We all know 2020 has been different. People are struggling with mental issues, separation anxiety, loneliness, stress related to job security and financial uncertainty as wealth as physical health stress related to the virus. It's always interesting to hear what people are thankful for, but since this year has been unlike any other, we thought it might be especially insightful to know what is on people's minds this year, so we asked some of our friends to share what they are thankful for this year.
FYI, we figured "family" would be everyone's first response, so we asked them not to use that.
Grateful that the election is over!!!!!!!!!!
Joe Wachter
Glen Echo Country Club, St. Louis
Grateful that the membership who stepped up this season and supported the golf course and club when normal operations were curtailed significantly.
For our staff with a number of Covid positive cases which was concerning to the staff but they came to work and had the place in great condition all season.
Grateful that the election is over!!!!!!!!!!
Always grateful for TurfNet and its community of members.
Grateful for streaming services that kept my attention when there wasn’t much to do but work and go home.
Changing jobs in the middle of a pandemic may present uncertainties on paper. My faith in God to guide me into a new position during the onset of a world pandemic was just that-faith.
Tony Nysse
Mountain Lake, Lake Wales, Florida
Health: The Health of my family. Thus far, myself & my family have been fortunate to remain healthy through the pandemic. From day #1, my wife (who was in the medical field before being a full-time mom) changed the daily routines for herself & our daughter. She has gone through hoops to keep her safe & busy. We have also worn out our Amazon account during the same time period.
Membership: A patient, supportive & understanding membership. Our membership has adapted & accepted new protocols to remain safe. While some of the “traditions” that we have here are on ice for the time being, everyone’s main focus has been to continue to provide an enjoyable atmosphere where they feel safe in every activity they partake in.
Staff: A staff that has also had to make similar adjustments while dealing with the loss of a team member to Covid. Not only has the staff had to make adjustments because of the work around them, we have also made numerous adjustments throughout the course, have made strides to promote a safe, warm & accepting culture while trying to give everyone a sense of normalcy from the outside world.
Peer groups, communication: Via zoom, twitter, email, text, trade publications & social media; we have not skipped a beat as a profession. Turf professionals continue to adapt, adjust & aid in advice, offering successful examples & thinking outside the box. We have shown that we can actually advance our profession during a pandemic. That says a lot of turf professionals & our profession, in general.
Faith: Changing jobs in the middle of a pandemic may present uncertainties on paper. My faith in God to guide me into a new position during the onset of a world pandemic was just that-faith. He opened doors & placed people into my life along the way to make the transition much easier than it could have been.
John Zimmers
Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
I am very thankful and grateful for my loving wonderful supportive wife.
I am also very thankful for my health and family and friend’s health, the great working environment that I am in, and the ability to try and do something positive for myself and others every day.
Carlton Henry
Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
Being healthy in a time where everyone’s health is at risk, so that I can continue to do what I love.
My dad for being a great role model of honesty and hard work and always giving great advice.
The entire grounds staff at Inverness Club, for working hard with great commitment and positivity during a challenging year.
My dog Max, for always putting a smile on everyone’s face, never talking politics and for watching over Inverness.
The Golf Industry, which allows me to do what I love every day.
Ryan Kaczor
Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
I am thankful for finding a positive each day during this crazy year, having a wonderful job surrounded by caring people, working in an outdoor environment with a beautiful view, having a healthy and supportive family and most importantly Mother Nature for providing me job security.
When everything else seemed banned, I could still play golf and see my friends.
Kevin Frank
Michigan State University
Girlfriend: Self explanatory.
Dogs: Daily companionship in an isolated pandemic world.
Job: Grateful to be employed and adapting to educating in a virtual world.
Golf: When everything else seemed banned, I could still play golf and see my friends.
House: Whether completing projects inside or out, keeps me busy.
Have three kids in college and all are great kids, lead clean lives, great group of friends and do very well in their academics.
Tony Girardi
Rockrimmon Country Club, Stamford, Connecticut
Employed: Incredibly grateful to be fully employed right through 2020. Our club has been very responsible during Covid and allowed all our staffs to be employed since day one.
