Utah GCSA members during a past spring service project.
Editor’s note: Chapter Spotlight is a bimonthly GCM feature designed to highlight notable achievements and impactful initiatives among GCSAA’s 94 affiliated chapters. To submit ideas for this feature, contact Howard Richman at hrichman@gcsaa.org.
For Karen Skidmore, the eyes have it.
Everything that goes on inside the facility where she is employed at East South Temple Road is important. When she looks outside, though, a group of people who come there each year provides a visually appealing effort every visit.
It’s happening again this year. Members from the Utah GCSA are planning to make the trek to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Intermountain Area in downtown Salt Lake City in April for the chapter’s spring service project to accomplish myriad chores, from painting to planting things such as tomatoes, peppers and squash.
Skidmore can’t wait for the 2025 edition.
“They come, all day long, bring their families, knocking out everything we need,” says Skidmore, project manager at the RMHC. “They’re hard workers. They just knock it out.”
RMHC of the Intermountain Area surrounds families with the support they need to be near and care for their seriously ill or injured children. RMHC provides a home-away-from-home to ease daily burdens and empower families of hospitalized children with meaningful experiences and quality time together. RMHC strives to provide exceptional programs with fiscal responsibility, accountability and compassionate thoughtfulness.
Utah GCSA’s mission statement is: “Dedicated to improving the superintendents’ position in the golf industry through education, networking, advocacy, and to grow the game of golf.” What the chapter does outside of its member golf courses is inspiring to chapter executive Allie Schneiter.
“They’re awesome. They take their time away from work, family, to participate, willing to help one another, and they all look out for each other,” Schneiter says.
When Schneiter’s predecessor, Natalie Barker, oversaw the Utah GCSA, a union with RMHC was established. It was a no-brainer for the chapter to pursue. “These kinds of programs are vital, important for us to get involved,” Barker says. “It was like, ‘We’ve got experience on the ground, so let’s get involved.’ These families go through so much, and it’s very eye-opening to see what they go through. It’s a neat experience to be part of what we do for the Ronald McDonald House.”
More than a couple dozen Utah GCSA member superintendents arrive at RMHC with a daylong plan to do a bevy of tasks, including spreading mulch and painting fences. RMHC purchased the tools they need, including everything from seed to wheelbarrows.
John Hansgen, CGCS, is known to bring multiple members of his crew with him. “I try to take as many guys as I can for whatever it is we’re doing,” says Hansgen, a 22-year GCSAA member who oversees Fox Hollow Golf Course in American Fork, Utah. “Ronald McDonald House has amazing services for families. It’s good to support something like that and show off the skills our members have, how efficient, hard-working and organized our people are. These kids at Ronald McDonald House go through hard times. For all of us to spruce up that facility and make that one block look so much better is what it’s all about.”
Utah GCSA member Eric Gifford and his wife, Olga, have special places in their hearts for RMHC. Several years ago, they stayed at Primary Children’s Hospital in an RMHC-sponsored room for their son there in Salt Lake City. The Giffords stayed there for two weeks at PCH’s cardiac ICU for parents. Today, the Giffords volunteer or donate whenever they can for RMHC in Salt Lake City.
“It (RMHC rooms for parents) is a place that feels like home when you’re away from home,” says Gifford, a GCSAA Class A superintendent and 21-year association member who’s in charge at Salt Lake Country Club in Salt Lake City. “What Ronald McDonald House does means a lot.”
Gifford actually had a say in the decision to connect Utah GCSA with RMHC when he was on the chapter board. “We (Utah GCSA) love being supporters,” he says, “and being part of what Ronald McDonald House does is personal for me.”
There’s no doubt that the service project is a family affair for Utah GCSA. Superintendents have brought family members. Schneiter’s daughter, Lindsey, participated. “It was a good experience for her. I want to teach her about giving back,” says Schneiter, whose sons, Luke and Liam, also were there, “and I think she really enjoyed it.”
Skidmore, meanwhile, is thankful for it. She even mentioned how Utah GCSA gets into the spirit for that day, like the time it made T-shirts specifically for the event. “They’re amazing,” Skidmore says. “They are appreciated, and we love what they can do.”
Howard Richman is GCM's managing editor