After a crazy final day to the 2012 Ryder Cup matches on Medinah CC’s Course No. 3 — wonder if they’ll need to resod the green at 18 after that impromptu dance party that broke out there? — our guest blogger Jim Wallace, the superintendent at Course No. 1, checks in with his final report of the week:
5:30 a.m. — Morning managers meeting ... we talked this morning about staying focused and finishing strong. Oour plan is solid and we have one more shift to execute. Everyone is clear on the plan and we are ready to bring it home. Curtis thanked all of us as he has many times this week for all of our hard work, and I hope he realizes how grateful we all are to him for all that he has done for us.
6 a.m. — We are heading out to get things in motion for the last time. Everyone is full of excitement and just trying to soak it all in. They begin letting spectators in the gates at 7 a.m., and the grandstands are filling up quickly. With the first tee time at 11:03 today, we have plenty of time to get things done and get out of the way.
10 a.m. — All wrapped up … it’s been quite the ride this week and it’s sort of sad to be finishing up our last holes for the last time. It has been so wonderful to spend this week working with so many great people from all over the world. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
11 a.m. — We all meet in our tent to thank everyone one final time, and we are greeted with a special surprise when Mr. David Feherty himself walked into our tent to thank all of us for our hard work. David was wonderful and a real treat for all of us; he told some stories of his greenskeeping past and gave us all a few laughs. It was time for all of us to get out there and watch some golf! Unfortunately, Team USA did not come out with a victory this day, but almost every match went right down to the wire and I think this will be a Ryder Cup that folks remember for a long time. Team Europe really pulled things together on Sunday and fought out a well-deserved victory.
I would just like to thank everyone for reading this week. It has been a wonderful opportunity for me to do this. A special thanks to Scott Hollister from GCM for allowing me the opportunity to keep everyone updated through the week. I would also like to give a final thanks to all our volunteers and staff members here at Medinah. To all of the managers here at Medinah — Curtis Tyrrell, Ross Laubscher, Jake Mendoza, Dane Wilson, Ryan Cummins, Justin Gladhill, and Chris Funke — I love you guys, and it is an honor to work with each of you. I will never forget the family we have formed here and will forever cherish the bond we have created while preparing for and holding this amazing event. Thanks for reading everyone; it’s been one heck of a ride!
Curtis Tyrrell along with his entire crew right now is sitting on top of the world. The golf course you provided for the Ryder Cup was totally perfect! Medinah CC and course conditions from tee to green should make you a very proud person.
Posted by: Carl G. Hopphan | October 02, 2012 at 02:38 PM