MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON
TTA BOARD MEMBER
RYAN BLAIR What is your title/who do you work for? I am the Golf Course Superintendent at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is owned and operated by McConnell Golf. We are one of 12 Private Clubs owned and operated by McConnell. By joining a McConnell golf property you are not only a member of the home course you join, but also all the McConnell properties. This gives you access to some amazing courses all throughout the Carolinas. How many years have you been in this position? I have been at Holston Hills for 20 years this summer, which at times is hard for me to believe. Everyone has always told me time goes by faster the older you get, and I am starting to be a believer in this theory.
How did you decide to pursue a career in turfgrass management? I have always enjoyed being in an outside environment and working on things with my hands. At a young age I was introduced to golf by my father who was an avid golfer. I loved to tag along and play golf with my dad and enjoyed being out on the course. As I got older and started looking for my first job, I found myself working on the golf course crew at my hometown course. Every summer, starting in high school until now, I have been working on a golf course. There were times when I thought about other career paths, but I was always drawn back to my love for being out on the course. You always hear you should do what you love and after a few years at the University of Tennessee I switched to the Turf Program.
Chris on the course
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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS JUNE/JULY 2020 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org
