b'GOLF MONTANAGolf and Mental Healthby Pete Grass, CGCS them, and they provided both an understanding of the traits and conditions I have (ADD, OCD, anxiety) and how they affect my I thoughts and actions.am just a few months into my full retirement after working nearly 50 years at Hilands Golf Club, a now 102-year-old,They also introduced me to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 9-hole facility located smack dab in the center of Billings. In 1975,a way of self-analyzing situations and making appropriate as a high school sophomore, I started as a pro shop bag boyresponses to them. Since that meeting, I am happy to say my for two seasons, moved to the grounds crew in 1977, becamelife has become much better; far from perfect, but each day assistant superintendent in 1981 and superintendent in 1991. and situation since, with the tools I learned, has been handled I am proud to have served many years in leadership roles ofso much better than before. I became a better husband, father, both the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Americaboss, co-worker, and friend, with the help I was given. (GCSAA), a 20,000-member group from 80 countries; and PeaksMy biggest regret looking back is that I did not ask for & Prairies GCSA, our regional chapter of the GCSAA.help sooner, as those traits had been a part of me for most Late in my career, in 2020, I was introduced to theof my life. I now encourage others, especially those in the understanding of my need for mental health treatment. Like manygolf industry, to understand and deal with the pressures that people, I had the usual ups and downs, which we all experienceMother Nature and humans put on them, and not let self-at times. My breakdown, as I call it, came on a late Juneinflicted inner wounds injure them. afternoon when a combination of factors, personal and work- Kee and Stacy joined me on that journey, and for the last related stresses, put me in a condition I had never felt before,four years we have been working with Peaks & Prairies GCSA; totally overwhelmed and not knowing what to do about it.and at the last three annual GCSAA International Educational I was thenand still amblessed to have two angels whoConferences we presented two seminars, Healthy TeamsI knew and reached out to for help. Kee Dunning, a 40-yearHealthy Greens on how communication can improve your therapist and self-diagnosed golf-aholic, and Stacy Stellflug,personal and professional lives, along with Mind Matters-a nurse practitioner and doctor of nursing education, workInsights from a Therapist, Doctor and Superintendent on together in treating both mind and body. I was able to meet withIdentifying and Treating Mental Health Challenges. It is 6 GOLF MONTANA|JUN 2025'