This month, 32 turfgrass professionals will visit GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., for the fourth Women’s Leadership Academy. The education and networking event, which brings women in the industry together to learn from, connect with and encourage each other, runs Nov. 10-12.
The 2 1/2-day event includes sessions on leadership, communication and more, with featured speakers including Rear Admiral Jackie McClelland and Mary Lou Bohn, president of Titleist Golf Balls at Acushnet Co.
The Women’s Leadership Academy is hosted and paid for by GCSAA with the support of industry benefactors: The Toro Co. and Yamaha Golf-Car Co., who support the event as Trailblazer benefactors, and PBI-Gordon and Syngenta support the event as Pathfinder benefactors. The event is endorsed by the Sports Field Management Association.
Attendees come from as close by as Lawrence and as far away as Costa Rica, in positions spanning the industry — from golf course superintendent to marketing management to academia and beyond.
Here are the stories of some of the women attending this year’s Women’s Leadership Academy:
Ryliann Bednar with her dad Michael Bednar, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash. Photo courtesy of Ryliann Bednar
Ryliann Bednar
Growing up, Ryliann Bednar had a front-row seat to the turfgrass industry. Her father, Michael Bednar, is the GCSAA Class A superintendent at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash., and a 19-year GCSAA member.
“Some of my favorite memories are actually from being at the golf course with him,” Bednar, a student at Northern Kentucky University pursuing sports business and event management, says. “I remember being about 10 or 11 years old and waking up early on a freezing morning just so I could ride along with him at work. At that age, I definitely didn’t understand everything that went into his job, but I knew how much he loved what he did, and I loved getting to be there with him.”
Watching her dad at work gave Bednar early inspiration to enter the industry. However, there weren’t many female role models. That’s changed for Bednar as she’s gotten older and prepares to enter the industry herself. “As I have gotten older and gained more experience, I have met more women working in different areas of the industry,” she says. “Seeing women succeed in these roles has shown me there are a lot of opportunities available and has made me want to build more connections with women who have similar interests and career goals.”
Right now Bednar, who also plays golf for Northern Kentucky, isn’t sure what part of the industry she’ll join after graduation, though she knows golf is where she’d like to be. She’s hopeful her experience at the Women’s Leadership Academy will help her make connections and explore different potential paths.
“I think being able to learn from successful women, ask questions and build relationships with them will be extremely valuable as I start thinking about my career after college,” Bednar says.
Ashley Binkle accepted the superintendent position at Dundee Country Club 14 years ago, becoming one of only four female superintendents in Ontario. Photo courtesy of Ashley Binkle
Ashley Binkle
When Ashley Binkle was 15, she applied for a dishwashing job at Westmount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener, Ont., Canada. As her mom drove her home after dropping off her resume, she noticed a man emptying garbage cans outside. “I will never do that job,” Binkle, now the superintendent at Dundee Country Club in Kitchener, recalls telling her mom. A week later, after getting a job on Westmount’s turf crew, she found herself emptying those same garbage cans, and she was happy to do it. “I’ve been hooked ever since,” Binkle says.
After working various jobs in the turfgrass industry, including a seven-year stint as an assistant superintendent at The Oaks of St. George Golf Club, Binkle, a one-year GCSAA member, applied for the superintendent position at Dundee. “I honestly didn’t think I would get the job, as at that time, I didn’t know of any other female superintendents,” she says. But the bet she made on herself paid off — Binkle was hired, becoming the first woman hired by GolfNorth Properties, the company that manages Dundee Country Club. She’s now been in the job for 14 years. “I will be forever grateful to them for taking the chance on me,” she says.
Mentorship is an important part of the job. “My staff and the pride they take in their work is probably one of the best rewards I can have as a superintendent,” she says. “I love the energy and ideas my assistants bring to the job, and it is always a proud and bittersweet moment when they move on, but they all know I am always here for them and a resource for them.”
