Hanging It Up for Now

Gary Carls

20 posts

4/17/2014 1:04 PM

After forty-five years in the golf business I have decided to pack it in. The last several years have been tough with continuing staff and other budget cuts. With non-golf people now making most of the decisions affecting the golf program here in the City the job isn't fun anymore. Many of you know that I have wrestled with this decision for the last several years but it's gotten to the point now where we simply don't have enough staff to do the basic tasks we need to do. The higher ups view it simply as saving dollars with no regard for what will end up being the long-term impacts of their decisions.

I have been fortunate to have a great staff all of whom have been with me at least 12 years. They do great work, take pride in that work and should be held up as a model for other city staff because of the pride they take in their work. They show up every day and do whatever they can to make things good for our players. They don't complain, they just want to be allowed to do their jobs and given the resources to do so. They're like family to me but they also understand my decision to leave. I'm really going to miss them but am so proud of what they accomplish each and every day.

Because of this great staff I have had the opportunity to serve on boards at local, state and national levels. I also was fortunate to serve as both my local chapter and the California GCSA president. I always knew my guys would take care of things while I was doing other things I loved to be involved with. Because of this I met the many wonderful people all across the country that work in this great business we all love. I am proud to call so many of you my friends. I have learned so much from all of you.

While I'll be leaving this job I won't be disappearing. I hope to remain active with my local chapter and GCSAA. I will also be spending more time up in Oakland with our non-profit program (OTEI) working with the youth to teach them about our industry and the game we all love so much. I'll still pop in on these forums although it may be from a new perspective.

Other than that I hope to play a little more golf, do some traveling and just enjoy life with my lovely wife. While tomorrow is my last day on the job I will officially be on "vacation" until late September due to a very generous PTO (paid time off) plan the city has in place that has allowed me to accrue almost 800 hours of paid time off. After that I may jump back into something (right now mowing fairways a couple of days a week sounds good) in the business. I'm fortunate that I don't really have to work any more but love being around the golf course so you never know where I might end up.

Take care all.

Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative

Canedo Alberto J

4/17/2014 1:04 PM

Gary,
Hope you enjoy your retirement. When you are in San Diego, you can play my course anytime you would like, even get you on for free.

Clay Putnam

33 posts

4/17/2014 3:04 PM

Sounds like a bit of melancholy congratulations is in order, Gary. I hope the new chapter in your life is as rewarding as the best times in your last. I'm sure you'll enjoy the hell out of it.

Steven Huffstutler

11 posts

4/17/2014 5:04 PM

Good luck, man.

Steve

Wahlin Scott B

4/17/2014 6:04 PM

Retirement is good! Enjoy.

Tom Forsythe

0 posts

4/17/2014 9:04 PM

Enjoy your retirement Gary. Congrats

Peter Grass

0 posts

4/17/2014 10:04 PM

Dear Gary,

I wish you the best in whatever comes along your path in the future. It has been a pleasure working with you for many years on GCSAA business. You know a visit to Yellowstone Park and a stay at the Grass family cabin or any other Montana adventure is always a good for retireees.

I ran into Paul Prichard at the Masters last week, to bad you were not able to be reunited for the Peter, Paul and Gary tour, at least the Gary part. For everyone else who may be over 45, that line goes back to a GCSAA committee meeting comment for the 3 of us many years ago.

I am sure our paths will cross somewhere in the golf world again soon.

Cheers to you Gary !!!

Your Friend,

Pete Grass

Richard Lavine

3 posts

4/18/2014 10:04 AM

You're a class act, Gary. Are you sure you don't want to kick a few butts prior to walking out the door for the last time???

Melvin Waldron

43 posts

4/18/2014 10:04 AM

Congrats, hope you take advantage of the time and enjoy that free time you have.

Mel

Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

Peter Bowman

11 posts

4/18/2014 11:04 AM

Good for you Gary! I had not expected that. You've been a friend and great supporter of the associations for many years.

I wish you all the best. Look me up next time out wine tasting in Lodi.

Corey Eastwood

82 posts

4/18/2014 11:04 AM

Best of luck Gary. We have had our differences in the past but it has been a pleasure to work and be associated with you all these years. Take your wife to the South Pacific for a wonderful experience. No where else compares.

Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired

Larry Stowell

0 posts

4/18/2014 12:04 PM

It sounds like you have a great plan for the future. Although it must be difficult to leave a great family at work, you are going to develop lots of new relationships without having to deal with dim-witted administrators and golfers (granted there are many great administrators and fun golfers out there, but the dim-witted ones really stand out). I must say I have a little retirement-envy.

Ronald Conard

4 posts

4/18/2014 12:04 PM

Gary,

If you want to mow fairways on a windswept, frozen tundra in the middle of nowhere, give me a call.

James Smith

113 posts

4/18/2014 1:04 PM

Gary, why in the world would you want to mow fairways in a wind swept nowhere would be beyond me, but if you want to mow them in the hot sticky humid swamp land please feel free to give me a call! Just kidding Capt.

Gary good luck and enjoy the wonderful women you will be spending a lot more time with. Just try not to drive her crazy in the process!

Remember that the key to a great marriage is not how fast you can say "yes dear" but how sincere you sound when you say it!

