• Fri. Jan 31st, 2025

Mitchelson Awarded GAM Superintendent Award of Merit

Byadmin

Jan 28, 2025


GAM SUPERINTENDENT AWARD OF MERIT: Carey Mitchelson, College Fields Golf Club

  FARMINGTON HILLS – Carey Mitchelson, the director of operations at College Fields Golf Club in Okemos and executive director of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation (MTF), has been involved in the golf industry for the last 50 years, learning, sharing, serving and making friends.

  “I found that even though it is a business and a sport, golf is also a place to meet people and make friends, the kind of friends that want you to be successful,” he said. “You can be a complete stranger on the first tee, but by the end of four hours you have their phone number in your phone, and they become somebody you talk with often. I can’t think of another sport or business like that.”

  Mitchelson, 68 and an Okemos resident, has been named the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Superintendent Award of Merit winner for 2025.

  The annual award, presented since 2011, is bestowed upon a superintendent who has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, good character and high standards of conduct through pursuits associated with golf course grounds maintenance and care.

  Adam Ikamas, executive director of the Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (MiGCSA), nominated Mitchelson and it was supported by MiGCSA and the GAM Green Committee.

  “Nobody works harder than Carey, either out on the golf course or on the front end of the MTF,” Ikamas said. “I’ve heard about and later was part of stories regarding Carey’s influence and involvement in golf. If it happened on the turf side of Michigan golf, Carey was either a part of it or leading it. He embodies the spirit of the Award of Merit. His contributions, leadership and dedication to Michigan’s golf industry and turf industry are unparalleled.”

  Mitchelson, a Michigan native, started in golf with his father Kyran Mitchelson, a longtime superintendent at multiple golf facilities primarily in the Flint area.

  “I worked for my dad on the golf course and also worked to become a good player,” said Mitchelson, who became a successful athlete and golfer, including qualifying for the Michigan Amateur Championship multiple times over four decades and initially heading to college at Central Michigan University to play baseball.

  “I wanted to be a teacher, but every summer I would find myself working for dad at the golf course and eventually I switched to (Michigan State University) and changed to turfgrass (management).”

   He excelled from the start of his career and was named the head superintendent at the Country Club of Detroit at the age of 25. He served the club for 19 years and then branched into other roles in the industry, helping build courses and working in Florida and Michigan, before returning to take on his current role at College Fields and serving in multiple volunteer positions with MTF, the GAM Green Committee and MiGCSA.

  In 2017, he was named the MTF executive director, taking the place of Michigan Golf Hall of Fame member Gordon LaFontaine, who retired.

  “Carey’s guidance and influence on policy and direction for the MTF with MSU have been nothing short of admirable,” Ikamas said.

  In 2023, Mitchelson received the Lyle Leeke Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Golf Course Association (MGCA). It is presented to individuals who have displayed distinguished service to the MGCA and the state’s golf industry.

  Mitchelson, involved in the selection of previous Superintendent Award of Merit winners, said he is humbled and honored to be considered for industry honors.

  “I have a history in Michigan golf, and I’ve been consistently involved and the reward for me has always been that people appreciate your opinion and over time trust your decision making,” he said. “I think it started a long time ago. I like doing something that helps somebody else, or that helps them learn. I never felt obligated though. I do it to help and I try to operate with that sincerity.”

  Mitchelson will be formerly honored in the spring at the GAM’s Annual Meeting.

Like this:Like Loading…

Related

Discover more from GolfBlogger Golf Blog

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.



Source link