As we turn the page on another calendar year, 2025 was a special one for the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association celebrating their 75th anniversary.
Golf Manitoba Director of Communications and Development Brian Munz caught up with MGSA President Jordan Joye, the Head Superintendent at Oak Island Resort & Golf, to learn more about their association via the following Q&A:
Munz – Jordan, as the President of the MGSA, congratulations on the 75th anniversary of your association. When you look back at 2025, what stands out?
Joye – Thank you, it really is an honour to be President of the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association for its 75th year, following in the footsteps of some great past presidents and even better Superintendents. 2025 was another record breaking year across Manitoba. Courses came out of winter in mid-season condition, allowing everyone to hit the ground running and provide immaculate playing conditions first thing in the spring.
Munz – Before we get into the past, for those that are unaware, tell us about the MGSA.
Joye – The MGSA is an organization of individuals with a passion for growing and maintaining turf. We strive to deliver the best conditions possible on our properties, demonstrating professionalism and environmental stewardship while educating the public on what we do and why we do it. We currently have around 140 members ranging from Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Turf Professionals, Equipment Technicians, Industry Partners, students and Honourary Members.
Munz – A golf course superintendent is a unique position for a course in our region. Can you walk us through challenges of maintaining a course in Manitoba
Joye – Golf in Manitoba is underappreciated, in my opinion. Throughout the province there is a wide variety of different golf courses spread over different terrain, with varying microclimates that always provide its fair share of challenges. Probably the most unpredictable and trying challenge is Mother Nature, who is undefeated by the way. As Turf Managers we are constantly experimenting with different methods that give the turf a leg up on long and harsh winters, hot and humid summers, wet springs and drought-like summers. That, along with 30-40,000 golfers walking/driving/playing the golf course over a 5 month period allows for very little time for the turf to recover from any stresses it may be dealing with. Knowing the course, the weather, the limits and the expectations of the club are all vital to ensuring success.
Munz – What attracted you to Oak Island?
Joye – Oak Island for me has always been this hidden gem tucked away in the western part of the province since its opening. It was a treat I looked forward to playing once or twice a year, offering immaculate conditions and a challenging layout, but as it matured I found myself drawn to Oak Island more and more. When the Superintendent position became available, I saw it as an amazing opportunity to continue to improve on the great work former Superintendent and current General Manager Des Koop started, and I look forward to putting my stamp on what already is a top course in the province for years to come.
Munz – What does a typical day look like?
Joye – Most days start early. I live in Brandon and commute the 40 minutes each morning, so it’s in the truck by 4:15am to open the shop up just before 5. The day is planned, coffee made, and the crew trickles in for 6am start time. One of the most rewarding parts of the day is checking irrigation while watching the sun come up, it really is easy to take that “office” for granted. Throughout the day, I am constantly checking with staff to see how things are cutting, rolling, playing. Checking green speeds and quality of cut, hand-watering dry spots, meeting with the GM and Equipment Technician, planning, adapting, acting. It really is a different challenge day to day, but the payoff is worth it.
Munz – How has technology changed and helped?
Joye – We are coming into an exciting time in the turf industry when it comes to advancement in technology. It seems like every year more and more new tech gets more practical and financially viable. GPS, drone applications, soil moisture mapping, autonomy, the list goes on. The MGSA does a great job of bringing speakers to our annual conference to outline some of the new and changing technology coming to the turf world. Superintendents are also having to monitor regulations by Health Canada regarding chemical use, with many active ingredients being banned in the last few years. Having new technology and a different way of managing turf stress is vital to the course’s success.
Munz – For you personally, how did you get into it?
Joye – I started at my local course in Killarney when I was 12, washing carts and shagging range balls. By 14 I was on the greens crew, biking to work at 5am every morning and playing golf with my buddies after our shift. Throughout university the golf course life always kept pulling me back in, and it was under Superintendent Greg Holden at Clear Lake Golf Course who opened my eyes that turf could be more than just a summer job. From there I went to Olds, AB for the Turf Management program, learned a lot at a few different courses throughout western Canada and ultimately settled in Brandon.
Munz – What advice would you have for people looking to getting into turf care?
Joye – Learn as much as you can. I have been fortunate to have some amazing mentors throughout my turf career, and looking back it is amazing how many habits and philosophies I’ve inherited from different people at different courses. Everyone is pulling on the same rope so don’t be afraid to do the work, no job is beneath us. It sounds cliché but don’t forget to stop and look around every once in a while. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of a short golf season, but I truly believe we have the best office and industry in the world.
Munz – Maybe the most important questions for golfers who are reading this, how can they help maintain a course while playing it?
Joye – It’s the little things that go a long way. Cart traffic is hard to control and can really do a lot of damage in a short amount of time if not managed properly. Stay on the path where possible, and follow all signage. Fixing ball marks, replacing divots, disposing of garbage properly, and respecting the course and the people who maintain it are some of the ways golfers can help keep the course looking and playing beautiful.
Munz – A few fun ones for you.. how’s your golf game?
Joye – Teeter-totter. Some rounds I’m in the mid-70s and have it all figured out, the next I can’t get off the tee and I’m grinding for double bogeys. It’s obviously more fun to golf well, but enjoying the course, being outside, and with good friends is what keeps me coming back. For better or for worse, beer also helps.
Munz – Do you enjoy playing or have you had enough by the end of the work day and just want to go home?
Joye – It depends. I love playing Oak Island and showcasing the course to my friends and family who come to play, but it is hard sometimes to turn the “work mind” off when you’re just trying to enjoy yourself. Golfing my course is a very important part of the job. Seeing how it plays from a golfer’s perspective may dictate what I do from a turf management side, so it’s good to have that balance. I love getting out and playing different courses throughout the province as well as my home course, we have so many great tracks. The MGSA does an amazing job at putting on events throughout the province so that’s a great opportunity to play some courses that I may not always think of playing.
Munz – You hear people all the time saying they wished their lawn at home could look as good as some courses. Any secret for the average person?
Joye – Lay off the water. One of the biggest things I see with home lawns is sprinklers running for 90 minutes a day, every day, regardless of weather. Grass is resilient, a couple deep waters every week, little bit of fertilizer, keep the weeds at bay and you are good to go. Also you can have a great lawn or a dog, not both.
