Page 22 - GM spring 2024

Vencislav Nikov, Superintendent, St. Sofia Golf & Spa, Sofia, Bulgaria.
for those before me, I would not be writing this today. I wonder though, in our quest to elevate, have we left some of our own behind?
I stood up in Bulgaria and proudly stated that we have 2,363 courses in Canada. The third most courses per country behind only the United States and Japan. I then followed that up with the stat that the CGSA has approximately 1000 members, 415 of those Superin- tendents. Now, no one there made mention of this, but I am sure some of you are doing some quick math. How can we be a National Association representing Superintendents, while less than 20% of courses in the country employ a CGSA Superin- tendent? It is not easy for me to say this, but I do not want to gloss over the elephant in the room; we can do better. Seeing the Bulgarian Superintendents work so hard to grow their association and industry and then looking at us seemingly leaving opportunity on the table was not a great feeling.
I have always looked at my CGSA membership fee and justified it with the things that it provides for me as an individual. With less than a year on the CGSA board, I now see it as so much more. There is a very dedicated team of volunteer board members and paid staff members working to grow our association and grow our voice.
I know association dues can become just another line item on a budget that is always constrained, but I implore you to look at it as more than just an annual fee, and instead consider it as a contribution to the continued growth of a profession that has provided a living for you. Add your assistant as a member if you have not already; strike up a conversation with a neighbouring non-member Superintendent to sell the virtues of membership.
As you have seen from recent announcements, the CGSA is in a period of growth. I can assure you that the people directing this growth are as hard working as yourself. The more members we have, the more prominent our voice becomes. Let’s work together to grow our participation in the association and leave the profession even stronger than when we came into it. GM
In the afternoon, we visited his former club St. Sofia and toured the course with Superintendent Vencislav Nikov. As I toured the course with Vencislav, I could see a look that mirrored a feeling I have felt before. He did not feel he was showing me the best his course could be. I told him I feel the exact same anytime I tour another Superintendent around my course. Those rare days in a season where I am content with my property never align with those types of visits.
What I did see in that look, and learned through our conversation, is that Vencislav is just like myself and other Superintendents, working tirelessly to provide the best conditions possible with the resources he or she has. If you could take a picture of that impression, it would trump any perfect photo I have ever seen of a golf course.
Dean Cleaver, the Executive Officer of FEGGA was also in attendance and speaking at the conference. It was mentioned to me on more than one occasion how instrumental Dean and FEGGA were in helping build the BGGA into the independent and growing association it is today. As Dean will be retiring next year after almost 30 years as the head of FEGGA, this would be his last trip to Bulgaria in his role and Yavor presented him with a small gift in recognition of his contribution to the BGGA. The gratitude and emotion
from Yavor was easily perceptible and it was a special moment to close the conference.
Outside of the conference, I had a couple of extra days to explore Sofia with some excellent weather conditions. What a spectacular city and I would highly recommend Sofia to anyone exploring Eastern Europe.
As I will be sending copies of this magazine over to Bulgaria, I will take this final opportunity to thank Yavor, Vencislav, Kremena and the entire BGGA membership. Not only did they produce a world-class conference, the warm hospitality and graciousness of my hosts created an experience in my turfgrass career that I will never forget. Thank you!
GROWING OUR MEMBERSHIP BACK HOME
I am going to depart from my experience in Bulgaria now and touch on something that I have felt in the past, but was again brought to the forefront for me because of this visit. The CGSA has worked hard over the decades that I have been involved to elevate the status of the Golf Course Superintendent within the golf industry. Continually providing education opportunities, creating programs like the Accredited Golf Course Superintendent and more recently promoting “Thank a Golf Course Superintendent Day.” I sincerely applaud those who have brought us to this point as were it not
22 • CGSA • GreenMaster