Inspiration in tire fires
Sometimes bad omens bother me — like recently when I saw a band named Bad Omens was playing in Lawrence, Kan., the same night my Jayhawks were playing Michigan State in the NCAA tournament.
It turned out to be worry over nothing (sorry, Spartan friends) and the Jayhawks prevailed.
There were a couple bad omens on my recent road trip to South Dakota to speak at the SDGCSA conference. The most ominous was a giant tire fire in Rock Port, Mo. The black smoke wafted across the highway and the smell was terrible. As I drove through it I thought to myself, “Yep, this is going to be me tonight — my presentation is going to be a tire fire!”
I was nervous for two reasons: 1) I was making a new presentation for the first time, on my predictions for golf’s future and 2) I don’t really know any of these dudes in South Dakota.
My first of two presentations was to take place after dinner that night. I arrived in Sioux Falls in time to get unpacked, changed and seated for a quick pregame pint at the hotel bar. My second fear was immediately assuaged when Dean Heymans walked over and introduced himself. Though I didn’t know these guys, turns out I was among friends.
Heymans thanked me for coming to the event and seemed genuinely pleased I took the time to drive north for the talk. We got to chatting and Heymans told me he had recently retired — Jan. 31 — after being at Hillsview GC in Pierre, S.D., since 1974 (superintendent since ’78).
Recently retired! Maybe that’s why he was so convivial. No, turns out everyone in South Dakota is this nice. At least that was my experience.
He’s clearly beloved by his colleagues. He already has the South Dakota GCSA Lifetime Achievement award. He’s a founding member of the SDGCSA. They gave him another plaque at this meeting just to say thanks and congrats.
“We have a community here,” Heymans told me. “Everybody works with each other — that’s what makes it so much fun to be a superintendent in South Dakota.”
I told Heymans about the cover story I was working on, focusing on the plight of assistant superintendents and how difficult it is to move up the ladder these days. I asked him about the job atmosphere in South Dakota.
“We don’t have that many golf courses. A lot of superintendents, especially friends of mine, have stuck around a long time,” Heymans said. “There wasn’t much of an opportunity for assistants to get jobs in South Dakota, so a lot moved out of state to take assistants jobs, then maybe come back later.”
I asked if he had any advice for today’s assistants. He realizes the difficulties of today’s market, yet he’s positive.
“Just stick with it,” he advised. “Bide your time. Keep working on it. The opportunities will come. Stick with it and be patient.”
The next afternoon I made the drive home. When I hit Rock Port I found the tire fire was still smoldering. I had forgotten about it up until then. The day before it gave me a chill, like 10 black cats had just crossed my path. The next day, it still stunk but it didn’t seem so ominous.
The previous day when I saw the fire I got serious, turned off the music and started rehearsing my new presentation. By the time I got to Sioux Falls I had it memorized. The fire inspired me to get focused and prepare for that evening’s presentation. For the first time giving that presentation it felt natural.
The current job market might feel ominous, like that tire fire, to assistant superintendents. But if they can stick it out, that first superintendent position, once obtained, might feel natural.