Walker named to GCSAA field staff post

John Walker, who has been a golf course superintendent in Texas for the past 30 years, has been named the field staff representative for the South Central region of the GCSAA.

Walker joins the GCSAA staff following four years as director of golf course maintenance at Bentwater Yacht and Country Club in Montgomery, Texas. He also served as the golf course superintendent at Blackhorse Golf Club in Cypress, Texas; Shadow Hawk Country Club and Houstonian Country Club in Richmond, Texas. Walker was chosen from a field of many quality candidates for the job, who went through a rigorous interview process.

“I am thrilled to join the GCSAA staff and be able to share my knowledge and passion for the profession with other superintendents in the South Central region,” said Walker. “GCSAA is undertaking some exciting and important initiatives, and I look forward to helping implement those valuable new member services and programs with superintendents from Arkansas to New Mexico.”

Walker has served on numerous national committees and was in his second year as a GCSAA board member, a position he has relinquished with his hire as a member of the association staff. Walker also is a former president of both the South Texas GCSA and the Lone Star GCSA, and he served on the board of directors of the Texas Turfgrass Association.

Beginning on June 1, Walker will be the GCSAA liaison for affiliated chapters in Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. GCSAA has nine regional field staff members who maintain direct communication with 98 affiliated chapters.

Walker has a bachelor of science degree in agronomy from Texas A&M University. He and his wife, Sharon, reside in Magnolia, Texas.

“While I am sad to see John leaving the board, I am proud to support him as he leads by example, directly bringing superintendents together in his home region to benefit GCSAA, its affiliated chapters and the profession,” said Bill H. Maynard, CGCS, GCSAA president and director of golf course maintenance operations at St. Albans (Mo.) Country Club.

With Walker leaving the nine-member national board, past president Keith Ihms, CGCS and director of golf course maintenance at Bella Vista (Ark.) Village, has been appointed to temporarily fill his vacated position until the 2018 annual meeting in February. At that time, Ihms will resign from the board and an appointment will be made to fill the final year of Walker’s two-year term, according to GCSAA bylaws.

As a recent past president (2015), Ihms is familiar with current GCSAA initiatives, specific committee assignments and will provide continuity to the board for the next eight months.

“I am honored to be asked to serve the GCSAA membership in this temporary capacity on the board of directors, and I thank the ownership at Bella Vista for again supporting me and GCSAA,” said Ihms.

More information will be provided later regarding the board elections and appointments that will be made at the 2018 annual meeting in San Antonio.