From the desk of GCM

A (cup) cut above

Lance Rogers, CGCS, from Colonia (N.J.) Country Club, has developed quite a reputation as a tournament volunteer in New Jersey. First, the 27-year GCSAA member is part of a core group of area superintendents that feels it is extremely important to support the host staff by giving of their time and expertise when professional golf events come to town. Second, Rogers' expertise has landed him in a key position several times, helping in a small way to decide who wins or loses — Rogers cuts cups.

Trump National Bedminster’s Old Course is hosting the top female golfers in the world this week for the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, and Rogers’ participation was never in doubt. Rogers volunteers to assist his friends and support the local superintendent, although he readily admits “every time I do it I pick up at least one or two things I can do at my own course.”

Cup changing for major championships is serious business, and Rogers' typically light personality tends to take a back seat when he's on the clock. “I enjoy it, but it gets pretty stressful” Rogers says. This is the fifth event he has volunteered at, and the third time Rogers has changed cups. Colleague Tyler Otero described Rogers’ approach as “passionate,” and that passion has paid off. He has already been referred to as an “artist” for his hole-painting technique. 

Trophy case at The Greenbrier

When the president of The Greenbrier called him, Kelly Shumate had no clue what was in store.

The final putt had dropped only minutes before on Sunday at the PGA Tour's The Greenbrier Classic at The Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs, West, Va. when Dr. Jill Justice, president of The Greenbrier and daughter of the facility's CEO/owner, Jim Justice, who also just happens to be governor of the state, had a request for Shumate.

"She called me about 10 minutes before the trophy presentation, asking me if I'd do it for her," says Shumate, director of golf course maintenance and nine-year GCSAA member. "I don't like to be noticed and would have preferred someone else doing it. But, yes, it was a great honor."

The Greenbrier Classic champion Xander Schauffele, who received the trophy from Shumate (pictured, which includes The Greenbrier Golf Pro Emeritus Lee Trevino, far left, in the sunglasses), also had some words for him. "He was very gracious and complimented us on how pristine the course was," Shumate says.

Schauffele's thoughts served as confirmation of a job well done. It, though, was anything but easy.

The trophy presentation that brought the end to a much anticipated week was icing on the cake for Shumate, The Old White TPC superintendent Josh Pope, and their crew. Shumate beamed when he learned that the club brass wanted the entire golf course management staff to be on the 18th green for the award ceremony. Perhaps it was their way of recognizing the monumental process it took to make The Old White TPC whole again. A deadly flood ravaged the region in June 2016, causing the cancellation of the tournament last year. Almost everything from bunkers to fairways had to be restored after having been decimated. The greens were rebuilt in 52 days, which was a marvel in itself.

"It was a long road to travel, but we were able to navigate it," says Pope, nine-year GCSAA member.

For Shumate, seeing The Greenbrier's comeback was pure joy. The resort, which includes five golf courses, has been in existence since 1778. "To get all these courses back in a year was a big task. Not only are they back; but, in my opinion, better than ever," he says. "We are tough and proud, and when one struggles, we all struggle. I'm grateful I was a small part of getting the old gem put back together."

Legacy Award recipients announced

At one point, Scott Schaller thought his son Jacob might be a fourth-generation golf course superintendent. He had worked with Scott at North Shore Golf Club in Menasha, Wis., at various times for five years. But instead Jacob’s path is leading to a career in human resources, and he is now entering his senior year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. And a Legacy Award scholarship is helping Jacob reach for his dream.

Jacob is one of the 20 recipients of 2017 Legacy Award scholarships from GCSAA. Funded through its philanthropic organization, the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), and Syngenta, the GCSAA Legacy Awards provide $1,500 scholarships to the children and grandchildren of GCSAA members who have been active for five or more consecutive years. The Schallers are pictured here.

“He is on to bigger and better things, and I am very proud of him,” said Scott Schaller, who is the certified golf course superintendent in his 23^rd year at North Shore GC. “We truly appreciate the Legacy Award. GCSAA has done so much for me and my family. They have been so supportive of children.”

"Syngenta is excited to provide the golf industry with future opportunities for these young leaders. The Legacy Awards signify achievement by these individuals. It’s our pleasure to support golf course superintendents and their families said Stephanie Schwenke, turf market manager for Syngenta.

 

Landscapes Unlimited enters maintenance arena

Course contractor, developer and third-party manager Landscapes Unlimited has announced the formation Landscapes Golf Maintenance (LGM), a separate corporate division that provides golf course facilities with contract maintenance services. The new division will be led by industry veteran Larry Hanks, who joined the company in April.

Landscapes Unlimited, formed in 1976, spent its first 10 years concentrating on course construction, renovation and irrigation installation. In the mid 1980s, it started developing golf projects. Landscapes Management Company, which today operates more than 40 properties on a third-party basis, was formed in 1988.

"Contract maintenance is the logical outgrowth of these core businesses, which have always revolved around building, managing and developing golf properties smartly and efficiently, with a special eye for innovation and quality," says Bill Kubly, Landscapes Unlimited's founder and chairman. "If you've looked closely at how we've done business these last 40 years, you'll notice these core businesses have thrived because we place such a high priority on building lasting relationships with clients — and oftentimes those clients are course superintendents."

"Landscapes Golf Maintenance will operate according to this same value system, while at the same time leveraging the agronomic and operational expertise we've developed over the course of decades. And, in Larry Hanks I believe we have found the perfect guy to further those relationships and build a contract maintenance business that meets these high standards."

