Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
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JACQUES LESSARD
Superintendent and Assistant General Manager
Club de golf Lac-Mégantic
1039, Route 161, C.P. 41
Lac-Mégantic, Québec G6B 2S5
Club House: 819-583-4810
Garage: 819-583-4810
Cell: 819-583-7543
Fax: 819-583-6936
jac_les@hotmail.com
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After completing my horticultural studies at the ITA in 1979, I worked in landscaping with my brother for nearly 20 years before getting my start in golf in the Bois-Francs region, on a nine-hole course.
In 1998 I completed the ITA’s golf course management course and was hired by Paulo Roberge as superintendent of Club de golf Laurier, recently acquired by Club de Golf Victoriaville.
In 2000 I was named superintendent at Victoriaville, where I really learned the ins and outs of the job from Paulo Roberge. In 2008, I accepted the position of superintendent and assistant general manager at Club de golf Lac-Mégantic, a move that brought me back to my home turf. I have been a member of the QGSA’s Board of Directors since 2005. I have always sought to expand my horizons and do what I could to ensure our profession is recognized. I have also had the good fortune of working closely with the professionals on the board of directors, a factor that has kept me alert to the many challenges facing the golf industry. It is a very rewarding experience and I hope my contribution will benefit the association.
VICE-PRESIDENT
I have been a golf course superintendent for 12 years. After graduating in 1993, I worked in various regions as golf course employee and then as an assistant superintendent, which led to me where I am today.
I have served on the QGSA Board of Directors for three years. The progress we have made on several fronts, the mutual respect demonstrated by everyone involved, and our determination to carry out the tasks we are given are highly motivating in my efforts to ensure the association’s preservation and continuity.
SECRETARY-TREASURER
In 1967 my father bought the Rawdon Golf and Country Club (Golf Rawdon). I started working on the golf course at a very young age. After high school I started full time on the golf course. (1978) In 1982 I attended the short course at the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph. In 1983 I attended the two year diploma program at the Ontario Agricultural College, and graduated in 1985.
In the spring of 1987 I started at the position of assistant superintendent at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. I spent two seasons there learning from Ron Leishman. In 1989 I got the position of golf course superintendent at Rivermead Golf Club. Rivermead was a complete renovation and grow in project. I spent 6 years there. In 1995 I went back to the family business and spent 4 years at Golf Rawdon.
In 1999 I took the position of golf course superintendent at the Elmridge Country Club.
In 2002 I took the position of golf course superintendent at the Summerlea Golf and Country Club. 2002 was the year we hosted the LPGA Canadian womens open golf tournament.
I coach both my son’s hockey teams, and play golf and hockey.
PAST PRESIDENT
I am 40 years old, and I have worked in the golf industry since the age of 13. I started out as a caddy at Club de golf Rosemère and then at Hillsdale Golf and Country Club. That’s where I got my first job in golf: a position at the bag shop where I worked for five years. Then I was hired by Randy Scott to help maintain the course. I worked as a groundskeeper for three years, and then three more years as an assistant to Franz Hazenhundl and Robert Burrows. It was during that time that I was accepted at Penn State, with help from Randy Scott, and I studied agricultural science there for two years.
In 1995, I got my first job as superintendent at Rivermead Golf Club, an accomplishment for which I probably owe part of the credit to John Scott, the superintendent at the time. Since then, I have worked for 13 years as superintendent at Rivermead Golf Club, Elm Ridge Country Club, and now Station Mont-Tremblant. In 2004, I also worked one season for a company called Plant-Prod Québec. I received my certification from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 2002. In addition, I served as Director of the Quebec Turfgrass Research Foundation (QTRF) for seven years, and I’m in my seventh year as an QGSA director.
I feel very lucky to have the job I have in a profession I hold so dear. One of the reasons why I was drawn to this profession right from the start was the chance to take part in our association’s activities. But it quickly becomes clear that this association owes its survival not only to the participation of its members, among other factors, but also and to a substantial degree to the volunteer work done by its directors. I decided to join the Board of Directors so that I could do my part and help ensure that members can continue to enjoy the benefits that our association provides.
DIRECTORS
VINCENT CHEVRETTE
Surintendant
Club de golf Lorette
12986, Mgr Cooke
Loretteville, Québec G2A 3B6
Club House: 418- 842-8441
Garage : 418 842-6204
Cell.: 418-808-0751
Fax: 418 418 842-3378
vincent.chevrette@golflorette.ca |
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I’ve discovered golf at the age of 12 and I was immediately passionate about this sport, and also impressed by the environment and the atmosphere of a golf club. Then, the following year, I became member of the club de golf de Grand-Mère. Quite often, I played 36 holes a day, 7 days a week. The next year, I was hired by the pro for picking the balls in the driving range, my very first job in the world of golfing. Though, my pas-sion for agriculture was even stronger than my passion for golf.
