They're throwing a retirement party today for one of GCSAA's most active members, Walter Montross, CGCS, MG. The Virginia chapter of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents is expecting more than 50 friends and colleagues to show up at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Va., to honor Montross (pictured at far left, back row in the photo, which was shot at the MAAGCS's 2008 past presidents event) for his years in the profession and dedication to the associations that serve the industry.
A 36-year member of GCSAA, Montross has also been a member of BIGGA since 1999 and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association since 2003. He has been a CGCS since 1984 and achieved Master Greenkeeper status through BIGGA in 2000. Montross has served on four GCSAA committees and was a member of the MAAGCS board for 12 years, serving as president in 1989 and 1999. In 2006, he received the Virginia GCSA's Presidents Lifetime Service Award. His is certainly a familiar face at the numerous national and chapter educational conferences where he has taught seminars or moderated sessions.
In addition to his broad community service, Montross has hosted several field trips for University of Maryland students and has assisted in numerous projects for U of M and Virginia Tech turfgrass researchers. Throughout his career, Montross has mentored more than 10 former assistants and at least four students who went on to become superintendents, according to one of them: Bryan McFerren, who is the current MAAGCS president. Now the superintendent at Brambleton and Algonkian Golf Courses in Sterling, Va., McFerren was Montross's second assistant in 1994. "He taught me how to be a professional in this industry, not just a good golf course superintendent. He set the example," McFerren says.
Montross tells GCM that he feels it's time for him to "travel and kick back." He and his wife, Linda, recently built what he calls their "dream home" on the Chesapeake Bay, which will facilitate future boating, fishing and crabbing. "I'd like to be able to enjoy summer and not fight Mother Nature," Montross says. "I've been in the business a long, long time. The only job I've ever had is working on a golf course. I've so loved it."
Felicitations for the veteran greenkeeper's retirement may be sent in care of Theresa Baria, MAAGCS chapter executive, at maagcs@earthlink.com.
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