Volunteer at a golf tournament

Everyone knows the amount of work required to provide the excellent playing conditions at the various professional and amateur golfing events around the world. Some of these tournaments are planned years ahead of time and countless hours are put in by the superintendent and the staff leading up to the event. However, you may not know the significant role volunteers play during the week of the event, making the tournament possible. Volunteering at one of these tournaments is extremely fun and rewarding.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to volunteer at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich. for the LPGA Tour Meijer Classic. GCSAA members Collin Ramonick, Katie Heffron and Jeff Starke have the course in fabulous condition and I was privileged enough to help them out during their marquee event. Many other turf industry professionals were on hand during the week to assist the grounds crew and make sure Collin and his staff had everything needed to make this week a success. For me, it was a great way to spend a morning or an afternoon and was a very rewarding experience. I was able to meet new industry folks and was able to reconnect with some old, familiar faces. Volunteering allows you to see courses at their best and find out how other facilities handle some of the day-to-day operations. Who knows, you may be able to bring a method or idea back to your facility. Everyone in attendance during the morning and afternoon shifts are in a light mood and it's a fun, easygoing atmosphere. Regular crew members are always available to lead the way and are grateful to have a few extra hands. Events like these are an excellent way to bring the industry together and really show how turf professionals go the extra mile to help a peer in need. The relationships gained during these events are a great way to start a new friendship and an easy way to get involved in your industry and profession.

With all the excellent professional and amateur tournaments taking place in the Great Lakes region each year, I challenge you to volunteer for at least one of these fun events. Most of these events allow you to volunteer for shifts that fit your schedule so you may not need to volunteer for the entire week. I guarantee that you will have a great time and will meet some fantastic people. 

Become a Grassroots Ambassador

It's no secret the golf industry has come under a lot of scrutiny from legislators and the public in recent years. Perceptions of wasting water, applying dangerous chemicals and disturbing wildlife habitats in a negative way could not be further from the truth. While those of us who work within turfgrass management know superintendents are environmental stewards, many of those outside the industry have a skewed vision of what golf courses bring to the community and environment.

Getting the message out to legislators is an important step in making sure our industry is well-represented at the local and national level. GCSAA is asking for your help in this process. The GCSAA currently has a grassroots network comprised of GCSAA members serving as Grassroots Ambassadors that want to help in the association's government relations efforts. The goal is to have one member of GCSAA match up with each member of congress. The program is set up to have the volunteers act as the go-to persons for lawmakers on golf course-related issues.

Eligibility to become a Grassroots Ambassador is open to all Class A, SM and C members. Being involved in this program is highly rewarding and only takes a few hours of your time each month. It is a great way to get involved in the association and make sure your industry is well looked-after. For more information, please check out the following two links:

GCSAA Grassroots Network

GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors

Please contact myself, Chava McKeel, director of government relations, or Kaelyn Seymour, government relations specialist, with any questions or would like to request more information.