Page 21 - GM spring 2024

turfgrass
to Bulgaria
ELIGIBLE ARTICLE
GORDON WITTEVEEN AWARD
T-Jay Creamer (left) meeting Yavor Atanasov, Chairman Hole #8 Green, Pravets Golf Glub, Pravets, Bulgaria. of the BGGA, Superintendent at Pravets Golf Club and
FEGGA board member.
I arrived two days before the conference and was scheduled to spend the next day with the Chairman of the BGGA, Yavor Atanasov. Yavor is the Superintendent of nearby Pravets Golf Club and a board member of FEGGA. The Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Association is an umbrella body for the national greenkeeping associations in Europe.
During our 50-minute drive to his club, it quickly became apparent of the similar challenges facing golf course Superintendents in both Bulgaria and Canada. Challenges in finding labour and significant changes in climate were easy discussion topics. While completing a degree in economics in Bulgaria, Yavor traveled to the United States in 2003 in pursuit of a summer internship job in that field. Instead, he ended up working on the grounds crew at a golf course for the summer in Vail, Colorado. He enjoyed the job so much that he returned there the following summer as well.
Back in Bulgaria with a completed degree, Yavor took a position with the local cell phone company. This was his plan prior to starting his degree. A year into the position, it was not all he had hoped it would be and he learned of an opportunity at the local St. Sofia Golf Club. Now twenty years into his greenkeeping career, Yavor has been the Superintendent at Pravets Golf Club since 2011.
EXCELLENT COURSE CONDITIONS
Touring his property, I was immediately impressed with the condition of his course. I would put his greens up against any greens I have played on in North America. Yavor and I use similar data points for managing turf and it was enjoyable to compare these metrics for courses half a world apart. In addition to the golf course, Yavor also maintains three high level football pitches that until recently were used by the Bulgarian national team. The climate in Sofia is slightly warmer than Victoria, BC and is conducive to cool season grasses. A golf season that was previously 8-9 months/year has been extended up to 11 months due to recent mild winter weather patterns.
GreenMaster • CGSA • 21