Page 26 - GM Spring 2023

uBACK NINEuDARREN KALYNIUK, CGSA PAST PRESIDENT
Be
Jim Flett, AGS, CGSA President 2017.
I have been very fortunate to have
met all of the great people I have written about in the Back Nine over the years. This next person, I’ve not only had the pleasure of chatting with and learning more about his journey over a few IPAs, but had the distinct honour and privilege of serving alongside him on the CGSA Board of Directors. He is a mentor to many, a true leader in our profession and a valued friend. Let me introduce you to Mr. Jim Flett, AGS, Past President of the CGSA & OGSA, Superintendent at the Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club, and 2022’s CGSA/Envu Superintendent of the Year recipient.
for what Looking over the clubhouse of the Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club.
26 • CGSA • GreenMaster
Flett fondly remembers the first time he was introduced to the game of golf, which was at an early age. Jim explains, “I started playing golf at our aunt’s cottage course, which was at Bruce Beach on Lake Huron.” A few years down the line, Jim began his first summer job working close to home at the Richmond Hill Golf Club, shining shoes in the Men’s locker room of the Clubhouse. “It definitely wasn’t my first choice as a job, but I saw it as a possible gateway into getting a job on the greens crew.” Unfortunately, Flett never did get that opportunity to work on greens crew but did get one a couple years
later with the Richmond Hill Parks Department, which inevitably inspired him to go to the University of Guelph to study horticulture and become a Parks Superintendent.
“Once at Guelph, I was quickly exposed to the Golf Course Superintendent career opportunity, and decided to change focus back to the golf side of the industry which ultimately brought me back to my earlier roots of enjoying the game of golf,” Jim stated.
Between Jim’s first and second year at Guelph, Flett was given the opportunity to apprentice under Dave Gourlay Sr., superintendent at