Gary Carls

20 posts

4/18/2014 2:04 PM

To all,

Thanks for all the great comments. I will definitely stop by and visit some of you. The San Diego area is already on the calendar later this summer although not sure golf is part of that trip (thanks for the invite Alberto). Also planning to head up Pete's way in the near future as Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore are still on the list of places I need to see in the next few summers. Most likely I'll be golfing more than working too much but you never know because I always found mowing fairways to be the most relaxing job on the course. Never know where I'll end up.

I know we all appreciate our staffs but one of the real positives for me these last few days has been having individual conversations with each of my staff members. Most of those conversations have included talk about their families and how I helped them make things better for theirs. The reality is that their own work ethics are what allowed us to work in a fairly loose and relaxed atmosphere and excel at what they do. Couldn't have asked for a better crew. Compared to what others deal with on a daily basis my job has really been pretty easy these last 10 years. If your crew is like mine, make sure they know how important they are and support them however you can.

Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative

Sandy Clark

0 posts

4/18/2014 3:04 PM

Gary, don't be a stranger to Barona! You are welcome here anytime. I know you well enough to see you staying active and very productive. It is a shame it finally played out the way it did. I have had friends from all areas of business tell me the day it wasn't fun was the day they made the decision. I guess that is the most common way as we get a little older. I haven't experienced that yet but the day will come. I just want it to be 4 plus more years but you never know for sure. Glad however it was on your own terms even if it was due to disappointment in the direction the operation had taken. Best wishes and most of all, have fun! Stay in touch!

Ronald Kirkman

42 posts

4/18/2014 3:04 PM

Gary,

Congratulations on your retirement. Hope you enjoy your vacation over the next 20 weeks. Cutting fairways is fun. Our superintendent is just a little short on help this week and he asked me to cut fairways today. I got up a little bit earlier today and waited for the frost to disappear and started cutting fairways in 39 degree weather. This was not fun - Advice - cut where the temperature is warm!

Capt. Kirk
Retired Alien
Needham Golf Club
Needham, MA

James Smith

113 posts

4/21/2014 9:04 AM

Ronald Kirkman said: Gary,

Congratulations on your retirement. Hope you enjoy your vacation over the next 20 weeks. Cutting fairways is fun. Our superintendent is just a little short on help this week and he asked me to cut fairways today. I got up a little bit earlier today and waited for the frost to disappear and started cutting fairways in 39 degree weather. This was not fun - Advice - cut where the temperature is warm!

Capt. Kirk
Retired Alien
Needham Golf Club
Needham, MA

well said capt. An old mans wisdom should never be discarded!

Keith Pegg

0 posts

4/21/2014 4:04 PM

Gary,

Rock on and I am a year behind you

Keith

In Japan and soon to come home

Patrick Finlen

4 posts

4/21/2014 6:04 PM

Gary,

Congratulations on a fantastic career. What better way to go out than helping the youngsters at OTEI.
I have seen you and others in action with them and they are fortunate to have you. I am happy you will
still be involved in the Chapter so you can keep taking their money during the golfing events. Enjoy all that
comp time from the City and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Pat Finlen

Gary Carls

20 posts

4/21/2014 8:04 PM

Thanks Pat,

Still not sure how I win any money with my golf game but just got a $100 GCSAA Gift Certificate for apparently finishing 4th in our "Ryder Cup" type events last . Who knows what might happen with some actual practice time. Had a lot of fun up at Sequoyah CC today at chapter field day. We even played 17 holes of golf in about 2.5 hours and played without keeping score. I think John Madden is right about golf being a lot more fun if you don't keep score! And, how's that for pace of play at a chapter event!!

See you soon. Gary

Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative

Richard Lavine

3 posts

4/21/2014 9:04 PM

So I have to ask...What happened to the 18th hole? Is this a retirement perk? Do you get to post for one hole less each year of retirement?

Melvin Waldron

43 posts

4/22/2014 6:04 AM

Patrick Finlen, CGCS said: Gary,

Congratulations on a fantastic career. What better way to go out than helping the youngsters at OTEI.
I have seen you and others in action with them and they are fortunate to have you. I am happy you will
still be involved in the Chapter so you can keep taking their money during the golfing events. Enjoy all that
comp time from the City and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Pat Finlen

I heard winning money at chapter meetings is part of Gary's retirement package?

Mel

Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

Gary Carls

20 posts

4/22/2014 5:04 PM

Mel and Rich,

Rich, it was 17 holes because they basically turned us loose to start on the back 9 and since we only had a two-some for 16 holes (played 1 hole with Sean Tully) we played half of fourteen and half of fifteen to pass a 4-some in front of us. Good news is that at Sequoyah CC these are the two holes that cross so we hit our drives off #14 tee and then took a 90 degree right turn and played down the 15th fairway to the green.

Mel, if winning money at golf events is part of my retirement package I'll have to start hitting up the chapter for comp golf so I actually can come out ahead on this whole thing. Perhaps I can get the City to come up with a sponsorship package if I wear their logo? Not likely!! Better chance that Titleist or someone will pay me not to wear their logo while out venturing around the links. Good part of golfing with me is lots of chances of seeing wildlife as we wander off looking for the less than perfect shots. Yesterday the wild turkeys were even taunting me by standing in the middle of the fairway when I teed off on one hole.

Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative

Melvin Waldron

43 posts

4/23/2014 6:04 AM

I have always heard the middle of the fairway and next to the pin is the safest place to stand, maybe turkeys aren't so dumb after all?

Mel

Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

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