Talkin’ Turf
Assistant Superintendent Boot Camp
This past October marked the fifth anniversary of the Assistant Superintendent Boot Camp. What began as an event to prepare assistant superintendents to rise to the next level has started to pay off. Approximately 20 individuals who attended past boot camps are now golf course superintendents.
Scott Dickson, superintendent of Saddle Creek GC and an alumnus of the inaugural boot camp said, “The NCGA Boot Camp provides assistant superintendents with an educational and networking experience that is normally reserved for their supervisors.”
Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove provides a scenic backdrop for the intense two-day event where participants are able to interact with fellow attendees as well as meet with some of the industry’s top leaders and university researchers.
Todd Newell, a current NCGA superintendent intern at Saddle Creek GC described the event as “very valuable.” Newell noted “the assortment of speakers is a plus and the networking is outstanding. I highly recommend the program to all assistants.”
You can lead a Golfer to Water
This past year I was selected to participate in an educational program called the Water Leaders. The program, directed by the Water Education Foundation, identifies young professionals who have a vested interest in water resource issues.
The Water Education Foundation is the premier source of unbiased, nonpartisan information on water issues for the public. The foundation provides a variety of services such as educational programs for children, publications on water issues and coordination of special activities and conferences.
The one-year program requires participants to attend several conferences throughout the year as well as two water tours. The water tours are extremely valuable as participants learn about local, state and federal water issues from speakers who share insights from multiple perspectives.
Each class participant is required to shadow a mentor for a day. The mentors are established water industry leaders and policy makers who are willing to share their expertise and experiences with the water leaders.
The program has been extremely useful in understanding the ever-changing and always-complex water issues in California. My goal is to use the information gained from this program to assist our industry in becoming better stewards of the most important natural resource in the world.