Dorothy famously said "there's no place like home" as she clicked her ruby slipper-covered heels in an effort to return to Kansas 84 years ago. Apparently, she had never been to Idaho.
For nearly a quarter-century, there has been a Gourlay employed at Colbert Hills.
That run is about to come to an end soon when Matt Gourlay, CGCS, leaves Colbert Hills in Manhattan, Kansas, for the next phase in his career.
On Dec. 4, Gourlay will begin his new position as superintendent at Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho.
He leaves behind a golf course, where his father, David, was grow-in superintendent and chief financial officer, and that Golfweek ranked as the No. 5 public access course in Kansas.
"It's definitely emotional," said Gourlay, 38. "I've gone through a whole range of emotions at one time — happy, sad, anxious."
Gourlay began working for his father at Colbert Hills when he was 14 years old.
"They paid me in cash because I was underage," Gourlay said.
"It was like doing chores. My dad would say 'Come to the golf course. There's something you can help me with.' "
While he attended Kansas State, Gourlay worked for three years under superintendent Kenny Rogers.
Gourlay was a senior at KSU in 2007 when Rogers retired. He applied to be Rogers' successor, and was hired as superintendent before graduation.
Leaving a place that has been so important to his family for so long was no easy decision for Gourlay, wife Jenna and their 5-year-old son, Payne.
"There were a lot of things that we considered as a family," Gourlay said. "One was it had to be a really special place. And we think Boise is the place, and we think Hillcrest is that golf course.
"We love the scenery. It's at the base of the foothills. … The city is in a plateau, then there are hills and the Rockies are right behind it. I'm Canadian and I played a lot of hockey. There are a lot of outdoor sports to do with my son."
According to course history, Hillcrest sits on the site of the old Idaho Country Club. The original nine holes at Hillcrest were fashioned in the 1940s. The second nine, located across a road, came some 20 years later. All 18 were designed by Oregon architect A. Vernon Macan.
Since 1990, Hillcrest has been the site of the Korn Ferry Tour Boise Open.
It's definitely emotional. I've gone through a whole range of emotions at one time — happy, sad, anxious.
Eventually landing at a bigger club, perhaps one that was a tour stop, also went into the decision to leave Colbert Hills, said Gourlay, the 2015 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year. To that end, members at Colbert Hills have been positive since he told them he was leaving.
"There has been such an outpouring of support," he said. "Everyone has been so supportive for the past 24 years. It's sad leaving, but they understand that I was destined to take on a bigger club with more resources."
One of Gourlay's biggest supporters now and since he was named superintendent has been the facility's namesake, professional golfer Jim Colbert.
"Jim Colbert has always been a supporter of mine," Gourlay said. "He's been super appreciative of everything."
Gourlay's goal at Hillcrest is a simple one.
"I want to build upon what they've done so far," he said.
"They don't have a master plan, but maybe we can come up with one for the club to enhance what they have.
"It's important for a club to buy-in to what a master plan is and what they want as a club.
"A goal of mine is to create one and create a vision where they can improve the course in the next several years."
