Page 24 - GM spring 2024

uFEATUREuANDREW HART, SUPERINTENDENT, SHAUGHNESSY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
A Unique ELIGIBLE ARTICLE
Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club team joined by volunteers at the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open.
Photo © Stephen Wright, Best Coast Golf Media
For all its challenges, it was not long before the present staff saw the tournament delays in a positive light: more time to hone in on the little details of maintaining the course, train the incoming staff on expectations, and execute.
INITIAL PREPARATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES Heading into the 2020 season, the year originally designated for the Shaughnessy Open, we had completed a two-year, in-house bunker restoration project. Years of sand splash had developed a beautiful sand face. In some areas, up to 5 feet of sand accumulation had elevated the faces above the original design. However, twenty years of sand accumulation led to the retreat
Two-hundred and thirty weeks ago,
back in 2019, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club was selected to host the 2020 CP Women’s Open. It was exciting; the crew was energized. No one anticipated that somehow, one year would stretch into four years.
Covid-19 changed everything.
2020, cancelled. Enough progress was made in 2021 that Golf Canada locked in its venue for 2022 (Ottawa Hunt). Suddenly, in a pandemic time warp, Shaughnessy’s Open had a new name (CPKC) and a new year, 2023.
The most enjoyable part when hosting a golf event is the positivity that envelops the crew. Almost overnight it makes hiring and retention mucheasierandimprovesmorale.You notice an increase in pride amongst
staff, and everyone’s work product is elevated. Veteran staff members have something to look forward to, and it also attracts motivated professionals to join the crew. Further, it can help with the career advancement of our Assistant Superintendents.
For all the positives a tournament of this level brings, everything becomes a little complicated having to endure three years of delays. Seasonal staff that were hired for the event, came, were trained, and moved on. Assistant Superintendents became Superintendents. Staff turnover continued, but with the event still on the horizon, we kept attracting high caliber personnel who were able to pick up from previous team members, improving operations along the way.
24 • CGSA • GreenMaster
GORDON WITTEVEEN AWARD
Women’s