2014 Olds College Campus News
by Jason Pick, Instructor, Turf Management Program
Olds College turf students began the fall term this year with our September Fall Classic Golf fundraiser, where turfies practiced tournament set up and preparations at the Olds Highlands Golf Club. As a highlight this year, NHL great Lanny McDonald joined with each group off the first tee, passing around his Stanley Cup ring to whomever showed interest! A regular at Heritage Pointe Golf Club in Calgary, he did not disappoint.
Only two days later, it was announced our own diploma graduate Jordan Collins was the recipient of TORO’s Future Superintendent Award at the Fall Field Day. As proud as we can be, we look forward to following his progress, soon to begin the next chapter of his career at Seymour Golf Club under CGSA’s 2013 superintendent of the year, Jim McGarvey.
The fall term brought with it as many site visits as mother nature would allow, this year to; Bearspaw GC, Woodside GC, Canyon Meadows, and Innisfail GC, where we all gained valuable management advice, shop renovation insights, Audubon recertification procedures, PGA tournament prep and course renovation from Alberta’s best! Thanks go out to Darren Reddekopp, Bruce Constable, Dwayne Simpson, and Ken MacKenzie who took the time to share their experiences with our next generation of superintendents.
Hands-on cultural training was made possible by Thad Klassen of Calgary’s Oakcreek Golf and Turf, as we worked a new aerator demo through its rigors on the new turf PTRC plots. In addition to this industry support, Oakcreek annually invites all our turf grads to their facility for an eight hour training session on proper reel maintenance, grinding and sharpening from the very best in the business. Over-the-top support from Oakcreek and special thanks go out to Claude Cloutier and Reef Caulder, instrumental in creating these experiences for our students, and whose training program has been aptly termed by our students as the “TORO University”.
Our new Audubon CEP designation program saw its first five Certified Environmental Professionals graduate with distinction this December. Congratulations to Ryan O’Halloran, Ryan May, John Kardelis, Stuart Carmichael, and Andrew Krek who now join Audubon’s elite steward network. Offered both online and face to face concurrently, Stuart and Andrew took part from Whistler Golf Club and Lambton GC in Ontario working on assignments right across the country together.
Our 5th Annual Assistant Superintendents Panel took place on January 16th, where some of the finest assistant superintendents in the province shared their insights into what it means to be an assistant today. We thank assistant superintendents Karen Rumohr, Brigitt McKeen, Kolby Beaton, Sean Brown, Brock Coates, Brad Allen, Chris Nelson, David Harms, and David Genio for making the trip to this popular event. Thanks go to all those who joined us, and joined the Q&A.
As the fall semester came to a close, our turf students once again took to Canmore, participating as delegates in the Alberta Golf Course Superintendents Association Property Managers Conference. Among the list of exceptional speakers, our turf instructor and golf team head coach Ian Morrow unveiled the new turfgrass program structure for the January 2015 intake. Details of the program include a re-definition of education by offering a unique January-April residency, three week “block style” courses, and blended learning models to enhance industry partnerships with field school placements. Watch for the press release, and come visit the Olds College booth at the joint WCTA/CGSA conference in Vancouver to learn more! JP