Camaraderie at the center of San Diego GCSA retreat

I often get approached by superintendents who ask why they should be members of their local chapters. They indicate that the traditional role of an affiliate chapter is no longer relevant and provide examples of education that they receive through various online resources, smart phone apps that assist them in the field and social media that allows them to communicate with their peers in the industry.

While I cannot dispute that technology has and will continue to change the way we conduct association/chapter business, I wanted to share a story from a recent event that still proves how relevant chapter functions can be when conducted with some creativity.

I had the privilege of attending the San Diego GCSA Catalina Island retreat in late October. This inaugural retreat required a huge amount of effort and coordination by the San Diego GCSA board of directors (in particular Brad Baker of Wilbur Ellis and Cody Layton, superintendent at Eagle Crest Golf Club), and executive director Carey Sandland. The group had to schedule ferry service back and forth for 40 members, including various arrival and departure times, obtain a group room rate, book the golf course and find a restaurant to hold the education and lunch. While it was a painstaking process, they pulled it off and the event ran flawlessly from start to finish.

The members got to spend a couple of days on sun-drenched Catalina, receive some quality education from Jim Baird, Ph.D., play golf at the Catalina Golf Club (a nine-hole facility said to be the oldest facility west of the Mississippi) and enjoy one another's company.

During a lunch at the event, San Diego GCSA President Brian Darrock, Class A Superintendent at Fairbanks Ranch Golf Club; and I were discussing the changes in chapter participation and how competition, technology and the lack of personal time has hurt chapters throughout the country.

As we looked around though, we quickly realized that while competitors may be able to provide education, online resources, etc., and technology has changed the way the younger generation interacts, GCSAA-affiliated chapters can offer something that no one else can: camaraderie.

What other industry associations offer the opportunity to spend a couple of days on a retreat with your superintendent peers, vendors, sponsors and other allied industry professionals? After an event like the Catalina Island retreat, they are no longer peers, vendors or sponsors, they are friends - and you can’t put a price on that.

No matter what Southwest chapter you may be a member of, please make an effort to support the events in your area. You will make some new friends along the way and create memories that will last a lifetime.

I look forward to seeing you all at upcoming events. If you have any information you would like to share with me or other members throughout the region, please don’t hesitate to email me or post on the (members-only) Southwest regional forum. Thanks for your support of GCSAA.