As we all know the past several months have been some of the wettest in history for our course. We have a lot of projects on the course that we want to accomplish but the weather is keeping us from these goals. So escaping to "sunny" San Diego for the annual
Golf Industry Show seemed like a perfect remedy. The Golf Industry Show is the national conference and trade show for the
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and is a great opportunity to learn, network, and energize the batteries for the year to come.
I would like to thank Mr. Nixon, our Director of Golf, for attending the show with me and his continued support of our industry. The trade show is a great place to look at new products and talk with vendors so we can determine the best equipment and resources to use, not only at Harrison Bay but across all the courses that comprise the Tennessee Golf Trial. We looked at some different bunker liner materials, chemicals and fertilizers, and some new mowing equipment which we hope to be bringing to the Tennessee Golf Trail in the near future to better maintain the grounds and also protect the environment. Just a teaser there but I think you are going to like it.
One of the best things about the golf industry is that we are all in it together. Education and networking is one of the best things about GIS and this year we had some great education and networking opportunities including the long awaited
Syngenta Business Institute reunion, the GCSAA Chapter Presidents breakfast, the Ladies Leading Turf symposium sponsored by Syngenta and organized by Leasha Schwab, a great hypnotist
Ricky Kalmon, a fantastic professional development class with Ms. Laura Katen of
Katen Consulting, and a hilarious comedy routine from Sinbad to round out the event during the closing ceremony. I also met some great new friends and was able to catch up with some old friends which makes the golf industry the best in the world, in my humble opinion.
The highlight of the week, and the reason for "A New Journey Embarked", came on Thursday morning when I was elected to the GCSAA Board of Directors for a two year term. I am pictured with newly elected
GCSAA President Rafael Barajas, who was elected the 83rd GCSAA President. I have had the honor of serving the members of the turfgrass industry in Tennessee for several years. I am grateful for the honor and opportunity to serve the 18,000+ members of GCSAA worldwide and work with the other great members of the Board of Directors and staff at GCSAA. I greatly appreciate the encouragement of my family, my supervisors in Nashville, and the dedicated staff at Harrison Bay, most especially my assistant Willie Hamby as he will be taking on a greater amount of responsibilities when GCSAA duties call me away.
I'll wrap this blogpost up with a site I feel we all need and that is of green grass and blue skies. The winter has been a tough one but the sun will eventually come back out, the rain will eventually stop falling everyday, and we will once again be able to prepare the course the way we love to. Keep the faith. It will all be okay in a few.
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