The Northern California Golf Association hosted a two-day Assistant Superintendent Boot Camp at the Hyatt Regency and Poppy Hills Golf Course on Nov. 1-2 on the Monterey Peninsula. Chava McKeel, GCSAA government affairs director, was invited to provide 50 assistant superintendents with a snapshot of issues impacting the golf course management profession.

Speakers included golf course superintendent Scot Dey who shared how assistants can use social media at the golf course to help communicate with members and also how to promote themselves. GreenSight Agronomics shared the latest on drone technology and Tim Moraghan from Aspire Golf provided advice to assistants on how to climb the career ladder. Jim Baird, Ph.D., was also on hand to share the latest turfgrass research from UC Riverside.

A highlight of the bootcamp was the Superintendent Panel on day 2 which featured GCSAA members Dey, Tim Barrier, CGCS, and Justin Mandon fielding questions from the audience and providing advice on how to grow in the profession.

Additional information from the panel:

• Golf course superintendents often feel like the conductor of a symphony. They keep the department moving forward, but assistant superintendents and other crew members make the beautiful music thatis the great asset at the facility.
  
  
• Establish standards of operation as your baseline, but you are paid to go above and beyond that. You are paid for the details.
  
  
• Make your bed in the morning and clean up your desk at the end of the day. It leaves an impression and demonstrates professionalism.
  
  
• Become digitally organized. E-mails are now your files. Forget paper. Be prepared to find what you need quickly.