In this first “It’s not just about the grass” segment of TurfNet All Stars of Turf, we recognize Scott Dodson, CGCS, and John Taylor. Both career superintendents, they are perhaps better known as the founders of the Golf Course Hockey Challenge, an annual 2-day/4-game tournament that has attracted as many as 16 teams of hockey playing superintendents, assistants and suppliers over a 25+ year run.
Dodson has been at the Park Country Club in Williamsville (Buffalo) NY for 30 years. Taylor is the property manager at the Grand Niagara Golf Club near Niagara Falls, Ontario.
TurfNet fielded a team in the Hockey Challenge for 22 years, providing offseason fun and friendships for many who wore the Team TurfNet jersey. Peter McCormick reminisces with Dodson and Taylor about the memorable exploits, characters and shenanigans that emerged from the event.
A must-watch (or listen) for anyone who has played in the Hockey Challenge, laced up skates or otherwise enjoyed the game of hockey.
Thanks Scott and John for the fond memories and enjoyable hockey.
Thank you Peter for letting me skate with team TurfNet. Always fun and I am one of the few that can say I got to play with you on the ice that first year.
The PAGCS just played NJGCA in our second annual PA VS NJ game. We are very interested in creating a combo PANJ team of our best players to then travel to Canada and play in this event. I think what we would need to know is when it is and how much it costs because there is definitely interest on our end. If needed you could reach out to the PAGCS local chapter and they would be able to get the information into the right hands.