Brett Grogan is the new Golf Course Superintendent at Kitsap Golf & Country Club, taking over since Jason Krogman headed back east to Whistling Straits. Brett first got involved in turf management in 2005. Since then, the variety of the work and the fact that you learn new things just about every day has been very appealing to Brett. “Working outside is an added benefit,” he notes.
While Brett describes his Superintendent experience as short, “it’s been encouraging. I was the acting Superintendent for 3 months before [Jason] came on board, and then resumed the Assistant/Lead role. I was the Assistant/Lead to the previous Superintendent too, as well as the Irrigation and Spray Tech.”
Kitsap Golf and Country Club was Brett’s first and only home for his turf management career. He leads a crew of 8 including himself, an Assistant, an equipment manager and five other crew members. He and his team work with an annual operating budget of between $350k to $500k. The most pressing issue for his crew at Kitsap GCC has been repairing and updating the irrigation system. Brett notes that it “is by far the most challenging aspect on the course.” He chuckles at the memory of not filling out a job application at Kitsap GCC “until after my first day of work. I came into Kitsap for a prospective job and was put to work that same day.”
Still in all, being outdoors is an important element of Brett’s life, and being able to enjoy the outdoors at work is very valuable to him. “The variety of tasks, working outside, learning new things and that you can see the results of your work almost immediately” is what makes coming to work for Brett so enjoyable. The elements of his work life mesh well with what his priorities are during his off time: fishing, hunting, sports of all kinds and spending time with family. And having a big goal for his role at Kitsap GCC is motivating as well. “The long-term vision is to improve the playability and aesthetics of the course, as well as bringing and maintaining membership at the maximum that the club may have. We here at Kitsap would like to become the premier golf course on the Kitsap Peninsula.”
Renee Guyer became the Golf Course Superintendent Superintendent at Canterwood just this last year. With everything going on pandemic-wise, she hasn’t had many opportunities to meet with fellow members since joining WWGCSA, but she was able to attend the Northwest Hospitality Room and meet some of us there. We got a chance to talk to her, welcome her and get to know her better:
When did you first get involved in turf management?
I was 21 years old and looking for a career that I WANTED to be a part of – as opposed to doing something else because someone else thought it was a good idea. I had played golf since the age of 12, and it seemed like a natural fit to get involved with a game I truly enjoyed and the opportunity to work outside and not be cooped up ALL day in an office or school. I switched from being a vocal music education and vocal performance major to Turf after my 3rd year of college.
What has kept you engaged in the industry?
Engagement is a great word for being involved in not only local events and getting to know people at a local level (I am looking forward to meeting people at my first WWGCSA meeting this month!) – But national engagement has been a driving force for me too. I have had the honor and privilege to connect with other men and women in this business from across the country through volunteer opportunities with GCSAA and other opportunities through my professional tournament experience.
What is your turf management experience to date?
Intern at The Kittansett Club, Marion Massachusetts – 2008
100th Annual Massachusetts State Amateur
Intern at Wooster Country Club, Wooster Ohio – 2008-2009
Intern at Firestone Country Club, Akron Ohio – 2009-2010
PGA Tour- World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational
PGA Tour- World Golf Championships – Bridgestone Invitational
Golf Course Superintendent, Fazio Course at Firestone Country Club, Akron Ohio—2017-2021 PGA Tour- World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational – 2017
PGA Champions Tour- Bridgestone Senior Players – 2018-2021
PGA Tour – Senior British Open Qualifier - 2021
Golf Course Superintendent, Canterwood Golf & Country Club, Gig Harbor Washington 2021–Present
How many people are on your crew?
At peak season we are at 17 Employees.
What is your annual operating budget?
$950K – 975K
What is your course’s most pressing operating challenge?
Labor! I think this is the answer that everyone would give. Navigating through the pandemic and seeing some light at the other end of the tunnel is exciting, but the labor issue is still the same. Finding the right person for the right job, at the right time for the right pay.
What is your most favorite/creative story of how you were hired and/or what it took to hire someone else?
When I initially applied at Firestone, my interview was in the office of the shop. Being that I had only ever worked at a single course facility, I didn’t realize how large the room would be! They all shared one very large (and intimidating) office. When I arrived for my interview, it seemed like the supervisors kept pouring in to sit down with me for my interview. By the time it was all said and done, I interviewed in the room with 3 Superintendents and the Director of Agronomy. A little intimidating for someone looking for their first job right out of college! It all worked out in the end, and I have some of my most memorable moments in golf at that facility and with those 4 individuals.
What’s it like being a female working in a male-dominated profession?
