This month, I had the opportunity to team up with GCSAA board member John Fulling as we visited members in Northeast Iowa.
Over the past two years, GCSAA field staffers have worked with GCSAA board members who are not officers to tag team visits to various chapters across the country. This year, I teamed up with John Fulling and we participated in the Iowa GCSA State Meeting in Riverside, located near Iowa City.
One hundred and fifty attendees were on hand for the event, which featured a chapter update meeting followed by golf and a social.
During the chapter update meeting, Mr. Fulling provided an update on GCSAA initiatives and how the chapter and national organization are working together.
In addition to the chapter function, John and I joined Iowa GCSA President Chauncey Barry at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. We were able to spend two hours with golf course management students.
This event was well received. Both John and Chauncey were able to share their experience on the rewards of the golf course superintendent profession. Both discussed ways and ideas students can become engaged at an early age and work to get the job they deserve.
There were 16 students attending. Kirkwood CC has a very large campus and numerous programs for students. As part of the golf course management program, the students maintain a putting green. In addition, a golf hole will be added as part of the long-range plan. This gives students hands-on experience.
John and I also visited a couple of facilities. The major facility visit was to the Jones Golf Course in Cedar Rapids. The Jones course has been closed since September when flooding hit the Cedar Rapids area. We were able to see, firsthand, the effects of the flood.
There continues to be discussion on the future of the course. The land is susceptible to regular flooding. Chad Bildstein is the course superintendent. He and his crew have done an exceptional job under difficult conditions.
I will have a second board outreach visit, this time with board member John Walker in Nebraska November 20-22. We will be a part of the Nebraska Golf Summit and will also look to meet students, members and non-members in the area.
Our outreach efforts are to maintain contact with those in the field. We would be happy to set up visits for the future. Please reach out to me if you have an interest. We hope the remainder of the 2016 season goes well.
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| GCSAA Board Member John Fulling Presents to the Iowa GCSA in Riverside |
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| John Fulling (left) and Jones GC Superintendent Chad Bildstein - notice flood damage behind them |