Kids: Have three kids in college and all are great kids, lead clean lives, great group of friends and do very well in their academics.
Summer 2020: Since we had a scaled down golf calendar at work (only club champ event) it allowed me to take virtually every weekend off. That hasn’t happened in 30-plus years of employment.
Membership: After 26-years at RCC, I have to keep pinching myself to have an incredibly supportive membership.
Wife: Last but not least, going to celebrate our 25-year anniversary in spring 2021.
My son being in school: He has really blossomed this year and is grateful for being able to be in person rather than stuck online.
Brandon Horvath
University of Tennessee
Golf: Get outside, exercise, spend time with friends in an easy to social distance activity.
My son being in school: He has really blossomed this year and is grateful for being able to be in person rather than stuck online.
My students: I’ve enjoyed having them face-to-face in class and they appreciate it too. I think we underestimate how important social contact is for us.
My job: It allows me to provide for my family, and while we made adjustments, I’ve stayed employed, and that’s not true of so many others.
My grill: I’ve really gotten into cooking (I was into it before, but this heightened my desire to cook), and got serious about weight loss at the beginning of the pandemic. I love making healthy, flavorful meals for me and my family, and I’m down 50 pounds since the pandemic. Making lemonade out of lemons.
Last but not least, I’m thankful Zoom has an off button. Ha ha.
Jim Brosnan
University of Tennessee
My wife: She’s the biggest luxury in my life and that was never more true than in 2020. I spent big portions of the spring stressing over pandemic related questions: Would my team be able to conduct our research this summer? How would we do it under COVID protocol? Would there be funding available to keep my employees paid? What about my students that had their degree programs active? What about the events that were planned? While I was swimming in my own pool of anxiety, she stepped up to outright lead our family. Not only did she make sure we had all the supplies needed to continue living as normal, she also jumped right into being a defacto 2nd grade teacher when my daughter’s school went online and did not miss a beat. All the while she was a rock for both my daughter and me as we adjusted to the new normal.
My team: I’m blessed to have a great team to work with at UT and they demonstrated incredible resolve in 2020. From Zoom meetings, to sanitizing mowers, to laboratory exercises in masks, they’ve handled everything that 2020 has thrown their way and have not missed a beat. I’m proud of what we accomplished this year and will leave 2020 excited for what the future holds. The “pause” in normal activities imparted by COVID has allowed time for reflection on what we’ve been doing, as well as strategizing how we can best improve in the future.
My job: Given the scope of economic contraction that’s occurred in 2020 (and is likely to continue), I’ve never been more thankful for my job at UT and that they’ve been supportive of creative approaches to conduct work in these unique circumstances.
The industry: I’m thankful that I work in an industry like turfgrass that’s been able to offer so many an escape from the stress and anxiety of 2020. We’ve seen not only increased rounds in the golf industry, but an overall increased appreciation for urban greenspace and the benefits of spending time in nature. I’m hopeful this will continue in 2021 and beyond.
My age: I’m thankful this pandemic happened when I was an adult. I really feel for the kids who have been affected by the pandemic. It has to be terribly strange to go to school online (particularly in grades K-12) or wear masks all day and interact socially within physical distancing protocols. I also feel for the young adults starting off in their careers and trying to forge their path. The uncertainty of this year has to make that even more difficult than normal.
Last but not least, I’m thankful Zoom has an off button. Ha ha.
Joe Rimelspach
Ohio State University
Thankful for a healthy new granddaughter, Grace Maire, born in Mexico. Hope to see her for the first time at Christmas.
Thankful for a job (a livelihood) and one I can work from home through this Covid-19 times. Thankful I am not on the streets or a burden to family and or the public.
Thankful for a very special golf outing this fall on a beautiful day with my two brothers and my dad (Bill) who is 92! Dad almost birded a par 3 hole. He still loves to play the game even with bad shoulders, knees and back. What a gift that day was.