A touching tribute at Erin Hills

I first learned about the tragic story of Juan Cruz Reyes during a conversation with Erin Hills equipment manager Tim Roddy earlier this week. Reyes was the course's longtime assistant equipment manager who was killed in a car accident on March 2. His death cut short a life that was just beginning — he had only recently earned his U.S. citizenship, was married with two young children and, of course, was less that four months away from playing a key role in preparations for this week's U.S. Open.

There have been plenty of reminders of Reyes around the Erin Hills' maintenance facility this week, most notably in the form of "Juan and Buster's," a hospitality tent for the crew filled with couches, TVs, pool tables, ping pong and a whole host of video games. The area is not just a play on the Dave and Buster's restaurant franchise. It also pays homage to Reyes and Buster, superintendent Zach Reineking's longtime golf course dog.

For the rest of this poignant story, please watch this video from our compatriots at GCSAA TV.

Whitten: From GCSAA to the U.S. Open

Ron Whitten (left) with Erin Hills superintendent Zach Reineking

There have been plenty of firsts this week at Erin Hills, the first-time host of the U.S. Open. But there is one first that all of us here are particularly proud of — it will be the first U.S. Open contested on a course designed by a former GCM and GCSAA staff member.

That would be Ron Whitten, who teamed with Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D. (hey, another GCSAA connection … Mike was the Old Tom Morris Award winner in 2013) and Dana Fry to design Erin Hills. Whitten is best known as the longtime architecture editor at Golf Digest, but back in 1983, after more than a decade as a practicing attorney, he did a stint — albeit a short one, just nine months — as a writer for GCM. I’ll let Ron tell the rest of the story.

“I was approached by Zahid Iqbal, who was the editor of the magazine at that time. I had published that book with Geoff Cornish called ‘The Golf Course,’ and (Iqbal) wanted me to write some articles to encourage people who might not otherwise pick up Golf Course Management magazine to pick it up.

“I had been freelancing at the time and thought it would be a great opportunity to dig in deep and get some writing experience, do some of the articles I wanted to do. So I took it. Did a story on Pete Dye. Did one on misting systems. They weren’t the technical articles, more general interest. I had fun doing it.”

Bunker business at Erin Hills

The first round of the 117th U.S. Open is underway, and one aspect of the course playing host to the tournament, Erin HIlls, that hasn't received much attention are the course's bunkers. This video from our pals at GCSAA TV gives you an inside look at this important design feature and how crews are maintaining them this week.

They came from a land down under

“I have worked the Australian Open, but that is nothing compared to this,” said Dean Hartman after he came in from mowing fairways this week at Erin Hills, home of the first U.S. Open ever held in Wisconsin.

Erin Hills is a first in many respects. It is the longest course for a U.S. Open, at 7,749 yards. Safe to say that caddies and players alike will get an exhausting workout in temperatures forecasted for the 80s all week.

Hardman is the 40-year-old foreman at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney, the oldest and one of the best golf courses in his homeland, so he knows a good bit about great golf courses.

“I didn’t sleep at all (Saturday) night. I was a bit pumped up about being here for this,” he continued.

Hardman (far right in photo) is one of five Aussies who have traveled nearly 4,000 miles and more than 24 hours in the air to see America’s Heartland. All were impressed, even some of the more seasoned golf course superintendents in the group; like Mal Grundy (seated), 53, from Murray Bridge in South Australia, and Idris Evans (second from right), 50, from West Australian Golf Club, whose club gets an incredible 75,000 rounds a year. Others who made the long trip are Andrew Wright (far left), 43, of Gisborne Golf Club, Jarryd King (not pictured), and the 40-year-old Hardman, a spray technician at his facility. All are members of the Australian Golf Course Superintendents Association and will be mowing fairways during the U.S. Open.

Mother nature giving and taking at Erin Hills

 

The predominant story to come out of Tuesday at the 2017 U.S. Open — at least as far as Erin Hills' maintenance team is concerned — was the weather. Specifically, the heavy rain that fell Monday night (almost an inch and three quarters) and the Tuesday morning storm that added another quarter inch to the mix and chased workers from the course for nearly two hours. The latest video from our friends at GCSAA TV highlights how the team at Erin Hills is handling what Mother Nature throws at them.

Roddy finds a home at Erin Hills

For Tim Roddy, life in the golf course management business has rarely kept him in one place for very long.

For nearly six years, Roddy and his dog, Dozer, traveled the country from one golf course construction project to another, Roddy working as a skilled course shaper with Dozer — pun intended — going along for the ride.

But with that nomadic life in the rearview mirror, Roddy has settled down and settled in at Erin Hills, site of this week’s U.S. Open, as the club’s head equipment manager for the past 16 months.

“(Coming here) was an opportunity that I just couldn’t pass up,” says Roddy, a three-year GCSAA member. “The places that I worked before were all great places, phenomenal operations. But this was a chance to get to that next level, be a part of something special like a U.S. Open.”

Roddy has worked in golf since the age of 15, when he landed a job mowing greens at Interlachen Country Club in Minneapolis. After earning a college degree in landscape design and construction, he found work in the world of golf course construction, spending most of the early 2000s crisscrossing the U.S. with Dozer as golf’s building boom reached a fever pitch.

But when that work began to dry up, Roddy began to look for his next challenge.