TurfNet Superintendent of the Year 2009
Finalist Profile:
Jeff Stauffer, Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, Mississauga, Ontario
 A frozen river typically is not much cause for concern during winter in Canada. But the winter of 2009 was not typical in the Toronto area, where a winter storm caused major damage to Credit Valley Golf and Country Club and severe headaches for superintendent Jeff Stauffer.
The storm whipped through Mississauga last February and caused an ice blockage in the Credit River that runs through the golf course. As a result, ice as much as 12 feet thick covered parts of the golf course. Several fairways and a green were destroyed, while another green and more than 50 bunkers and 400 trees were damaged. In all, damage to the golf course topped $2 million and delayed opening of parts of the course by some four months.
As director of golf Adam Cherry wrote in his nomination of Stauffer, 38, for TurfNet's 2009 Superintendent of the Year Award presented by Syngenta, that the storm and ensuing ice damage "left the golf course decimated."
Club president Stephen Rowe, in his letter of nomination, called the damage the worst in the history of the club, which architect Robbie Robinson designed the current layout in the late 1960s.
"The project turned out well beyond anyone's expectations, and could not have done without the leadership of Jeff Stauffer," Cherry wrote in his letter.
According to Cherry, fairways that were not covered in ice had been gouged by it. The slabs of ice cut through the frozen turf like a knife to expose irrigation pipe as well as subsurface rock. Two bridges crossing the river were twisted like pretzels by the passing ice. Making matters worse, Stauffer and club officials had to wait until the ice melted before they could fully assess the damage that it caused. When the thaw came, many at the club wondered whether there would be a golf season at all in 2009.
Although much of the golf course was in need of repair, there were other outstanding projects that would have to come first, such as the need to reroute Nos. 3-5 because of a problem with golfers hitting balls offline into an adjacent property. Likewise, a pond expansion project that had been started the previous fall also had to be completed first.
By the time Stauffer and his staff got around to making repairs to the ice-damaged golf course, resodding was required on at least six fairways, several greens and surrounds, and dozens of bunkers had to be rebuilt. The ice also destroyed about half the irrigation heads on the golf course.
Four contractors were employed and as many as 75 workers were on the golf course at any one time during the reconstruction.
Stauffer's efforts earned praise from members and club administrators, with some saying the course (the current layout was designed in the 1960s by architect Robbie Robinson) had never been in better shape. He also was applauded for his ability to keep the project on track while also keeping parts of the golf course open for play. Ten holes were opened in the spring, with the remaining eight opening on Aug. 15.
"Jeff solely coordinated all the contractors throughout the restoration process, while at the same time motivating and leading his staff to maintain undamaged parts of the course for member play," wrote general manager Ian Webb in his nomination letter. "Creative options for routing were developed to get members around the course in an enjoyable rotation.
"He is a tremendous asset to our club and is well deserving of this award."
The Superintendent of the Year award, sponsored by Syngenta, is presented annually by TurfNet to one outstanding superintendent selected from among those nominated by club officials, course owners, members, casual golfers, or staff members.
The winner will be announced at GIS in San Diego, and will travel with a guest to Ireland for a week-long golf course tour, courtesy of Syngenta.
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