A few thoughts

2019 marks the end of my service on the ETGCSA Board of Directors. With that in mind I’d like to share a few thoughts on the past several years.

In 2012, Jeff Rumph asked me to serve on the ETGCSA Board of Directors. I was a young(er) superintendent with little knowledge of ETGCSA in terms of what made it tick, how it came to be or what allowed it to perpetuate. Jeff said that’s why he wanted me on the Board… fresh meat, I suppose. I had attended some meetings and always enjoyed the opportunity to gather with others in our industry. After 7 years or so, here are some things I’ve learned about our Association.

First and foremost, ETGCSA would not exist were it not for the service, sponsorship and generosity of our v endors . Facilitating meetings, funding research and granting scholarships are expensive ventures. We all have our favorites, our buddies and our confidants on the vendor side of the business. Just because your particular club doesn’t spend thousands of dollars with a company doesn’t mean they aren’t your partner in the Association. I’ve learned to get out of my comfort zone, interact with a broader network of colleagues and look at the big picture.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the tremendous amount of time your fellow superintendents donate to ETGCSA, TTA and GCSAA. They do this to protect and promote your interests at the local, state and national levels. Specifically, I want to thank Jeff Rumph and Paul Carter for their leadership and passion. Without the efforts of these two men, we would not be in a position to fund research at the University of Tennessee. Perhaps most importantly, a dozen or more local students would not have received an ETGCSA Scholarship over the past seven years.

Finally, a big thank you goes out to the Turf Team at the University of Tennessee. As one who did not attend UT, I never really gave the program much thought. Over the past several years, I’ve seen the dedication and tremendous work ethic of this group of men. They’ve made site visits to my club, taken numerous phone calls, responded to countless email and text messages and in the case of Dr. Samples, given more smiles and hugs than I can count. I want to personally thank Greg Breeden, Jim Brosnan, Brandon Horvath, Tom Samples and John Sorochan for their commitment to the Association. These men go above and beyond their duties and truly are the best team in the country. I hope you are utilizing the outstanding services they provide.

For me, serving on the Board isn’t about what I was able to accomplish. The credit for any ETGCSA accomplishments go to those listed above and the countless others this format doesn’t allow me to personally thank. It’s what the Board has taught me. Over the past several years I’ve become a better person, colleague and golf course superintendent, and for that I’m very thankful. I want to encourage everyone, regardless of age or industry position, to donate a couple years of service to your Board. I promise it’ll provide a new or refreshed outlook on our industry and you’ll build relationships that’ll last forever.

Best of luck in 2019 and beyond!

Patrick P. Rose

President, ETGCSA (2018)

Patrick P. Rose, President, ETGCSA (2018)