Page 26 - GM Winter 2021

uBACK NINEuDARREN KALYNIUK, CGSA PAST PRESIDENT, SUPERINTENDENT,
ST. BONIFACE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBGrowing
is the
ing a tee deck one day and he asked me if I had ever thought of working on a golf course as a career, which I had never even considered,” she explained. “There are times when an event or a conversation completely changes the direction of your life. For me that was a conversation that lasted about 5 seconds and sent me in a direction I never expected.”
Sue often looks back at moments like that in her career and always tries to encourage staff members who she feels have potential, to think about a career in this industry, “You never know if one day you might change the direction of someone else’s life.”
Like most people in this industry, Crawford always loves to push herself and enjoys the variety of jobs and daily challenges. “It’s the sunrises, fresh air, the sounds of nature but most of all, just enjoying all the work that goes into maintaining a golf course.” She contin- ued, “I thrive on change and finding new, more efficient ways to manage the property and truly get a lot of personal satisfaction and a genuine senseofaccomplishmentfrommyjob.”
Crawford has had many triumphs throughout her career but is proudest of everything she has accomplished so far at Brightwood. “We brought in Ian Andrew Golf Design to create a master plan for our 107-year-old Donald Ross course and are three years into a 10-year improvement plan that has seen a lot of tree clearing, bunker removal, and landscaping.” She contin- ued, “It’s been fantastic taking a course that was looking quite old and tired and breathing new life into it. I know if I left here tomorrow, the course is in better shape than when I started.”
Sue with her Border Collies in charge of goose patrol, Grace, Pepe and Angus on the 7th hole at Brightwood Golf & Country Club.
Without a doubt, this next person I
would like to introduce you to has been highly recognized by her peers for her passion and drive in this profession and has helped break the barriers in this male dominated industry. Allow me to introduce you to Sue Crawford, Superintendent at Brightwood Golf & Country Club located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Sue unknowingly got her start in turf when working at her communi- ty’s softball field in the maintenance department and running the summer program for children aged 5-12 while attending university. “I’ve always loved being outside. My parents always had my brother and I outside – skating, tobogganing, fishing, swimming, playing softball, horse- back riding at my grandparents’ farm. I really don’t remember spend- ing much time inside when we were young,” she mentioned. After
completing university, Crawford decided to work for one of her high school friend’s fathers who was a superintendent and found her calling without realizing it until years later.
Sue has gained some incredible experience along her journey, working at some amazing courses on the East coast as well as a few months stint down under at the Royal Sydney Golf Club in Australia. During that time, Crawford knew that it was important for her to have the educa- tion to back all the experience and to continue to move up in this industry. Sue graduated with honours from the two-year Golf Course Technician Program at Seneca College well before landing her current position at Brightwood.
Crawford credits the superinten- dent at Ashburn Golf Club, Brian Gouthro, as having the biggest influ- ence on her career. “We were build-
26 • CGSA • GreenMaster