Final thoughts from the PGA Championship

Good vibrations came rolling in until the very end Sunday at Atlanta Athletic Club.

If director of golf courses and grounds Ken Mangum (pictured to the left), his superintendent Kasey Kauff and the rest of the staff and volunteers on the crew needed more confirmation that their long hours and sweat paid off, they got it.

And a national TV audience heard it.

"Beautiful golf course in majestic condition." — CBS analyst Ian Baker-Finch

"Most of the greens I putted on weren't as good as these fairways, and that's the truth." — CBS on-course reporter David Feherty

Even lead announcer Jim Nantz delivered a shout-out during the playoff (Keegan Bradley beat Jason Dufner) to Mangum and his crew for their wonderful golf course. The new grasses (Champion ultradwarf bermuda greens, Diamond zoysia fairways and Tifton 10 bermuda rough) were a smash with a majority of players, who especially raved about the fairways (Lee Westwood called them "immaculate").

Listening to Mangum, it sounds as if Atlanta Athletic Club pulled off something revolutionary.

"My final thought is we changed the world of golf this week," Mangum told me by phone a few minutes ago. "It all worked according to plan."

Even one of the most notable golf writers in history, Mr. "Dead Solid Perfect" himself, Dan Jenkins, tweeted to support what Mangum chirped about. It went like this:

"This PGA will mostly be remembered for the elegant new style Bermuda greens that may chase bent out of the entire South and Southwest." 

Yes, the Highlands Course got numerous passing grades this week. When an issue surfaced, it quickly was addressed, such as the 14th and 17th greens that suffered minor damage the evening before the championship started. Once play began, it was a non-issue. 

Now that the championship has ended, perhaps Mangum will have time to tend to his beloved par-3 course, which he built in 1993. It was the driving range until Mangum saw it as the perfect spot to grow the game.

"It's given the juniors a place to play," he said.

Maybe there even will be time for Mangum to grab his clubs and play a round. He once was a 3-handicap. Although now it's 7, he encourages superintendents to play, even if he doesn't play as often as he did in the past.

"You have to play. It's enabled me to go places and do things," Mangum said. "When people know you understand the game and you can play the game, it makes your opinions more valuable, and it makes you comfortable in their environment."

It sure sounds as if Mangum, who arrived in 1988 at Atlanta Athletic Club, knows how to set an example worthy of emulation. 

"Ken gave me a lot of life lessons, as well as work lessons," said John Holmes, who was Mangum's first hire at the club and a volunteer for him during the championship. "He taught me how to treat and deal with employees. He is so good with people." 

Perhaps Mangum will start devising a plan for the next big thing at Atlanta Athletic Club. That would be the U.S. Amateur, coming in 2014.

"That'll be easy compared to this ... I think," Mangum said.

Tonight, not three years from now, is all that matters at this moment. And Mangum is oozing with pride.

"The golf course stood up great, played great, and I couldn't be more pleased or happier for my staff," Mangum said.

Comments

[Mark Patterson]

Congrats Ken!
Hard work and dedication to the industry and to your club really paid off this week. The course looked and played great!!!!!!!!!
It's nice when you get recognition from the Pros. Kudos to you and your staff for a great job!!!!

Mark Patterson
DryJect Florida