Sometimes being a female in this business is no different than being a male. Example - We all come to work every day wanting to accomplish the same goals and provide the product that is expected of us. No matter who we are as a human. Where the difference comes in through my experience is interaction with people. I often find that communication can be stunted or stalled because people don't always know what to say to me or how to say it. That means that I must be that much more communicative and deliberate in word and deed. It is the same as far as relating to multiple generations of employees, supervisors' members etc. Just because we are talking to people who are innately different than us, doesn't mean that we can't communicate productively and efficiently. Understanding the different ways males and females often communicate has become important to me to be able to get my message or point across.
It has come to light in the last few years just how few women are a part of the maintenance side of the golf industry. Through technology and modern communication tools, many of the women in the business have been able to get to know one another and network. It has been wonderful to get to know other women from across not only the country, but the world that share a passion for turf. I look forward to the chance to help diversify the business and help women understand that this is a valid career choice and an absolute awesome industry to be a part of!
What do you enjoy the most about what you do?
Every day is different, and Mother Nature keeps us on our toes. Interacting with members has become a favorite of mine. This is the first time that I have ever worked at a facility where there are homes on the golf course. The culture here at Canterwood is very vibrant and meeting the people that live on property allows me to see their passion for the community and their love of the game.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I enjoy gardening/doing yard work with my wife. We are always tinkering on something in the garage and always trying to find better ways to grow our veggies and herbs for the season. We are big on hanging out by the fire pit and spending time with family and friends that way.
I also really enjoy throwing competitive darts. League play and tournament play.
What is your long-term vision for your course?
I want Canterwood to be appreciated for high turf quality as well as an attention to detail for all the other aspects of course maintenance. Having a smooth and well-organized operation in the Golf Course Maintenance Department is the beginning of that. We will continue to work towards improving the facility and the product that our members and guests see every day.
What would you like your colleagues to know about you that I haven’t asked?
It was a very big move coming across the country to take on a new property. A little nerve-wracking and sometimes intimidating. It has been so wonderful to start to get to know many people here in the Western Washington area. All the reps, vendors, members here at the club and even the handful of other Superintendents that I have met so far have been so gracious and kind. It really has been nice to be welcomed with open arms.
John Ford, C.G.C.S. is retiring April 30 from his Superintendents position at Whispering Firs Golf Course. John has been a long-time member of WWGCSA, and has had a lengthy career in the turf management industry. He’s been involved with the game of golf since before he was a teenager, but now it’s time for him to spend more time with three generations of his family that are very important to him.
John started his golf career as a caddie at Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego Oregon in 1965. He caddied there for 9 years and was awarded an Evans Scholarship to attend the University of Oregon. He was on the golf team for that year and studied Business Administration. That summer he worked on the maintenance crew for Dick Fluter at Oswego Lake Country Club. With the encouragement of Dick he changed schools to Oregon State to study Agronomy and while there became Tom Cook’s first Turfgrass student. He continued working on the crew at Oswego while he finished his degree from Oregon State.
John met his wife, Karen, while at Oregon State and they were married the week after graduation in 1978. John was hired as Assistant Superintendent at Royal Oaks Country Club that summer. He worked there for 3 years finishing his last season working for John Anderson. In 1981 he was hired at Tacoma Country and Golf Club as their new Superintendent. Working with Bob Root he took over at the young age of 24. During his time at Tacoma Country and Golf Club John served on the WWGCSA Board as Vice President in charge of education. Working with Andy Soden, Gary Sayre and Keith Pegg they started the first of what has now become the WWGCSA Turf and Landscape Show. These educational seminars provide recertification credits for Washington State Pesticide Licenses. He worked at TCGC through the spring of 1989 during which time he supervised the construction for the new 3 holes and the driving range. It was considered to be quite a change for such an old course.
The summer of 1989 John worked as an Administrative Assistant for Gary Sayre at Overlake Country Club. At the end of that summer the Superintendent position at Fort Lewis Golf Course (Eagles Pride Golf Course J.B.L.M. now) came open and John was hired there. Again 15 minutes from home, like Tacoma Country and Golf Club, and a very secure position. He worked for Jim Barnhouse and then Mike McDonald during his 27 years there and for the last 6 years he has been Superintendent at Whispering Firs Golf Course (On McChord J.B.L.M.) working for Jeff Clark the Director of Golf for J.B.L.M.
When asked what was his best accomplishment during his career? He said, “Being able to have such a wonderful family support me during the long hours at the course. My wife Karen, of 44 years has been amazing helping to raise our three fine boys, Brian, Nathan and Greg. They all have fantastic wives and my five grandchildren are the loves of my life. I am blessed!”
Brett Grogan is the new Golf Course Superintendent at Kitsap Golf & Country Club, taking over since Jason Krogman headed back east to Whistling Straits. Brett first got involved in turf management in 2005. Since then, the variety of the work and the fact that you learn new things just about every day has been very appealing to Brett. “Working outside is an added benefit,” he notes. 
