Not long after, one of Fulmer’s earliest mentors, Dana Peabody, gave him advice that stayed with him.

“She came up to me and said, ‘You seem pretty good at this. You might be able to make a career out of it if you stick with it.’ Her words ring true today.”

A Different Kind of Journey

Fulmer’s story takes a dramatic turn away from golf shortly after he began seasonal work at Jackson Park in 2000.

Following Hurricane Mitch’s devastation in Honduras, Fulmer joined a church mission trip helping relocate a village from a floodplain to higher ground. The experience left a lasting impact.

“I decided I wanted to go back and do more,” he said. He did exactly that.

Faith, Perspective, and Purpose

Faith plays a central role in Fulmer’s life and leadership style.

“Faith is essential to who I am as a person,” he explained. “It gives me cornerstones and guide marks to follow.” He speaks openly about surviving a traumatic childhood head injury that left doctors uncertain about his future recovery after a three-day coma and a three week stay at Children’s Hospital. “There’s a lot of things that could have happened that would not have allowed me to talk to you right now,” Fulmer said thoughtfully. “I had to re-learn all motor skills during my recovery.

Those experiences seem to have shaped both his perspective and temperament. Colleagues describe him as steady, humble, and grounded—traits Fulmer credits largely to his faith. “It makes me mindful that every action has a reaction,” he said. “Be careful with what you say and how you act.”

That perspective extends into his role as a father as well. When his teenage daughter recently called after her first car accident, Fulmer consciously chose his response. “My first question was, ‘Are you okay?’” he said. “I remember thinking at the time, this is going to be a memorable moment one way or another.”

Climbing the Ladder—Seattle Style

Fulmer’s professional journey through Seattle Parks and Recreation was anything but conventional.

He was originally categorized, like most members of the golf maintenance crews, as a “long-term temporary employee” which saved the City from paying full-time employee benefits. Perhaps unexpectedly, the City changed the status of those workers to full-time. But Fulmer’s time away in Honduras made his status complicated. After a little bit of wrangling, he was able to secure long term civil employment, but not immediately at the golf course. Fulmer spent six months cleaning public comfort stations across Seattle while waiting for a golf course technician position to open. He made the decision to grind it out for a chance to get back to what he wanted to do. “It was a humbling job,” he admitted. “But it was the work that needed to be done.”

Eventually, a full-time opportunity opened at West Seattle Golf Course, where Fulmer spent six years learning irrigation, spraying, and daily golf course operations under superintendent John Price. He later transferred back to Jackson Park, where he worked under longtime superintendent Robert Maddox and later Greg Van Holbeck—both of whom Fulmer considers influential mentors. “I still follow Greg’s spray program from years ago,” he said. “If it’s not broken, why fix it?”

When Jackson Park’s superintendent position finally became available again several years later, Fulmer was given an opportunity that he clearly does not take for granted. “It’s humbling,” he said. “There’s a lot of responsibility here.”

The Municipal Golf Challenge

Managing Jackson Park presents a unique set of challenges. The facility includes a busy 18-hole golf course, executive course, driving range, and practice areas that collectively host roughly 70,000 rounds annually.

Unlike many private clubs, Fulmer operates without an assistant superintendent and with a lean crew structure. “I don’t have the same toolkit a private club might have,” he explained. “Our equipment averages about 15 years old. We’ve got limited staff, limited resources, but we still want somebody to come out and say, ‘Wow, I was really impressed.’”

That mentality—maximizing limited resources while still producing quality conditions—is something many municipal superintendents know well. Fulmer also believes municipal golf has evolved dramatically in recent years, especially in terms of who plays the game. “There’s still this perception that golf is just for rich old white guys,” he said. “But it’s moved way beyond that.”

He recalls recent outreach efforts at Jackson Park where community members expressed surprise that the facility was even available to them.

“One kid told Patrick Merriam (the Head of Seattle’s Golf Department), ‘I didn’t even know I was allowed on a golf course,’” Fulmer said. “Patrick told him, ‘This is your golf course. You own this.’”

For Fulmer, that accessibility matters deeply.

Life Beyond the Golf Course

Outside of work, Fulmer enjoys hiking with his family, often exploring trails around the Olympic Peninsula or visiting Alta Lake Golf Resort, “what a gem that place is.” He also plays guitar regularly as part of worship services at his church. “It’s good for the soul,” he said simply.

He and his wife also share an appreciation for crime and border security reality television—a detail Fulmer admitted with a laugh_along with books by authors like Jack Carr and Brad Thor.

And while Seattle sports teams naturally dominate his local loyalties, Fulmer’s favorite team outside the Pacific Northwest may say the most about him: Platense, a soccer club in Puerto Cortés, Honduras.

For someone whose life has bridged cultures, languages, careers, and continents, it feels fitting. Through it all, Fulmer remains remarkably humble about his journey. “I’m very honored to have been chosen for this,” he said to be selected for this month’s Spotlight.

