Congratulations to Rob Collins, the AAG’s water policy committee chairman and recent inductee to the 2024 Arizona Golf Hall of Fame. For the past 30-plus years, Collins has been the director of greens and grounds at Paradise Valley Country Club, “watching the sun come up everyday on the golf course.”
The Ohio native’s journey in turf management reaches back even further. Initially motivated by his upcoming wedding milestone at the onset of his adult life, Collins took a job at a golf course across the street from his home and soon realized it was a great fit for him. He went on to earn academic credentials at Ohio State’s turfgrass program while working at the famed Muirfield Village as a turf student.
Once landing in the Valley of the Sun, Collins settled in at Paradise Valley Country Club, practicing his craft alongside the local golf community. Although resource conservation has always been on his radar, about 20 years ago it came to the forefront for Collins.
The department of water resources took a look at clubs exceeding their allotment, and Collins’ golf course was one of them.
“Immediately we turned off about 10 acres, and huge trees died; turf died. It was a tough situation that led to a real focus on water conservation,” he said about the impetus to innovate.
“Rob is the Benjamin Franklin of water conservation forefront in Arizona,” said Brian Whitlark, USGA agronomist for the West region. “Rob is always pushing boundaries. He’s always looking for new ways to save resources, such as water. So, without Rob’s willingness to adopt technology and share that experience and knowledge with the industry – the industry is at a loss.”
Luckily for the local golf community, Rob isn’t intending to go anywhere.
Although he’s plans to someday “pass on” what he’s learned over the years to someone else to “take it from there,” Rob also wished aloud that he “hoped it would never end,” and so do we.
Rob was one of four distinguished inductees for the 2024 class. The others include Joe Shershenovich, general manager of Grayhawk Golf Club; Amy Fruhwirth LPGA professional and standout member of Sun Devil Women’s Golf in the ‘90s; and Ed Gowan, pioneer of the Arizona Golf Association during his 36-year career.
On behalf of the Arizona Alliance for Golf and everyone who loves and depends on the game, congratulations to Rob and the whole class of 2024 on well-deserved recognition of their incredible careers.