Thankful for my wife who is my best friend, encourager and companion!
Thankful for a loving God the Father, Jesus my Savior from death and sin, and the power to live life on this earth to the fullest by the Holy Spirit.
Todd Hicks
Ohio State University
My job: I am fortunate enough to really like what I do - and get paid for it.
The ability to still do my job through our current Covid-19 problems: Many people are not able to work or have had their work severely hurt by Covid-19 restrictions.
Industry and turf managers support: I am very thankful for all the support our program gets from the turf industry and the people who grow and manage turf in our area.
My family and friends: The older I get, the more I measure my success at being a good person, OK maybe just decent person, is by the friends and family who continue to support me in work and life.
I am thankful for the doctors, nurses and hospital staff who have saved lives during the coronavirus pandemic including mine.
Karl Danneberger
Ohio State University
Front Line Workers: I am thankful for the doctors, nurses and hospital staff who have saved lives during the coronavirus pandemic including mine.
Steve Cook
Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Illinois
My health: I’m still able to get in the mountains or on my bike and do the physical things I love.
That I have had positive role models in my life: Between my parents, my friends and coworkers I have people around me that exhibit positive attributes that I can learn from.
My future self: The lessons of my past remind me that my best life is in front of me.
That my parents gave me the love of reading: It’s my number one favorite hobby, and my eyesight is till good enough to enjoy it!
I’m grateful I recognize there is something greater than me. I’m constantly reminded that whatever hardships I think I have they are only temporary.
I am thankful for my health and as you get older you cherish how important it is.
Bruce Williams
Brandt Consolidated
I am thankful for my health and as you get older you cherish how important it is.
I am thankful for my friends. I have and continue to make many friends in the industry.
I am thankful to be an American. Land of the free and home of the brave.
I am thankful for my education, not only in the classroom but in real life.
I am thankful for the many mentors I have had in my life and career. Without them I wouldn't be the person I am today.
Rick Tegtmeier
Des Moines Golf and Country Club, West Des Moines, Iowa
My wife: I have a woman who has supported and accepted this crazy career for 35+ years and never complains, it is huge when you have that kind of support.
My club: To work for a club that has been very proactive and careful in this Covid world. Didn’t agree with it at first but really appreciate the education I received on it all.
Our staff: To work with such a dedicated group of young professionals that come in everyday to face new challenges and conquer them without complaints.
My mentors and what they taught me: This was the year that you had to draw from all of your experiences to try and develop new ways to do things or re-invent old ideas. I had a few people who have taught me and drove in some values that were very hard to understand back then but can be appreciated now.
Social media: I learn so much from others and it is great to learn new ideas and try new things because people share their experiences. There are a lot of things that are bad with social media but that is one of the good things.
That golf is bringing friends and families together more than ever this year, because that will persist long after the pandemic.
Dan Meersman
Philadelphia Cricket Club, Philadelphia
Our team members, because they have proven to be respectful of each other's health, and caring for members in continuing to perform their jobs at a high level.
Our membership, because they ensured our employees are cared for and "made whole" from a compensation standpoint throughout every stage of the pandemic.
Our club volunteer leaders, because of the amount of time they have dedicated to club-decisions this year.
Simply being in the golf industry, because it is one of the few professionals that has maintained some sense of normalcy.
That golf is bringing friends and families together more than ever this year, because that will persist long after the pandemic.
That The Masters was able to be played in November, because seriously, who can live without it?
I’m thankful for friends that you can just have an honest conversation with about bad days.
Sean Reehoorn
Aldarra Golf Club, Sammamish, Washington
I’m thankful for golf: Who knew in a pandemic it would provide a safe place for employment and easy access to a fantastic outdoor space?
I’m thankful for friends that you can just have an honest conversation with about bad days.
I’m thankful for technology: Zoom, podcasts, Netflix have made staying connected to friends and family easier and provide lots of good distractions.
I’m thankful for working on myself: I’ve spent the last few years seeing a professional working on me and without, I think 2020 would have been more difficult and more stressful.
