It all seems so quickly that the turn of the year is long behind us, and we are barreling down on another golf season. As I was coming off the course today, I caught myself thinking, “You know what? Some days I would pay them so I could do this job.” Now of course not every day is like that, but springtime always seems to make me really appreciate what I get to do for a living.



Now I’ll remind you that this was the end of the day and perhaps the mind wanders a little more when tired, but it did start me down a not foreign to me path of wondering why I enjoy this so much. I enjoy playing golf, but it’s far from a passion. The mornings are early, the days are long, the challenges are never-ending, but I’m starting to think I really do like all those things too. 

Wow, where did May go? In the last week or so, we have finally started to see some temperatures that don’t result in frost mornings. This is a pleasant change as courses can now start to push conditions a bit more. Common theme is that most properties came out of winter strong. No turf managers want to be struggling to grow grass back to start a season so this is great to hear. Another positive is that many parts of the province have experienced early season rains, which is again a nice change of pace for how springs have gone in Alberta the last few years. 

The AGSA calendar once again has a stellar line-up of events for its membership. Changing things up this year, the AGSA ran a Winter Event this past March. Members and industry personnel gathered for a day of hockey and curling. This inaugural event was a great success as nearly 100 people attended.  

Register Today

CGSA 2nd Annual Summer Shamble June 24 will be hosted at The Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna, BC with Superintendent Gary Stadnek.

Come and enjoy some west coast hospitality starting with a Horse Race golf event on Monday and ending your time at the networking dinner on Tuesday.

Consider Sponsoring a Tee Sign

Consider sponsoring a tee sign at the 2nd annual Summer Shamble June 24, 2025 and have recognition on one or more holes, on all event signage and in GreenMatter. Consider having a staff member on the hole to greet the golfers. Sponsorship does not include golf but you can register to golf at the member rate.

Turf & Rec profiled the transformation at Cutten Fields with Superintendent Bill Green, AGS (left) pictured here with Cam Shaw, University of Guelph. To read the full article, The Changing Face of Cutten Fields Golf Club, click here.

Grant Fraser, a longtime CGSA member for over 20 years was inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame as a Builder on May 7^th. Golf Ontario refers to Grant as a pioneer in golf management education. To see the full acknowlegement click here.

In support of our Canadian golf industry partners, Golf Canada is pleased to offer all members of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) ONE (1) free pass to the RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario on any day except Friday/Saturday (concert days).

You must present your CGSA membership card and ID at the Box Office, and you’ll be granted access to the grounds. Please note that no additional guest pass is permitted. 

As part of the ongoing effort to recognize the role of the superintendent at the golf facility, the CGSA sponsors the National Tournament Program for members that host these prestigious events. Our members are an essential part of the team that ensures that the golf course provides fair and consistent conditions for competition. 



To see a copy of the 2025 National Tournament Schedule, including member course profiles and photos, please click here. 

The CGSA/ENVU Superintendent of the Year Award is one of CGSA’s most prestigious awards. The title is awarded to a superintendent who has been nominated by either a Provincial Golf Superintendent Association or by a CGSA member as a knowledgeable and competent member of the profession who has been distinguished in the practice of golf course management. The winner of this award is chosen by an anonymous committee of peers. 

The successful nominee will attend the Fall Field Day in Quebec at Le Club Laval-sur-le-lac, Laval-sur-le-lac October 6-7, 2025, and they will also be recognized at CGSA's 60^th  The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference  (CGCMC) during the Award Luncheon in February 2026 in Calgary, Alberta. 

Exclusive rebate of 1.5%. Put 1.5% back to your bottom-line with every Rain Bird purchase. Take control of your golf irrigation - and your costs. CGSA members earn a 1.5% rebate on Rain Bird golf irrigation products, simply by purchasing through an authorized Canadian golf distributor and submitting invoices through the Rain Bird online claim form.

The Guelph Turfgrass Institute is proud to announce it has been selected to host the 2029 International Turfgrass Research Conference (ITRC). Held every four years, the ITRC is the premier global event for turfgrass science, bringing together researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners for a week of knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation. The successful bid marks the third time the University of Guelph has hosted this prestigious conference, following previous editions in 1981 and 2001. Click here for more information.

Notifying you of the upcoming Turf Research Field Day, August 21 on the research plots @ Olds College. Full details and registration via Eventbrite are found here: LINK.

Sleep plays a fundamental role in the effective functioning of nearly all systems of the body, so a persistent lack of sleep creates significant risks to physical and mental health. Are you getting enough?!?

Creating an inclusive workplace isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a critical component of a healthy, high-performing organization. Numerous studies have shown that companies with diverse workforces are more likely to outperform financially. When employees feel seen, valued, and supported for who they are, they’re more likely to thrive both personally and professionally. As HR leaders, your role in championing these efforts is essential.

This month, we’re focusing on inclusivity and how fostering a culture of belonging in the workplace can improve employee well-being, engagement, and retention.