Oct 26, 2018

Less than one week removed from 80-degree weather, the Northeast region welcomed Mr. Kevin Breen, superintendent at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, Calif. and four-year GCSAA director, with a mix of brisk fall weather and warm member regards!

 

Less than one week removed from 80-degree weather, the Northeast region welcomed Mr. Kevin Breen, superintendent at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, Calif. and four-year GCSAA director, with a mix of brisk fall weather and warm member regards! Stop number one was Tuesday, October 16, at Concord Country Club, Concord, N.H., and the New Hampshire GCSA Scholarship and Research event. Hosted by Dave Ousterhout, the meeting is the highlight of the NHGCSA annual schedule. With over 100 attendees, the group was not only welcoming, but diverse as well!  Maine GCSA president Rick Lewis and GCSA of Cape Cod board member Kurt Calderwood were also in attendance giving Breen a great opportunity to network with other leaders from around the region. Breen had a chance to address the group, touching on the board outreach opportunity, association involvement, and GCSAA initiatives. Many of the NHGCSA members and attendees took the opportunity to chat with Breen and welcome him to New Hampshire for the first time.

From New Hampshire our travels took us to another area not reached recently by GCSAA board members, Long Island.  Wednesday was a day of visits, starting with 22-year GCSAA member Kevin Stanya at Inwood Country Club. Both Stanya and Inwood CC were greatly impacted by hurricane Sandy in 2012. The golf course was almost completely under water, sparing only the clubhouse, yet flooding the maintenance facility and all the turf equipment. Stanya took us for a tour of the facility, pointing out changes and upcoming project ideas while discussing the health of the club. Many of the course alterations were to minimize the effect of high seas, and highlight the vistas the ocean offers. Stanya began working at the club at age 12, and now hitting age 47, is quite proud of the only facility he has ever worked.

Dr. Nick Menchyk graciously offered us an opportunity to speak with his horticulture students at the State University of New York (SUNY) Farmingdale. The discussions with the students covered a myriad of topics, with the question and answer session lasting nearly an hour. Many of the student questions covered topics of social justice and environmental in nature. Breen did an excellent job of promoting the environmental benefits of the golf industry, and the current and future initiatives to expand the diversity in our profession. There was an overwhelming optimism regarding the golf industry as potential employment!

Our final stop of the day was just over the SUNY fence to neighboring Bethpage State Park.  Host 19-year GCSAA member Andrew Wilson spoke about the property, the state park system, past events, and the upcoming PGA Championship.  Wilson took us for a tour of the property, specifically the Black course, and discussed opportunities for GCSAA to participate in May’s PGA event.  Dinner followed with conversations continuing, including a potential First Green field trip!

Thursday was an opportunity to spend time with the entire chapter, the Long Island GCSA member-club official event.  37-year GCSAA member John Carlone, CGCS, was our gracious host for the event, and the recently renovated Meadow Brook Club property did not disappoint. Spending time on the golf course with assistant superintendent Jimmy Pierson was a treat, learning about the changes and challenges of the project. I took a brief opportunity to update the members on GCSAA initiatives following golf, followed by Mr. Breen’s address to the group. The LIGCSA members were extremely happy to have the director attend, and many took the opportunity to converse throughout the day. From Meadow Brook it was off to the airport and back to sunny and warm California for Mr. Breen!