Memo from Greg Paul - Outgoing Director of Golf
February 6, 2008
Golf Program Changes
After 25 years of serving the golf program, including 15 years as Head Professional / Director of Golf, I want to inform the Golf Club that I will be stepping down on March 31, 2008. I am very pleased and confident in my selected replacement – Jeff McMahon, our very popular assistant professional that has served both the Golf Club and myself in that capacity for nine seasons.
Watching Jeff and others participate in the application and interview process brought back a lot of memories for myself. Applying for, and eventually being offered the head professional position at Sudden Valley was one of the biggest achievements of my life. I will be forever thankful for the opportunity. This job has meant a great deal to my family and myself. Although I’m looking forward to a new chapter in my life, I must confess that I have reservations as I approach my last day. My position here has been more than just a job; it’s been a way of life for me. In many ways my place in this community has represented a huge part of the purpose in my life. I will miss it.
Coming into the Head Professional position 15 years ago, I was confident, and really thought I knew everything that I needed to know regarding running this operation. However, let me tell you, this experience has taught me so much about life, relationships, politics and business. To the many that have touched my life over the past 25 years, I thank you. I’ve enjoyed serving you. I want to give a very special thank you to Ron Hass, for seeing potential in me. When I moved to Bellingham in the fall of 1980 to attend WWU, I came to the Pro Shop to inquire about a job and met Ron. He told me to check back in the spring of 1981 - and the rest is history. My path in life was set. I was “in awe” of this golf course and community back then – and still am today. During my early years many others have “taken me under their wing” – for which I am very appreciative of.
The Sudden Valley experience has been quite a unique one. From the early days when the community and Golf Club was 90% Canadian supported, through the Canadian dollar crash in the 1980’s, and into the “Ewen Stewart era” when a Canadian developer purchased hundreds of “tax sale” lots and tried to bundle the lots with the golf course and sell the block as a package. Then we entered the “sewer moratorium era” which lasted over 10 years and nearly broke the community. And finally to the current period where the community came out of the moratorium, voted to increase dues, and started to fix and re-build many parts of the community.
Most of my experience at Sudden Valley has been one of limited financial means and budget cuts. However, the golf program has always been looked upon as the “favored amenity” or “community centerpiece”. Even when money was tight, the golf program was looked after. The past 6 years has represented a wonderful period for the Community, and a wonderful period to manage the golf course as well. Over the past 6 years the golf course had committed to an agressive fairway sand topdressing program - which required the purchase of a full size turf tractor, a Ty Crop large area top-dresser, a commercial sweeper, and a new fairway aerifier. We have also upgraded the fleet of golf carts, purchased a new rotary rough mower, replaced 3 turf trucks, installed new drainage to #2 and #15 fairways, installed new drainage in #12, #13, and #14 greens, re-built 2 bunkers on the course, and recently up-graded the practice facility (re-built the practice putting green, added a practice bunker, and expanded the driving range tee).
However the future of the golf program is unclear. The community is once again at a crossroads. Due to the effect of inflation, our dollars do not cover as much any longer – in the community or the golf program. As the Sudden Valley community responds by cutting and budget tightening, the golf department is naturally affected. All areas of our community share in the good times, and bad times. Whenever community finances become tight, all income sources naturally come under scrutiny. The need for golf course profitability has once again jumped into the radar screen as a very high priority.
In closing, I just want to say that this experience has truly been a wonderful one. I am thankful of all of the personal relationships my position has allowed, and am thankful for the personal development that I have received from this experience. I’ve tried hard to give back as much as I can to our golf program and community – but my efforts pale in comparison to what the Sudden Valley community has given to me personally in all aspects of my life. The Paul family is planning on staying in the Sudden Valley community, and I will always be happy to be a resource for the Community Association, the Pro Shop, and the Golf Club.