Tim Doran Wins VGCSA Environmental Stewardship Award

Tim Doran of Elizabeth Manor Country Club is the winner of the 2021 VGCSA Environmental Stewardship Award. Tim chaired the BMP Steering Committee for the second edition of the manual.

TIm grew up in Ohio just west of Pittsburgh, with two grandfathers who loved golf and got Tim into the game. He would get dropped off in the morning to play a 9-hole golf course and get picked up in the evening. As a kid he was offered a job involved in golf, and that is where it all started. His cousin Mark Ross went to college for turfgrass management to take care of golf courses. This is what turned Tim onto becoming a superintendent.

He went to the Ohio State University Ag. & Tech Institute. He got an internship at Valhalla Country Club, where he got to work the Ryder Cup in 2008. After school he worked for five years at Moraine Country Club. Then he left to work at a course in Colorado, designed by Tom Doak.

Tim applied for the superintendent position at Princess Anne Country Club, working under Matt Boyce. That was his first experience with Virginia grasses, and more importantly the BMP process. That got the ball rolling for what Tim has been doing for the past few years with environmental stewardship.

After leaving Princess Anne, Tim became superintendent at Kingsmill Resort. There he enhanced the bluebird population and began working on other environmental projects. He was able to focus on balancing the maintenance and environmental aspect around the James River on the River Course and in the natural setting of the Plantation Course. He worked on the Audubon Sanctuary Certification, which was renewed for 10 years.

Throughout his career Tim noted that Jason Mahl of Moraine Country Club was a mentor to Tim. Recently, Jeff Whitmire has also become a mentor. One of the best aspects of moving to his role at Elizabeth Manor, sister club to Williamsburg Golf Club, is having the ability to bounce ideas off Jeff daily.

Tim started his involvement with the association by joining TTA upon arriving to Princess Anne. He attended the first board meeting with his cousin Mark Ross, who was outgoing president. Tim enjoyed the camaraderie of the organization and joined the board as a director. Later Scott Mauldin gauged Tim’s interest to become an external VP for the VGCSA. Tim took the opportunity. He says the networking there is second to none.

Tim notes that Virginia already had one of the best BMP manuals in the country, so working on the second edition was easier. “Adding new sections such as pollinators and being able to update the manual has given us a leg up when we go fight for the industry in Richmond. We have adapted with the times by getting an online version set up and making it easier for superintendents to complete the individual facility BMPs,” he said.

Environmental stewardship is important in what Tim does. With Princess Anne being his first Virginia course, he had to care for all the water and bays in surrounding the area. It was an eye-opening experience to see what can be done. Then at Kingsmill, with such a vast enhancement of buffer zones near bodies of water, he was able to improve the health of the bodies of water. He also enhanced the bluebird trail, adding forty-five bird boxes throughout the three golf courses. Doing that was an effective way to get the members involved. They began to understand the passion behind the golf course staff for getting these things completed.

Then at Elizabeth Manor, which has been under construction since his arrival, using the BMPs has been instrumental to protecting natural areas and water features around the property. Using the BMP Manual helped him mitigate any effects on the land. With one lake and three ponds on the property, he was able to make them healthier by eradicating the algae, and they are vastly improved. He is proud of the fast turnaround of the health of the lakes.

Tim is honored to be recognized for the Environmental Stewardship Award. He notes that the award cites something bigger than just him, focusing on the whole ecosystem. It is more than just a personal award; it is a team effort for his colleagues on the BMP Steering Committee. Kudos to them for their demanding work, as it improves the association. He tips his cap for a job well done.