As the OGSA celebrates its 100th year as an association, I am proud to serve as your president and be a part of this historical year. This is a time to celebrate our members and recognize past boards who forged the OGSA into the successful, professional association that it is today. This is also a time to look to the future and envision what the next century of golf might look like and how superintendents will continue to help shape the game.  

 

The 2024 OGSA Turfgrass Management Conference, held in Niagara Falls, launched our centennial celebrations. The three-day conference brought together 450 OGSA members to celebrate our association. We welcomed special guests from the GCSAA, Golf Canada, Golf Ontario, CGSA, and many past presidents to celebrate with us.  The message was clear, superintendents are essential to golf.  

 

It’s almost unimaginable that our actions today will become the foundation for those who follow. The admirable efforts made by forefathers William J. Sansom, C.L. Knuth, Fred Hawkins, Stanley Thompson, and Col. John Morley, to name a few, are greatly appreciated. We carry on their legacy with equal dedication; each year that we come together to learn, embrace new technology, adapt to new policy, and grow as professionals, is key to the continued success of our industry. Today we stand on the precipice of significant change as we focus on environmental protection, recruitment challenges, and the sustainability of the game.  

 

As we begin to lay this foundation, it is important that we embrace the Ontario Best Management Practices document launched at the OGSA Turfgrass Management Conference this year. We are excited to be the first province in Canada to develop and produce provincial BMP guidelines. This initiative, championed by the GCSAA, is critical to our industry, and it now provides all Ontario golf course superintendents with the tools required to further demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability and the health of the game. It is a clear indication to legislators and the community that golf course superintendents are environmental stewards.  

 

We also need to think about recruitment. Our goal is to continue growing our association. Inspiring not only young turf professionals but young workers to get involved in turfgrass management. This will be one of our biggest challenges as a group, and as we continue to dedicate ourselves to becoming more diverse and inclusive, we hope to bring a new generation of individuals to the industry. 

 

These issues are at the top of this association’s agenda this year. The board of directors will come together on March 27th & 28th to lay out a plan to help address these topics and find ways to further elevate superintendents and their teams as vital contributors to the success of golf.  

 

I look forward to working with Kevin Collier and Andrew Nieder as new members of the executive team, as well as fellow board members, Paul Snider, Brad Hutchinson, Ryan Scott (past president), and newly elected members Greg Brown and Jason Crawford, to provide our members with opportunities for education, networking, and the tools to succeed in the industry. Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming OGSA events.  

 

I want to take a moment to thank Owen Russell, immediate past president, for his excellent leadership and dedication to the OGSA. His service to the board and its members has without a doubt elevated our association in the community and we are incredibly fortunate to continue to lean on Owen and his vast knowledge and experience as he continues to serve as our past president.   

 

One final note, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the sponsors for their support during the conference and over the past year. Without it, we could not provide the excellent education, and numerous golf events for our members to enjoy. You are an important part of this association’s success, and we thank you for this continued support.  

 

Have a great start to the 2024 season everyone. 

 

Sincerest regards,  

Ian McQueen, OGSA President, Superintendent at St. George’s Golf & Country Club