Landscape Architect Articles

Super Weather Site01-24-07 | News

Super Weather Site

Weather forecasting has come a long way, but even though he’s been doing weather forecasts for 20 years, the 36-year-old Jerry Shields’ weather site is only a year old, and has quickly grown from several hundred hits a day to more than 10,000 a day.

Jerry Shields, a golf course superintendent at Island Springs Golf Resort on St. Joseph Island near Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, has taken his interest in weather toanother level. He’s created a Web site at sooweather.com that provides what some say is the best weather forecast in the region. Although he’s been doing weather forecasts for 20 years, the 36-year-old Shields’ site is only a year old, and has quickly grown from several hundred hits a day to more than 10,000 a day. His experience and knowledge has earned him a reputation for delivering more accurate forecasts for the region than sources such as Environment Canada.

Since he became a superintendent, the forecasts have been even more useful. “I’m lucky because the weather and my job as superintendent cross over, they complement each other. That definitely gives me an advantage in several ways.

For instance, up here, timing of fall chemical applications is critical, so knowing what the weather is going to do is important.”

The site isn’t an income producer yet, but Shields says he’s had people asking him for help with everything from wedding plans to concrete pours. There have even been local snow plow operators and other golf course superintendents looking for his advice.