EW Podcast - Joel Simmons with Amanda & Mike Fontaine

Meet the father and daughter team of the industry- Amanda and Mike Fontaine from The Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley, Massachusetts. These two golf course superintendents have enjoyed a lot of recognition recently after being featured in several industry publications. Mike has been on the property for 23 years and recently moved into the role of General Manager. This change presented him with the opportunity to offer his daughter the position of Golf Course Superintendent. Amanda grew up on the golf course and remembers playing in the bunkers and then having to rake them when done! She talks about the challenges of being not only a young superintendent, but the daughter of the GM. She also gives us great insights into how she runs the show, her challenges agronomically, and makes a point of not being afraid to ask questions. Mike and Amanda talk about the challenges of finding and maintaining labor in a market where golf rounds are up and wear and tear on the property is worse than ever. They work for IGM, a management company, on a course that is owned by the town of South Hadley, MA and discuss how that affects day to day operations. It is so refreshing to hear a father and daughter team talk with passion about the golf course and the industry.

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