Broadmoor

Friday afternoon, myself and some guys from the crew took a road trip to play at the West Course of The Broadmoor. Everyone in the group, regardless of the final total on the scorecard at the end of the day, had a great time negotiating the classic Donald Ross design. This course reminded me of Columbine Country Club with small, undulating greens and difficult up and downs. Basically, hit the greens, or pay the price. I would like to thank my friend Superintendent Jordan McCormick, for his hospitality and fantastic course conditions!

A Look at Our History

Last weekends' U.S. Open is a prime example of why I feel it is the greatest Major golf tournament as well as a true test of golf. Even though the Pebble Beach rough was not as gnarly as 2001, the firm and fast conditions of the Poa Annua greens made it a spectacle to watch. I believe these conditions, which some have chastised the USGA for, are a look back to the origins of the game we all hold so dear. Granted, there are many beautiful golf courses throughout the world with lush green turf which are beautiful to look at, but they may not be the most playable. I am seeing a wholesale shift in attitude among golfers who are now more concerned with how the course plays rather than how it looks. I feel this can be the first step to promoting more sustainable maintenance practices and elevated golfer enjoyment.

Mentoring

Over the last couple of years, I have had the privilege of mentoring one of my employees for a future in Turf Management. I have known Eric since coming to South Suburban in 2001. He has been a great employee and has both the drive and determination to be a success in our industry. While he was employed with me, I tried to expose him to as much as I could. From crew management, fertilizer and pesticide applications, construction and equipment operation, there is very little that Eric did not experience during his tenure at South Suburban. Mentoring is something that I am passionate about. I was fortunate to have many mentors coming up through the ranks, and I am glad to pass my experience on as well. I wish Eric the best as he embarks on his career. Her are some pictures of him working on his new course in Myrtle Beach, SC, where he is working while studying for his turf degree.

Going Green

One of my passions in life is sustainability and the pursuit to "go green". I believe it is everybody's responsibility to use nature's resources wisely and responsibly. At SSGC, one way we are doing this is by using an organic fairway fertilizer instead of the classic slow-release inorganic products we have all become accustomed to. The Sanctuary 18-2-6 fairway grade fertilizer has been our product of choice. Not only have we seen the same type of release and longevity characteristics as the inorganics, it is a non-coated , non-encapsulated, homogeneous product, so fracture of the particle by mowers is not a problem. Eventually, after a few seasons of this application we hope to experiment with rate reduction because we have built sustainable soil and no longer need the rates we first started with.

We are customer service

Here is a link to an article published this month in Golf Course Management written by GCSAA President James R. Fitzroy, CGCS. It is something I feel passionate about and have been mentoring my staff on over the past few years. Maintenance IS the front line of customer service.

Savers for My Feet

Hi all, as some of you may know, my wife went back to school this year to study Law. Unfortunately, this has reduced our household to one income, causing us to tighten our already tight purse strings. One way I have been saving money is buying my work shoes at the thrift store. Working on a golf course is probably the most brutal environment for a pair of shoes. Going from wet to dry, being caked with mud, as well as being exposed to chemicals leads to a short life span for most pairs. If you can get 6 months out of them, you are ahead of the curve. I used to spend between 50 to 100 dollars for a pair. By shopping at Savers, I have been able to find slightly worn, comfortable shoes for $6-$8! They still last for 6 months, so which is the smarter move? Think about it next time you have to buy your next pair for the course.

We Are Golf

One of the initiatives I have been working on recently is the joining of RMGCSA to the We Are Golf coalition. We Are Golf is a collaboration of the Club Managers Association of America, the GCSAA, NGCOA, and the PGA. This group was formed as a way to show the impact of golf both economically and environmentally at local and national levels. We at the RMGCSA think it will be a great way to have golf's voice heard legislatively, and I am proud and excited to be a part of it.