In 1989 Greg Broome left a very well-paying job as a tree faller to pursue a new passion – golf courses.
“I fell in love with golf the moment I first picked up a golf club in 1985. I changed jobs because I wanted to put back into the game what I got out of golf,” said Broome.
His first position was in Terrace at the Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club under the watchful eye of Buster Patterson, who he said steered him to become a greens supervisor, a position he took over in 1991.
Broome finishing school in 1995, one of the first graduates out of a class from Kwantlen University.
As superintendent, he oversaw the course’s transition from nine holes to 18 holes, with the addition of the back nine holes.
In 2002 Broome made another major move, taking over as greens superintendent at Hirsch Creek Golf and Winter Club, this time with Steve Kerbrat pushing him to take up the position.
What followed was an 18-year career at Hirsch Creek, culminating in his retirement at the end of November this year, which is coincidentally also when he travels to Victoria to receive the B.C. Golf Superintendents Association’s 2019 recipient of the Superintendent of the Year award.
Broome was one of the founders of the BCGSA’s Northern Chapter in 2000. During his 19 years in the BCGSA Greg has held the position of treasurer for the Northern Region for 18 years and served as the Northern Director on the BCGSA’s board for the last two years.
BCGSA president Jamie Robb said Broome has been a leader in the golf industry, showing dedication and passion for the turf industry.
“Greg was, and has always been, an inspiration to his peers in the industry which has gained him the utmost admiration and respect from both his contemporaries and peers alike. This is true, not only in the golf industry, but also in the turfgrass industry at large,” said Robb.
Broome said he will most likely drive across Canada, playing golf and fishing wherever he can.