MTA President's Message

YOU Make a Difference

There is not much better than sunrise on a golf course—a heavy dew and maybe some water running in the distance. It makes for an awesome setting! I hope you all have survived what I like to call the “100 Days of Hell” from Memorial Day to mid-September and football season. Even though we still see some brutal daytime temps, the nights tend to cool, and football in the air means fall is near. What a blessing for those of us in the green industry to experience nature at its best, and even its worst!!

That blessing leads me to this thought. Many of us are uniquely positioned as stewards of the environment and managers of people (many of them young and impressionable). That leads us to the opportunity to be difference makers and disciples in many a life, from human to animal to plant. What a position we hold in the golfing/ green kingdom. I love the teaching moments the summer offers and the opportunities that exist to shape the minds of the next generation. I often find myself telling our staff that I know well the question, “why did he hire this person sitting next to me, all they can do is fill divots and empty trash, and that takes them half a day?” Truthfully, there are occasionally people we struggle to lead, but I also try to remember that many people benefit from our outdoor “sanctuary,” as well as our job’s discipline and structure, and of course our care as leaders. It really is much bigger than grass, and grass often grows fairly well without our help. It is the lives we touch that make this profession even more joyful, and occasionally stressful! So, take pride in what you do and provide! You make a difference.

As we head into our fall events, I again want to say way to show up and show out at our 21st annual Yard Dawg Classic. Thanks to you all! It is always fun to be back home at the MSU Course. So, thanks to everyone involved, and we look forward to needing more golf carts for the 22nd annual in 2024. Now, let’s carry that same energy and passion for the industry to the upcoming events listed below:

••••••••••

MSU Turfgrass Research Field Day
September 21, Starkville

Register online at
www.pss.msstate.edu/workshops/turf

••••••••••

Deep South Turf Expo
October 16 – 19, Biloxi

Register online at
www.DeepSouthTurfExpo.org

••••••••••

I hope you find ample time to decompress and enjoy the fall. Please feel free to reach out to any board member or myself with comments, questions, or concerns.

Will Arnett
EMCC’s Lion Hills Golf Course