MLGCC Equipment Technician Ron Allen Named Canadian Golf Superintendents Association's Equipment Technician of the Year

Add caption

Part of what everyone had missed this past winter was our very own Ron Allen's winning of the Equipment Technician of the Year Award through the CGSA (Canadian Golf Superintendents Association).

I’ve been fortunate to have Ron Allen as Equipment Technician for the past 16 years at Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club. Ron manages a large turf equipment fleet in the Turf Department and cart fleet at the Proshop. He stays on top of mowing quality standards through adjustments and reel sharpening procedures that ultimately provide superb playing conditions throughout the season in making Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club the well conditioned course it is. He keeps all this running smoothly without the aid of an assistant.

Ron takes it upon himself to instigate meetings with other equipment techs around Canada and encourages them to get out and get involved with industry functions to solve common problems for the betterment of each other and the industry. Ron sees the big picture and recognizes the shortage of technicians coming into the workforce. He has reached out to local school councillors and spoke to high school students in class (bringing in a Toro walker mower as a prop), to make them aware of the Golf Equipment Technician profession and the technology involved and encourage them to consider the industry as a profession.

Ron is a true team player and is the most self-less guy I know. He is more interested in keeping everyone on the team happy first and himself second. He helps me a lot keeping abreast of staff issues that may arise during the season, before they blow out of proportion. Ron’s giving goes beyond the greens into helping other departments at the Club as well. Whether it’s at the clubhouse or Proshop, Ron is always there happily to lend a hand with a positive attitude.

  

The bottom line is that Ron is an invaluable asset to our department, our Club and our industry. He does it all without expecting anything in return. If you see Ron out on the course be sure to say congratulations to him!  It's a big deal for our industry.