Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 33

(punch shots
)
( The President's Desk
A Shout Out to Golf Course
Superintendents
)` 1PT 3LOTHU
I
would like to publicly thank our golf course superintendents
for a job well done this year. The challenges
they have faced this summer have been significant
and unique. It is easy to assume our courses will be in
great shape most of the summer, but the extreme weather
conditions we experienced this year made properly maintaining
a golf course in Minnesota a very tough job.
Minnesotans are fixated on weather, and probably none
more so than golf course superintendents. The harsh winter
of 2010-11 resulted in many courses experiencing extensive
winter kill on greens and fairways. As if that wasn't
a big enough challenge, our spring was rainy and cold.
Then we had record heat and humidity in July and early
August. All of these weather patterns resulted in a very
difficult growing season. As usual, our superintendents
worked long hours to overcome the issues.
We have more than 500 golf courses in Minnesota. Most
of those employ a golf course superintendent. Many are
highly educated and graduated from
prestigious agronomy programs at places
like the University of Minnesota, Iowa
State, Penn State and others. Many were
employed as assistants early in their career
and put in many years of training
before becoming a head superintendent.
Very often you can find the superintendent
at the course before dawn and still
there at dusk. From Albany Golf Club
to Zumbrota Golf Course, more than 570 are members
of the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association,
an allied association to the MGA. The two organizations
work closely to monitor issues affecting golf courses
at the state Capitol; the MGCSA organizes seminars and
periodic meetings to share information and to educate
its members. Some have been recipients of educational
scholarships from groups like the Trans-Mississippi Golf
Association, which has a mission of supporting young superintendents
and turf research. The level of expertise and
commitment shown by our Minnesota superintendents
has no equal.
In addition to the weather, our superintendents have
faced the additional challenge of a recent recession and
poor economy. Golf course owners and club boards have
been looking at ways to cut costs. Grounds budgets are
Minnesota's golf courses this
summer were very playable-
and were in the best shape of
the year heading into fall.
not exempt from that review of the balance sheet. Clearly,
the economy has made it more challenging for the superintendents,
as golfers' expectations remain high but budgets,
in many cases, have been reduced. The dollars spent
on maintaining a golf course are typically not growing. In
many cases, these funds have declined. That makes the job
all the more challenging.
Despite these issues, Minnesota's golf courses this summer
were very playable-and were in the best shape of the
year heading into the fall. We are very fortunate to have
a group of superintendents who are extremely qualified
and passionate about their occupation. Isn't it gratifying
to know that your membership supports their efforts
through turf research and in other valuable ways? Before
the golf season concludes, reach out to your course superintendent
and say thanks for a job well done!
www.mngolf.org
Fall 2011 MINNESOTAGOLFER
31
PHOTO BY PAUL MARKERT
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011

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