A couple of interesting notes for you on a Thursday morning ...
First, I received a nice e-mail yesterday from Robert Maycock, the superintendent at Azusa Greens CC in Azusa, Calif. You might remember that the winner of our first Most Valuable Technician Award, Ramon Salas, was from Azusa Greens and that Robert was the person who nominated Ramon for that award. It was mainly a thank-you note for our recent visit to the club to present the award, but Robert also updated me on how Ramon and his family were using the $2,500 in prize money they received.
If you recall Ramon's story at all, you'll remember that he taught the game of golf to his daughter, Lizette (she's on Ramon's immediate right in the photo above), who is now one of the top female collegiate golfers in the country at the University of Southern California. This summer, she has been making the rounds of the top tournaments in the country, and Ramon and his wife have been using their MVT windfall to be there with her.
Last week, they were in South Bend, Ind., for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, where Ramon caddied for Lizette as she finished third in the stroke play portion of the tournament before being upset in the second round of match play. And next week, they'll be at storied Oakmont (Pa.) CC to watch Lizette compete in her very first U.S. Women's Open. Coincidentally, that will put two of the three finalists for the MVT at the same location; Oakmont's Herb Berg joined Ramon in the final three.
"Without the MVT, Ramon and his wife would be watching their daughter on TV rather than being there," Robert wrote. We were happy to do it, Robert!
Today's second note comes from GCSAA's John Miller, CGCS, who serves as the LPGA Tour's agronomist. Last week, he reported on preparations at Locust Hill CC in Pitsford, N.Y., for the second major of the LPGA's season, the LPGA Championship. And this week, he sent me a quick note about superintendent Dan Salois (a nine-year GCSAA member) and his team as they prepare Highland Meadows GC in Sylvania, Ohio, for the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, which begins play today. His report follows:
Dan Salois and his staff have Highland Meadows ready for the best female golfers in the world. The LPGA will be at Highland Meadows this week for the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. The actual tournament starts July 1st and goes through July 4th.
Highland Meadows has received ample rainfall and is in very good condition. The fairways are tight and getting firm, the roughs are thick and lush. The greens are in excellent condition and will be rolling a smooth 10.5 to 11 feet.
Friday evening as I was there, tents were still going up as well as bleachers and skyboxes. There was definitely a buzz in the air. Dan and his staff have been putting in very long hours and it shows as the golf course is near perfect.
Comments