Superintendent of the golf course, Unusual profession

It is at the break of day that the maintenance team of 12 people head out onto the Mont-Orford golf course. The 5 a.m. start holds one of the most beautiful perks: a magnificent orange sunrise, a little dew that makes the greenery sparkle and a light mist that makes our land even more mythical… a natural setting hard to beat!

“The first thing I do in the morning is visit all the greens to see if I can find any trace of disease in the ground. If there is a disease, it is really the worst thing for a golf course, ”says Brent, who has worked as the superintendent of the Orford Golf Club for 19 years.

A disease in the soil can be detected by unusual spots or a strange color on the grass. "When that happens, we will automatically treat all the greens on the course to prevent it from spreading, both by the players and by our team's equipment," explains Brent. “Some greens are more prone to disease than others. We have to keep a close eye on the 17th hole in particular!”

With the Mont-Orford Golf Club being in a national park, the maintenance work differs from most other courses. Among other things, the irrigation of the land is more complex because the use of water is restricted. Currently, we are only able to water the greens and certain tee boxes. “In general, it takes a good 9 hours to water the greens well and ensure that the ground is well irrigated. Even when it comes to the use of products such as specific pesticides for harmful insects, we have to be very careful and meticulous!”

“We have special training on the use of the products we use on the course. We pay particular attention to the waterways. Everything is very precise.”

It's no longer a secret that the fauna and flora found at the Mont-Orford Golf Club is very remarkable! In a single morning, you may spot a family of deer, various birds of prey and a few wild turkeys.

And if you are in the right place at the right time, a lynx or even a moose could pass in front of you! “Moose are rare, but every time we see one the course, they're headed for the green (red) flag!” says Brent.

Even if our natural setting is breathtaking all year round, the change of seasons also presents important challenges for the maintenance team. “In between winter and spring, we have to move quickly to remove the tarps from the greens, and it’s a big job! We have to make sure that the canvases do not stay too long so as not to create condensation and therefore illness, so timing is everything!” explains Brent. Not to mention the large amount of snow that accumulates on certain holes like the 9th which must be removed by our team.

“And in the fall, we take our blowers out for a few hours,” says Brent, laughing! “But above all, we must be attentive to the frost. If there is frost on the ground, we cannot let the players go onto the course as they can damage the grass and leave black marks on the course”.

As lunch approaches, Brent and the team only have an hour or two left before ending their day. “It’s really perfect, we start early… but we finish early too! ". And no need to tell you that having an outdoor office is truly what makes the gang happy.