Best practices in an profession are often the result of years of experience, learning, and in some cases like the Accountancy, pending or past litigation or legislation. Though the golf world often invokes passionate opinion amongst its population, the relative lack of worldly importance in daily golf maintenance means that the drive to truly optimize... Continue Reading →
Without Undue Delay: Playing Efficient Golf
I am well-known in my golfing circles for playing quickly. Growing up on a local municipal course, often with the need to finish between the end of school and dark, I developed a series of quick play habits that are not often developed by other golfers. I advocate fairly loudly for a movement to decrease... Continue Reading →
St. Andrew’s (Old): The Icon of Golf’s Sporting Roots
My twitter feed, set afire a week ago by the announced changes to St. Andrew's Old, has finally calmed down. The surprisingly swift - and broad reaching - uproar over the changes dominated like no other issue in the past year. Naturally, this is a result of my bias toward golf-related accounts and issues and... Continue Reading →
The Golf Industry’s Adolescence
My best friend of well over a decade allows me to indulge in conversation about golf and the golf industry frequently and I very much respect and consider his insight. He does not play or even enjoy the game but our desire to have lively discussion tends to trump those seeming shortcomings. I convinced him... Continue Reading →
Know Your Turf: Annual Bluegrass
Know Your Turf seeks to improve the reader's understanding of the turf aspects of the golf course. Each post will explore and explain the uses of a species of a turfgrass in a golf course setting and how the management of that species influences the game. The majority of the information presented is from my... Continue Reading →
Who put that $%&#@* hole there?
...or how I learned to stop worrying and love the game. Last week's topic of general setup guidelines begs a few questions, especially on definitions for difficulty. Golfers constantly encounter hole locations or course setup nuances that are quickly labeled as "unfair" or "difficult." Seeking a fair examination of one's game is in the nature... Continue Reading →
Golf Course Setup: Aims and Methods
Nothing integrates the golfer to the golf course more than golf course setup. Two levels of setup exist that accomplish this end. The first and most complex level pertains to the mowing practices, bunker maintenance, and overall agronomic presentation of the golf course while the second involves the daily location of the holes on the... Continue Reading →
The Role of the Assistant Superintendent
Perhaps one of the most varied roles in the golf course maintenance business is that of the assistant superintendent. While this position almost categorically implies a management role on a golf maintenance staff, the actual level and areas of management vary greatly depending on the superintendent for whom the assistant works, the level of maintenance... Continue Reading →
Value Statement: My Five Values of Golf Course Agronomy
My Five Values of Golf Course Agronomy: Aesthetic Appeal: Amongst the attributes which make golf a unique game is the idea that the game is played in a variety of visually stimulating settings out-of-doors. As a golf course agronomist, it is my responsibility to ensure that the golf course is presented in the manner best... Continue Reading →