But after spending time hearing his story, it becomes clear why his peers selected him. Jonathan Fulmer represents something increasingly valuable in today’s profession: quiet resilience, service-minded leadership, and a genuine appreciation for both people and place. And at Jackson Park Golf Course, that combination continues to leave its mark every day.

In the end, it was the mates from Avalon Golf Links who came in the with the lowest round, finishing with an impressive score of 58, or 14 under. They even had a bogey on the card, but held off the crew from the Home Course who shot their own impressive 60. A three way tie for third place was broken by Gold Mountain’s “Hazama” team by carding a birdie at the tough, downhill par 17th. The scorecard tiebreaker enabled them to prevail over both Seattle Golf and Sand Point Golf Clubs, each posting their own 62s.

25 teams competed from as far north as Sedro Wooley, south as Dupont and east as Leavenworth. The ferry trip may have discouraged some from the east side from attending, but for those that managed the lines and the open seas, the trip was quite enjoyable. The views from the upper decks of the big boats reminded us all of the natural beauty we are surrounded by every day but sometimes can’t see through the trees. That said, there were plenty of trees and views from the Timber and Tides nines at Port Ludlow, and spoils to be won.

A thousand dollars in prizes and a 75 pound trophy were waiting to be given away before teams ventured home. The Broadmoor crew navigated the par 3s well, winning both KPs with shots that finished their rolls within two feet or so on both holes #6 and #17. Everett CC’s “Team McCusker” captured the winnings for Long Drive, busting one deep on #8. Next up is the Northwest Crew Championship, to be held in Western Washington sometime this fall at a course to be determined.

March brought lots of rain, and it was no different when WWGCSA members gathered at Everett Golf & Country Club for our Annual Spring Meeting. Presentations from Tyler Mooney of Merrill Lynch (planning for retirement), David Phipps of the GCSAA (an update on member benefits) and Brianne Kenny of Troon Golf (water compliance issues) filled the docket. And of course, the newly renovated clubhouse was a big part of the presentation. More than 40 members spent the better part of the day networking and discussing a variety of issues.

EGCC Superintendent Mike Conklin was an excellent host, and made his golf course available to all. As you would expect, the weather scared most players off, but there were still 5 groups of souls that braved the elements.

More than 30 people, including 20 or so volunteers from the WWGCSA and the OGCSA, gathered at American Lake Veterans Golf Course to help get the course ready for the upcoming season. The weather was clear, but cold – but that didn’t prevent perspiration for those hard at work. All of the greens were sanded and aerated, and the edges around the property were cleaned up. In the end, ALVGC Superintendent Randy Moen was pleased. “We got a lot done, it’s so great to work with the Association’s on this project. We’re all volunteers, and been here a long time, but it’s always nice when the “experts” come and give us a hand.”

The WWGCSA/OGCSA Service Project has been going every Spring since 2019, interrupted only by the pandemic in 2021. The two associations gather every other year at the Veterans’ Course, and at the Children’s course in Gladstone, OR in the in-between years. A return to the Children’s course in 2027 is in the works.

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Held annually at Gamble Sands resort, the fourth edition is coming this March (Wednesday the 25th thru Friday the 27th). Intended as a professional networking and education event for Golf Course Assistant Superintendents who aspire to grow in the field, the event is sponsored by Toro, BASF, Simplot, Syngenta and Troon Golf LLC. Consisting of two nights and four hours of education, social events and a round of golf at Gamble’s original course, one of only three Washington courses ranked in America’s top 100 by Golf Digest. The event and meals are provided at no charge to Assistant Superintendents. Entry is limited to 32 Assistants. If you have any questions or simply want to apply, email Gamble’s Director of Agronomy, Josh Truan, at jtruan@gamblesands.com.

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Despite frozen conditions closing most area golf courses, superintendents and industry partners gathered last week at Seattle Golf Club for the annual Winter Chapter Meeting. The chilly weather outside contrasted with a warm atmosphere inside, as attendees connected with peers and heard from three outstanding speakers representing seed science, agronomy, and university research.

The program opened with Crystal Fricker, President of Pure Seed. Pure Seed is a wholesale supplier of warm- and cool-season turfgrass and forages developed by Pure-Seed Testing. The company was founded by Crystal’s parents, Betty and Bill Rose, and today remains proudly family owned and operated. Crystal now works alongside her brother and sister—and each of their spouses—they’re fond of saying that this arrangement helps ensure Pure Seed stays firmly rooted in family values.

Crystal recently received national recognition with the 2025 Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award from the Crop Science Society of America, honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to turfgrass science. The award was presented by Dr. Cale Bigelow of Purdue University, who many members will remember as a WTLS speaker this past year. Crystal shared updates on ongoing seed development focused on improving turf durability while reducing required inputs—an important theme as superintendents continue balancing playability, sustainability, and budgets.

