Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/175770
9/11/13 1:49 PM Page 1 COVER STORY REPORT BY CAMERON WATT THE ALBERTA FLOODS REMEMBERED new bentgrass greens, restored bunker faces and perimeter edges to a dozen green sites, resurfaced a handful of tee decks, not to mention continuing with our regular maintenance on the rest of the property. Watching all the improvements take shape and seeing the hard work begin to pay off was amazingly rewarding. Witnessing the pride, motivation, and sense of accomplishment among my team was even more gratifying. Then on June 20 of this year, James Bryce and I started work 45 minutes before the rest of our crew as we normally do. We discussed changes to our schedule because of the continued rainfall. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. At worst, we planned to cancel mowing fairways and rough. The first sign of trouble was when I watched a wooden walk bridge float past me along the cart path. As I crested the path behind our double green heading towards Mount Kidd, water was flowing over the tee sites of #10 and #1. The majority flowed from the driving range and across the 18th fairway. I immediately drove up the service road parallel to the driving range and was quickly stopped, the road was gone. The Evan Thomas River had breached the bank along the 14th hole and started carving its original path across the 16th and through the driving range. My feelings at the time were a mixture of helplessness, shock, and confusion but I still believed that if the rain stopped, we would We took great pride in our work and have the se what we accomplished. Seeing all that c o u r and cleaned washed away in a matter of hours was operational a completely helpless and gutting feeling. b y t h e weekend. It was not only the courses that were affected by the floods, people's lives were severely impacted as well. Cameron Watt was an assistant superintendent at what is considered among the crown jewels of Albertan golf, Kananaskis Country GC. In this Final Word, he recounts his thoughts and reactions to a devastating event. "… the Mount Lorette and Mount Kidd Courses are named for the soaring limestone peaks that serve as their breathtaking backdrop. The Courses offer immaculate fairways, bentgrass greens, over 140 silica sand bunkers, four sets of tees, glacier-fed creeks and ponds, the cascading Kananaskis River and a variety of wildlife." That's a paragraph on Kananaskis Country GC's home page. Then you scroll through pictures of manicured greens, lush fairways, and immaculate bunkers with backdrops of snow capped Rocky mountains. They are breathtaking and it makes you just want to be there. At least it made me want to be there and in April, 2012, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity… not just to visit but to be there every day when I joined their team as an assistant superintendent. I quickly learned that the winter of 2011 had been one of the worst in the course's history. The start of my Kananaskis career was going to be a challenge! From late April of 2012 to early May of 2013, our team stripped, prepped, installed, and maintained 30 But the rain didn't stop and the reality of our situation was sinking in. The Evan Thomas continued to grow in speed and destructive force. Deeper, wider paths were being carved out of our fairways, tees and bunkers. Huge river rock and mature evergreens contaminated the golf course. Irrigation pipe, communication wires and sprinkler heads were ripped out. Mud and silt coated the surface everywhere CAMERON HAS LANDED water flowed. It was ON HIS FEET AT REDWOODS heartbreaking to see the GC IN LANGELY, BC courses in this condition. opportunities. It's rare to find an The next few days were difficult. The assistant's position mid-season. I entire facility couldn't operate and the understood that, so I entertained all decision to lay off 140 employees was options. made. It was emotional telling everyone that this was the end. I felt compelled When I first heard about the opportunity to try to do more for my staff other at Redwoods Golf Course in Langley, than say 'I'm sorry. Good luck'. I felt BC, I didn't give it much thought. My responsible to help people with their fiance and I initially planned to stay in immediate transition, because what Alberta. After more consideration and future planning, I pursued Redwoods had happened wasn't fair. and was very fortunate to have been During the next few weeks, I had a hard offered the position. time grasping the outcome and harsh reality of what had happened. I didn't I appreciate my luck, but I've also worked want to believe this was the end to all hard in my career, grinding out the long the hard work put in. I wasn't ready to days and unique challenges at each say goodbye to the many new friends golf course I've been a part of. and colleagues that I had grown to What does the future at Redwoods love. As a turfcare team, we overcame hold? Only time can tell. For now, I many challenges, accepted much continue to learn my profession, grow criticism and worked harder to improve into a stronger individual and continue our product for our guests. We took to offer my best efforts and hard work. great pride in our work and what we Life can be tough but things happen accomplished. Seeing all that washed for a reason, which is why I am starting away in a matter of hours was a to appreciate more the smaller, and completely helpless and gutting feeling. sometimes less noticeable, positives. I began to accept the inevitable and Cameron can be followed at started contacting colleagues, reaching @napone_23 on twitter and has out to industry professionals, and talking started a turf blog for the Redwoods with friends about potential GC. IMAGE CREDIT/COURTESY: REDWOODS GC TLN1309-proof IT'S TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE NTA CONFERENCE Anthony Williams, CGCS, the Superintendent at Stone Mountain Golf Club in Georgia, will highlight another entertaining and educational Northwest Turfgrass Association annual conference in October. Golf course superintendents and industry leaders from all over the Northwest and British Columbia will be gathering October 6-8 in the Tri-Cities of Washington to enjoy Williams' insights, as well as some fall warmth and local wines. 40 WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Western Equipment is the leading sponsor for the conference with Cedar Grove Composting the secondary sponsor. Additional sponsors are Grigg Bros., ICON Materials, Miller Design Golf, Reserve Silica, RMT Equipment and Wilbur-Ellis. Mr. Williams was presented the 2010 President's Award for Environmental Stewardship by the GCSAA. He has been listed among Golf Inc. magazine's 20 most admired golf course operators. He will give a presentation each day of the conference's educational sessions. Information is available by checking out the NTA web site, nwturfgrass.net, or contacting Paul Ramsdell, the NTA executive director, mpsparks90@aol.com or 253-219-8360. at