Amazed and enthused

Imagine a place where knowledge and ideas flow freely. A place where you get to connect with industry leaders and consultants willing to grow you as a person and professional. Imagine it’s not just you there, but 49 other high-achieving assistant superintendents similarly encouraged and excited about this opportunity. Then, have all this facilitated at one of the most iconic golf facilities in the world. Sounds impossible, doesn’t it?

Well, I’m here to tell you I have lived this dream. The event is called Green Start Academy and it’s held at the famed Pinehurst Resort. I recently completed the 2021 version of the event and I can say, without a doubt, it represented the greatest professional development experience of my career.

Bayer Turf and Ornamental, Rain Bird and John Deere brought together superintendents, general managers, COOs and leading consultants to provide attendees with insight to stabilize and improve their business acumen. The group sharing insight with us included:

• Robert Hertzing, Lakeside Golf Club
• John Cunningham, Grandfather Golf and Country Club
• Carol Rau, PHR Career Expert
• Stephen Tucker, Four Seasons Orlando
• Dan Meersman, Philadelphia Cricket Club
• John Jeffreys, Pinehurst Resort
• Shelia Finney, GCSAA
• Lukus Harvey, Atlanta Athletic Club
• Seth Miller, Troon Country Club
• Matt Fauerbach, Indigo Golf Partners
• Pat Finlen, Winchester Country Club
• Bob Farren, Pinehurst Resort  

The industry leaders discussed a variety of topics, including budgeting basics, getting the best from your team, cultivating business relationships, what they had wish the knew when working as assistant superintendents, how to maximize a GCSAA membership, the digital transformation of the industry, the next five to 10 years in the business, and the importance of diversity and inclusion. A full day was devoted to career advancement led by Rau.

Presenters profoundly changed my life with insights and information they freely provided during discussion panels and individual breakout sessions. Breakout sessions featured mentor/mentee groups consisting of four or five assistant superintendents and a mentor. The small-group discussions developed into one of my favorite parts of the event. We were able to break down topics on a micro level and dive into the details of how and why these ideas and concepts worked.

My goals entering Green Start Academy consisted of increasing my networking footprint and obtaining greater insight on how top-level general managers and COOs construct and implement budgets. Tucker served as my mentor for the event and he has been amazing. He presented the “Basics of Building a Budget and Managing Large Equipment Purchase Deal” lectures that included some of the most beneficial information I received.

Having the ability to “pick” my mentor’s brain has already paid dividends. I told him I need to become more familiar with budgeting and how to construct a budget, and he encouraged me to format a budget and send it over to him so he could look it over. The feedback I have already received from him is priceless. His business acumen is impressive and his ability to explain and relate it to what turf mangers do is incredible. Here’s the best part: I can get this type of connection with any of the mentors/presenters who participated in the conference. They freely gave all of us their contact information, sometimes even their personal phone number.

As if things couldn’t get any better, the whole experience was hosted at Pinehurst Resort. We stayed at the Holly Inn and were shuttled to the Carolina Hotel for our daily meetings and meals. The Pinehurst staff is first class. The level of hospitality and service is unmatched in any experience I have ever had. They treat everyone with respect and grace. You can see the passion and pride each employee takes in being part of this iconic destination. I don’t think I ever met a group of nicer people in my life. The food was amazing. The Holly Inn and Carolina Hotel were amazing. The staff was amazing. The seminars, mentors and breakout groups were amazing.

You would think, “This can’t get any better, right?” Well, all attendees were given the opportunity to play The Cradle, the resort’s 9-hole short course. This Gil Hanse design brings together everything that makes golf at Pinehurst special. Before our round, Farren gave us a brief history of what makes The Cradle a magical place. It’s been called “the most fun 10 acres in all of golf,” and I think you would be hard-pressed to disagree with this statement.

We broke down into our mentor/mentee groups and played these exhilarating holes. I think this is where the personal relationships really started to take shape. In this industry, we tend to be a quiet bunch of people. Introverts dominate our industry, especially at the assistant superintendent position.

Sometimes we are tight-lipped and are afraid to step out of our comfort zones, but something magical happens when you play golf. Tight lips start to loosen, shoulders start to drop, scowls turn to smiles and laughter begins to permeate the air. Golf can be a great lubricator into the world of communication. Add that to the fact that this round of golf was being played at Pinehurst and you now have an unmatched melting pot of excitement and enthusiasm.

We were only there for a few days, but the relationships that were forged will last a lifetime. Before Green Start Academy, I sometimes felt like I was on an island. My passion for turf and the turf industry grows every day, and while I have people in my life that have this same passion, I sometimes feel like my drive is on different level. I now know that I am not on an island, but part of a community of eager, driven, motivated assistant superintendents who have just as much passion and commitment to the turf industry as I do. This would have never been possible without my experience at the Green Start Academy.

If you are an assistant looking to take your career to the next level, then Green Start Academy is for you. This program will help separate you from the crowd and give you the tools and avenues needed to expand your turf career. Nothing is handed to you. You are still responsible for these connections and must reach out to those you meet. But if you are up to the challenge and are ready to take the next step, applying for Green Start Academy is the right choice for you.

Be Bold. Be intentional. Don’t wait for opportunities to come to you. Differentiate yourself from the masses and go to the opportunities. I promise, the payoff is well worth the time.

Chad Allen is an assistant superintendent at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Indiana. This is his second Golf Course Industry contribution.