right direction, pin placements that are appropriate to the occasion, etc.

I rode around with Dave one morning. I’m here to tell you, a superintendent is way more than a greens keeper-grass jockey.

When I arrived at 7, he had already been here for 2 hours! Before I came, he had

· Opened the maintenance barn and pro shop

· Checked the tee sheet for amount of play, checked the weather network

· Scheduled the daily tasks for the crew

· Debriefed the staff when it arrived

When I showed up at 7, I hopped on a cart next to the old dog Rudy, and we

· Toured the course checking turf conditions, machine cuts, scooping out new projects, etc.

· Checked into the pro shop and kitchen, to see if they had any issues, needing his help.

· Chatted with Director of Golf Pat Decoste, and owner Sandy Shive, to see if that had any questions or concerns.

· He then assigned secondary tasks to the staff based on the morning tour

· When he ducked into his office to work on invoices and update budgetary spending, I ducked away to my now seemingly easy job of teaching Mr. Schmidt not to slice.

What about the weather? This rainy spring tested every Super in the Maritimes. After 40 days and 40 nights of rain, I started called Dave ‘Moses’, as he seemed to have an ability to part the waters. After a while, the named morphed into ‘Noah’, just trying to stay afloat.

Some of the premier courses in our province also have premier superintendents. These are facilities that have the funds to go along with the superintendent’s expertise. These folks are scientists of turf management, and have been trained at the top schools for this career, Guelph, Rutgers, or Penn State.

But what about the less high budget courses, in just as good shape with less to spend? Caralynn Cullen presented a Truro Club to the Men’s Amateur that, she set out to renovate hole 17 to create an even better layout. Caralynn works harder than any two men.

Have you played Airlanes Lately? Not a high-end budget, but really fun to play, kept that way by Kevin Obritsch and Oscar Rushton.

Mountain Golf Club is another fine course kept in great shape by Shane Sutherland.

And some of these guys can play. Dean Woodman at Avon has been a top player for years, as is John Mills. Even Dave can sneak into the low 80’s on occasion.

Thank you all for making Nova Scotia a premier golf destination! Keep up the good work.

Ed Hanczaryk

Ed Hanczaryk is a member of the PGA as well at CPGA. He was named Top 50 Teacher in Canada by the National Post, and CPGA Teacher of the Year the last three years.

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Guelph conference summary

Where: Pugwash Curling Club, Pugwash, NS

When: Friday, January 20th, 2012

Time: Registration at 9 am and the day will run from 10 am to 5 pm

Cost: $15.00 per person (single entry)

* To pre register please call or email Pascal Richard by Jan. 18th, 2012

pascal@foxcreekgolfclub.ca 506-854-6718

About TGTISG

The AGSA Board of Directors and all members wish to pass on the very best to the newly retired Edward Jollimore. Ed has retired from White Point Golf Club after 35 years. Have fun with the Grandkids Ed. All the Best!!

Hi Barb,

Please accept this note as thanks for your support and the support of the Atlantic Golf Superintendents Association for the 2011 Fall Field Day in Prince Edward Island.

With the help of the AGSA, the PEI event was a great success. The Saturday night party on the beach was the perfect way to begin the festivities.

I hope you have a great fall season and please express my thanks and the thanks of President Debbie Amirault and the entire Board of Directors to your board for its support and participation

Best Wishes,

Ken C.

Hi Sue;

The note below was sent out via email in October 2009. If you have a list of contacts that you wish to send this to please do so.

NSE has made a slight change to our re-certification program as it relates to point accumulation in any given year. In response to a request by industry and to comply with the National Standard we will now allow the accumulation of 10 points a year. Those wishing to be re-certified via points will still need a total of 15 points in the 5 year period.”

THE PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDIT POINTS (PRCP’S) PROGRAM

The Pesticide Recertification Credit Point (PRCP’s) program has been developed to allow individuals to accumulate credits for participating in approved training sessions. This program provides certified individual with the option of re-certifying by collecting 15 Pesticide Recertification Credit Points (PRCP’s) over a five year period. To participate in training courses and obtain credit points toward recertification, a candidate must have a valid pesticide certificate.

The following criteria apply to the accumulation of eligible PRCP’s:

No more than ten PRCP’s (ten hours of training) may be credited toward recertification of an individual applicator in any one year.

Donald Burns
Pesticide Specialist
Nova Scotia Environment
P. O. Box 442
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2P8
Tel: 902-424-3170
burnsdj@gov.ns.ca

AGSA Scramble 2011

The annual AGSA scramble was again a success for all those involved. Hosted by the Abercrombie Country Club and Superintendent Jim Nix, all participants enjoyed a rare opportunity of a game of golf and some much animated “Shop Talk” throughout the course of the day.

The day consisted of a wonderful round of golf followed by a tasty hip o’ beef banquet. The AGSA would like to extend a sincere thank you to GM Drew Taylor, Jim Nix, and the entire staff for a great day and tremendous hospitality.

Event Winners

Closest to the line
Paul Maccormack

Closest to the Hole
#5 Gordie Smith, #15 Tom Jubis

1st Place Team- Ashburn Golf Club (56)
Brian Gouthro, Sean O’Flaherty, Jason Fillion, Gordie Smith

2nd Place Team- Hampton Golf Club (60)
Andy MaGee, Mike Breen, Alex Miller, Peter Taylor

3rd Place Team- Shaw Resources (61)
Steve Lowe, Shane Sutherland, Ron Conrad, Steve Collins