Golf Course’s Tuesday Work Group stays busy

BY Dawn Rankins

Canyon Lake’s Tuesday Work Group comes together, rain or shine to ensure that the golf course is in pristine condition. TWG works along with the operations department and its members had plenty to say on the work they do along the golf course and other areas of Canyon Lake.

Currently there are 38 members of this group and they welcome anyone, man or woman, to come out and join in keeping the course beautiful and safe.

Tuesday Work Group volunteers use a wood splitter to make firewood out of a downed tree. The group performs tasks each Tuesday at the Canyon Lake Golf Course nine months out of the year, saving the association money it doesn’t have to spend on payroll.

The TWG meets every Tuesday between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. down at the maintenance area of the course. Carlos Ramierz, also known as the donut man, picks up fresh donuts for the group while another member makes sure hot coffee is brewed fresh and ready to drink as these workers arrive to find out what that day’s needs are.

Before work begins, the group is led in the pledge of allegiance. The group enjoys working together as well as friendships with fellow members of the community.

The group consists of retired attorneys, bankers, journeyman tradesmen, police officers, judges and so many more walks of life workers. The average age of the group is 76 years old.

A Tuesday Work Group volunteer dumps refuse into a Dumpster during his Tuesday shift working on the Canyon Lake Golf Course. The group volunteers its time every Tuesday to work on projects designated to them by the course manager.

The group was founded back in 1973 and has continued strong ever since. According to Sam Theodora, the group usually only works on Tuesdays. They on occasion, however, receive calls from the operations department asking for help with a project in the community and the group is happy to jump in and get the work done.

When golfers are driving along the golf course and they look down and see TWG stamped in the concrete, they know the concrete was poured by the group.

The group works nine months each year beginning the first week of October through the end of June. They take July, August and September off because of the heat. Sam said their bodies just can’t work in the intense heat.

One of the tasks assigned to the Tuesday Work Group includes clipping landscape growth around the course. Most of the workers are retired from their profession and the average age is 76 years old. Photos by Dawn Rankins.

Rich Dawon said he loves the group and one of the reasons he’s so passionate about working with the TWG is for the future of his children, grandchildren and other Canyon Lakers. The current workers will move on and leave this amazing community to future generations.

Ken Stark, who is 92 years old, said he’s been a part of the group for 30 years and is excited to show off his 30-year pin that he wears proudly on his TWG cap.

TWG is a volunteer group that is helped by monetary donations, donations of tools and other things they need to help keep the course and Canyon Lake beautiful.

TWG is always looking for more people to come out and join their group. Everyone is welcome to come by the maintenance area on Tuesday mornings between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m.