Binkle says she hopes to bring that connecting spirit to the Women’s Leadership Academy. “When I started as a superintendent and even as an assistant, it was very common for me to be the only female in the room,” she says. “I am hoping this experience will allow me to meet more women and broaden my network even further.”
Rylee Brown is pursuing a Master of Science degree in horticulture at the University of Arkansas. Photo courtesy of Rylee Brown
Rylee Brown
Rylee Brown, currently working on her Master of Science degree in horticulture at the University of Arkansas, first learned about the turfgrass industry two years ago, in an introductory course. She was hooked.
“I quickly realized that turfgrass science was very interesting, and with some encouragement, I joined the turf program,” Brown, a two-year GCSAA member, says. “I was initially drawn to turfgrass because I spent the majority of my childhood in my parents’ farm equipment dealership. I knew the world of turfgrass equipment, and I enjoyed getting to learn more about turf itself.”
As a graduate student interested in working in extension education, Brown says she’s always looking for opportunities to connect with others in the industry and learn about other potential career paths.
“One day, I want to be one of the experienced women that students look up to,” Brown says. “To do that, I need to meet and spend time with as many of those women as I can to gain an understanding and appreciation for their path in this industry.”
Maureen Calvo Rosales is the superintendent at Reserva Conchal Golf Club in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Photo courtesy of Maureen Calvo Rosales
Maureen Calvo Rosales
Maureen Calvo Rosales is the first woman in Costa Rica to hold a golf course superintendent position. “That’s something I’m very proud of, but I also see it as much more than a personal achievement,” Rosales, superintendent at Reserva Conchal Golf Club in Guanacaste and seven-year GCSAA member, says.
Rosales has worked in agronomy for nearly 15 years and is no stranger to male-dominated work environments. She says it’s given her a drive to achieve. “There have been many moments when I felt I had to prove that I could perform at the same level as my male colleagues and that I deserved to be in those spaces,” she says.
As an industry leader in Costa Rica, Rosales says her professional experience has also made her passionate about helping bring other women up in the profession. “I want women to see that it’s possible to build a career in golf course management, lead teams, make decisions and have a voice in an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated.”
However, just like anyone carrying a lot of responsibility, Rosales is learning that she doesn’t need to have all the answers all the time. It’s a lesson she’s learned in part by spending time with other women in the industry.
“One of the most important things I’m learning is that I don’t have to be strong all the time,” Rosales says. “Being surrounded by other women reminds me that I can continue to grow professionally, ask for support and still be myself. I don’t have to stop being a woman to succeed in this industry.”
Rose Quesada is the assistant superintendent at Zapotec Golf & Beach Club in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Along with Maureen Calvo Rosales, she is one of two attendees at the Women’s Leadership Academy this year from Costa Rica. Photo courtesy of Rose Quesada
Rose Quesada
When Rose Quesada was a student, she originally imagined herself working with traditional crops in her native Costa Rica. Then, for her graduation project, she was assigned to work on a golf course irrigation optimization project at Reserva Conchal Golf Club. Everything changed.
“The moment I stepped onto a golf course for the first time, I knew this was where I wanted to be. It was, quite literally, love at first sight,” Quesada, now an assistant superintendent at Zapotal Golf & Beach Club in Guanacaste and a two-year GCSAA member, says.
Quesada learned about the Women’s Leadership Academy through her work as a tournament volunteer. “The Women’s Leadership Academy has often come up in conversations, along with the profound, life-changing impact it has had on careers,” Quesada says. “I have no doubt that this experience will be just as meaningful for me, giving me the opportunity to strengthen and define my leadership as a woman in the golf industry with greater confidence, purpose and clarity.”
At those tournaments, Quesada says, she’s also seen increased representation from women in the industry, which is encouraging.
“I love surrounding myself with women who are hard-working, driven and passionate; women with different backgrounds, experiences and dreams, yet united by a common purpose: making our role and contributions in the golf industry more visible,” she says. “Every one of these experiences has reinforced for me that representation matters, and that when women come together, we create a stronger community for those who will follow.”
Abby Olcese is GCM's online editor.