Thomas Watroba

Tom Watroba, superintendent/manager of the Suffield Country Club and past and past president of CAGCS was presented the coveted award of Superintendent of the Year at our Winter Seminar on March 19th.

Since this award is bestowed upon the recipient by a vote of his peers, it has become our organization's most prestigious honor. The award is given annually to an active Class A or Life member who has held that classification for a minimum of five years. The award is presented to an individual who has shown exemplary skills in maintaining a golf facility and one who has devoted his or her time and effort to help benefit fellow superintendents along with local and nation golf associations.

Tom Watroba certainly meets this criteria. When Tom was elected CAGCS President in 1990, he was a catalyst of new energy of our ever-growing association and was instrumental in paving the way for us into the 1990's. For those of us who have been around, we can look back to 1990 and see how the building blocks from Tom's administration have vaulted us into the efficient, organized and professional association, which we have now become. Tom was responsible for strengthening the organization by encouraging better relations amongst our large and diverse membership.

Tom believed that camaraderie amongst members, along with staying current and progressive, were very important golfs of his administration.

Under Tom's administration, our association jumped into the new age of the computer and helped establish a permanent CAGCS home office. Under Tom's administration we saw the business matters of our association become more efficient, the attendance at our membership meetings and special events increased twofold, and camaraderie in the association began a new era.

A special highlight of Tom's administration was at the organization of the first golf summit. As many of you know, this event was greatly received in its infancy. It was Tom's thought that an event of this type could only help improve and promote the relationship between the club professionals, superintendents, managers and club board committee chair-people.

Tom joined CAGCS in 1980 and became a member of the Board of Governors in 1983. He served as membership chairman, secretary, long-range planning chairman, vice president and eventually served as President of the years 1990 and 1991.

Tom became the golf course superintendent at Suffield CC in September of 1979, a club at which he still resides.

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts, Tom's first job out of school was that of the assistant superintendent at Winchendon golf Club in Winchendon, MA. After a brief stay there Tom moved in to become the superintendent at the Forest Park country Club in 1977.

Tom became interested in the game of golf while he was learning t caddy and play the game in his home in the Berkshires.

Although tom's father was a scratch golfer, Tom soon realized that he would never be able to make a living at playing the game, so he decided that golf course management was the avenue for him.

As many of you may know, Tom and I have been friends and colleagues for quite some time. Tom's no non-sense approach to turf management is always a refreshing conversation that I look forward to…and we do a lot of it.. turf talk, that is!!!

Tom's management qualities have paid off for his employer, Suffield Country club. Two years ago, Tom was asked by his club to take on the duties of clubhouse manager, along with his present duties of golf course superintendent. As we all know, managing a golf course, whether it be 9 or 18 holes, is a challenging endeavor in itself. Hats off to Tom for wearing two hats every day.

The Suffield country club is a private, very scenic 9-hole layout located in Suffield, CT, where Tom resides with his wife, Bonnie, and two children, Travis and Tim.

Word has it that the next generation of Watrobas, through his son Travis, will enter the golf management field as he is attending the University of Massachusetts.

I would like to conclude with a personal note to my long-time friend and colleague…"Congratulations. It was long overdue!"