The 2015 Grainy Awards
The Fourth Annual It’s that time of year again, when I gleefully recount the season just ended by bestowing the Grainy Awards. They are the Oscars of the outdoors, the Grammies of the greens, and my heartfelt attempt to recognize the up and downs of golf. Humanitarian Award: Dr. Patricia J. Vittum The well-deserved recipient […]
Anchoring: The Problem Isn’t With The Rule, It’s With The Rules Makers
No matter what you think of the proposed ban on putter anchoring, you should be upset by how the USGA/R&A went about the process. I don’t mean giving 90 days to discuss it, but how it came about at all years after they had the chance to nip it in the bud and didn’t. Are […]
People Say the Darnedest Things!
In my March column for Golf Course Industry, I’ve written about honest-to-goodness, real-life questions and statements asked of superintendents….and invited you to share some of your own. You can’t make this stuff up…how many of these have you heard? “What time is the 9:00 o’clock shotgun tomorrow?” “My member-guest partner packed in a hurry but […]
PGA Show – Golf 2.0
My niche in this game and the goal of ASPIRE Golf is to help golf course superintendents excel and do better, particularly when they or their golf courses are not doing well. I strive to open eyes, share new skills and better this profession, although as a “consultant” I am one of the seven dirty […]
Presidents Cup 2011
Even though the President’s Cup wouldn’t normally excite me, an Australian visit a few years back put Royal Melbourne among my personal top ten favorite golf courses. The Alister MacKenzie layout is a classic and for a competition of this nature is sure to test the players and enthuse the galleries. From the telecasts, I’ve […]
Is 2011 Over Yet?
Is 2011 Over Yet? Sorry to be away for so long, but you know all that water soaking your golf course (except you poor golfers and greens crews in Texas)? A lot of it is now in my basement. Between bailing, rigging up the generators, and cursing the gods, I’ve been pondering the 2011 season […]
It’s Not the Open I Remember
Sitting here watching Rory McIlroy go to 16 under after four holes in the final round of the U.S. Open, listening to the announcers tell me that he won’t have more than a wedge into any of Congressional Country Club’s par fours on the front nine, makes absolutely no sense. A wedge? You can blame […]
Augusta National and The Masters
I am a sports junkie and spring is my favorite time of year. Which button on the TV remote do I press and what sport do I watch? Hockey, basketball, baseball, horse racing and most importantly right now – golf! No, not Johnny Miller and weekly “down-grain, cross-grain, double grain and towards the setting sun […]
“I’m Over What…?”
The economy and what we are experiencing in the golf industry has left many hard working GC superintendents, GM’s and golf professionals without employment. These individuals have lost their employment due to a sluggish golf economy and budget cuts. In addition many once profitable clubs have fallen prey to the numerous golf management firms touting […]
My Cups Runneth Over
September is my favorite time of year. Temperatures are cooling down, which in any year-but especially this one-means golf courses will be less stressed by heat and we can start preparing for next season.But I also love fall because I’m almost as crazy about hockey as I am about golf. The pre-season has already begun […]