Next up was Ross Niewola, the USGA Green Section’s West Region Agronomist, a role he assumed in late 2024. Ross brings 15 years of golf course maintenance experience, having worked in Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, New Jersey, Washington, and both Northern and Southern California. His background spans warm- and cool-season grasses and public and private facilities, most recently serving as superintendent at Walla Walla Country Club. A Penn State graduate with a degree in turfgrass management, Ross emphasized that his primary mission is to support regional golf courses and crews by sharing best practices and keeping them informed on current trends in course management.

The final presentation came from Dr. Michael Neff, Professor of Crop Biotechnology in Washington State University’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and the Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission Endowed Professor. Dr. Neff reviewed the history and current state of turf management education at WSU while highlighting ongoing research in turfgrass management and breeding programs focused on seed production, resiliency, and climate adaptation in Washington State.

Dr. Neff also provided an update on existing endowments supporting the turf program and outlined opportunities for the golf industry to help strengthen and expand WSU’s curriculum so it can compete with peer institutions such as Oregon State University. He closed with a significant call to action: seeking industry support toward an $8 million endowment to ensure his position—and the momentum of the program—continues well beyond his retirement.

Next on the this year’s timeline is GCSAA’s Conference and Trade Show, happening this week in Orlando. March is busy with an Equipment Managers’ Meeting, a Chapter Meeting at Everett Golf & Country Club, and our annual service project returning to the American Lake Veterans Golf Course. Please refer to our Association’s calendar which is found on this page of our website.

Eight years ago, Trevor Kiunke saw a snapshot of his future.

As a high school sophomore, Kiunke participated in the school’s ag science program. The group took a field trip to Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipomo, Calif., where Kiunke quickly fixed his eyes on what was happening on the ground. The aerification of a practice green mesmerized him. 

“They’re pulling cores, filling holes with sand, preparing all of it so golfers can go play on it. Crazy. Cool,” Kiunke says.

Kiunke met Herminio Plata, a GCSAA Class A superintendent and 28-year association member, who was looking for people to work at the golf course. Not long afterward, Kiunke drove to Monarch Dunes to tell Plata he was seeking summer employment.

Well, Kiunke got the job—and his ambitious ways are still a work in progress.

Now an assistant superintendent at Inglewood Golf Club in Kenmore, Wash., Kiunke has done what he can to advance his career. Besides earning a degree in 2024 in turfgrass management from Washington State University (where he was guided by professor Michael Neff, who oversaw crop and soil sciences), Kiunke also completed two internships at Montreaux Golf & Country Club in Reno, Nev., for Doug Heinrichs, CGCS, a 38-year association member.

Fast forward to two years ago, when Kiunke was hired at Inglewood GC, where he works for 25-year GCSAA member Greg Matz. The golf course is where Kiunke wanted to be. 

“I didn’t want to work inside,” says Kiunke, a one-year association member. “I like what I do. I like the hours. I like working at a private club. The standards align with my values. I have high standards for myself and the product we put out for our golfers.”

Still, what he is trying to accomplish isn’t enough. Kiunke is participating in GCSAA’s Assistant Certificate Series. It’s geared to provide ways to stand out and achieve career milestones. The series is composed of: Principles of Golf Course Agronomy, Principles of Golf Course Environmental Stewardship, Principles of Golf Course Business and Principles of Golf Course Leadership and Communications.

In the meantime, he is compiling a full-course sprinkler audit for the Leadership part of the series. “I started on all this in May 2024, and my goal is to finish it by this March,” says Kiunke.

And that’s not all, folks. After completing the Assistant Certificate Series, Kiunke’s next target is GCSAA’s Excel Program. It offers leadership training for personal, career and stewardship for GCSAA Class C members.

“For me, I know how passionate I am and want to make a difference and move the ball forward in any aspect,” says Kiunke, “and just show people I know what I’m talking about.”

Kiunke hasn’t forgotten that visit eight years ago to Monarch Dunes. This past fall, he attended the Western Washington GCSA annual meeting. There, Karen Armstead received the Paul Backman Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to First Green, the GCSAA program that has roots in Washington. Seeing her being honored reminded Kiunke of a similar type of event for youths that he went to at Monarch Dunes, which created a career path for him.

He learned from it and has chosen to follow by example. In May, Kiunke will host a GCSAA First Green event. 

“A high school soil science class, Inglemoor High School, is coming to the club,” Kiunke says. “Maybe it will light a spark in someone who doesn’t know this is something they can do one day for work. And maybe I can do this for someone else like it was done for me.”

. . . as we get ready for a big rematch with the 49ers this weekend, let’s look back to Hawks game on December 28 in Charlotte, NC. Late in the game, CBS cameras caught the image of a fan, in a Seahawks jersey, sitting in the front row, who had an uncanny resemblance to Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. The Seattle Times followed up on the story and we found out that “Stan Darnold” was actually Ben Conklin. Ben is the son of our own Mike Conklin, the Superintendent at Everett Golf and Country Club. Here is the rest of the story as reported by the Times. Enjoy.