With no close relation with agriculture and willing to become agronomist in dairy production and to own a dairy farm, I needed to get experience in that field. From 1996 to 1998, I worked on farms, where I befriended with continuing work, endless days and the joy to work outdoors. In 1999, since I was given the opportunity to work at the club de golf de Grand-Mère as caretaker, I decided to take it. I appreciated my experience a lot, but agriculture was calling for me. From 2000 to 2003, I studied agronomy at Univer-sité Laval to live my dream to work with dairy producers. Finally, I changed of field of study and went to study in soil science and environment. My very first job was as a busi-ness representative in large crops area and since I had some knowledge in golf, my em-ployer sent me to clients from the golfing business. By talking with golf superintendents, and not having enough time anymore to play my favourite sport, the job of superinten-dent was becoming to me an interesting option, of which I had never thought.
In 2004, disappointed by the job of business representative, I decided to get back to school in golf course management. With no job at my very first school day at the ITA, Mrs. Nancy Morin suggested me some golf clubs to contact in the area of Quebec, among which was the golf club Le Grand Portneuf, which I had discovered earlier, hav-ing played there on the previous year. After meeting with the management, I understood that their situation was ideal for a mid-term project of becoming superintendent. I worked three years as the assistant-superintendent of Mr. Jacques-Yvan Pelletier and it's been three years now that I'm superintendent at the Grand Portneuf. I now can tell that the job of superintendent suited me to a T, as it is a mix of my two passions.
Since I was eager to work in that field I love, I accepted, last spring, the invitation of the ASGC Board to become a director, willing that each and every member gets what they are expecting from us and to make sure the new generation of superintendents gets involved in their association.
Having worked in the industry ever since my childhood, I have had the opportunity to explore every aspect of the world of golf.
Thanks to my father, who was a golf professional himself, I had a golf club in my hands at the age of 4 and was already learning to love this marvellous sport.
Here is a summary of my professional experience in the world of golf:
| 2009 to date |
Superintendent at Club de golf Métabéroutain |
| 2008 to date |
Member of the QGSA Board of Directors |
| 2008–2009 |
Member of the Horticompétence Board of Directors |
| 2004–2008 |
Superintendent at Club de golf Godefroy
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| 1994–2003 |
Superintendent at Club de golf de Berthier |
| 1990–1993 |
Assistant superintendent at Club de golf de Berthier |
| 1979 |
Bartender and waiter at banquets |
| 1976–1978 |
Sponsored for the amateur golf circuit |
| 1973–1975 |
Assistant pro at the pro shop and golf coach |
| 1969–1972 |
Club and driving range attendant |
| 1965–1969 |
Caddy for Club de golf de Berthier members |
Being a part of the golf industry for over 22 years has meant a lot to me, and I am very proud to now be a part of this team. My desire to volunteer to become a part of the Board of Directors, comes from the pride we all share in our chosen profession. I feel very lucky to be in this industry, and I wish to do my part to help keep it moving forward, against all adversities.
I first became hooked on golf as a player. I joined the Dorval Municipal Golf Club as a junior member in 1985. I soon became an avid player, working on my game daily. I went on to win the Junior Club Championship, was runner-up for the John Pratt Trophy (match play), was runner up for the Men’s Club Championship in my first year of eligibility and played on the men’s “A” Intersectional Team for several years. As a player, I became very interested in the maintenance aspects of the course. In 1988, Mr. Francois Paris, the general manager of the Dorval Municipal Golf Course gave me my first opportunity to work on the turf maintenance staff. In 1991 I met a man by the name of Brent Swail, and he convinced me to work for him on the odd occasion until 1996. Thank you Brent, you always made me smile, even when I was laying soaking wet sod in the pouring rain.
In 1992, I was hired by Franz Hazenhundl to work at the Hillsdale golf club where I stayed until 1996. I took the Turf Managers Short Course in 1996 thanks to Bob Burrows, and was the inaugural recipient of the Dr. J. L. Eggens Scholarship for academics and leadership. In 2000 I attended the Winter School for Turf Managers at UMass Amherst, and won a scholarship from the QGSA. I presently hold the position of Assistant Superintendent at the Beaconsfield Golf Club, where I have been for the past 13 years.
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ÉRIC LAPRADE
Superintendent
Club de golf Milby
2200, Bower
Sherbrooke, Québec J1M 0B9
Club House: 819-821-4624
Garage: 819-821-4624
Cell: 819-574-4202
ernat2004@sympatico.ca
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My many years of experience in the world of golf began at the age of 9, as a caddy for Club de golf Lac Beauport, drawn in by my curiosity and marked interest in the sport. Towards the end of my teenage years, I was offered a job at the maintenance of the golf course. For many years I worked with my father, who was a superintendent himself. Later, Réjean Noel took over, and with his support I was able to further my education at Saint-Hyacinthe. My career as superintendent began in 1996 at Club de golf Mont-Tourbillon, after working for many years. Today, I have been employed by Club de golf Alpin for 5 years. My main reason for getting involved in the association is to serve our members and look out for their interests.