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By HARRY W. EASTERLY, JR. KNOWLEDGE AN ASSET Member, Executive Committee, Virginia State Golf Association and USGA Green TO COURSE SUPERINTENDENT Section Committee

Based on a talk delivered at the 1961 Virginia Turfgrass Conference. he importance of the Golf Course Su­ T perintendent to the golfer is often underestimated. He is to the golfer what the hotel manager is to his guest, the Commissioner of Highways is to the motorist—and perhaps to stretch the point—what the airline pilot is to his pas­ senger. In most cases, he didn't conceive, design and construct the course—nor the pilot the plane—but each day he must present it to the golfer in its most play­ able form. Did you ever stop to think why golfers literally dream of such courses as St. Andrews, Pine Valley, Augusta National, Cypress Point, Cascades, Fisher's Island, Pinehurst No. 2, Pebble Beach, Oakland Hills, Baltusrol and Oakmont? Because they are great and classic courses. But Harry W. Easterly, Jr. why? They are all beautiful, and mostly long and testing. Each is a course in sional who has spent much time studying which the designer has done a unique his vocation and must continue to keep job of combining God-given land beauty up with the many new developments and with marvelous placement and design of methods. His is a frustrating existence in the components which make up the many ways, for he can never say "My course. The designer, in every case, has work is done." He almost invariably fails used his terrain to the very best advan­ to get funds sufficient to bring his course tage in setting off the features for these up to what he considers optimum condi­ components. Each course has such an at­ tion. His problem of managing his labor tachment to its locale that, miraculously and his turf are never ending. transplanted elsewhere, it would be com­ pletely out of keeping with its new sur­ The average golfer, on the other hand, roundings. is only vaguely aware of these problems. He is more concerned with why the Hazards Add Flavor markers were crooked on No. 13 or why The greatness of these and other that trap on No. 17 wasn't raked than courses is in their general setting and in with the fact that the Superintendent their hazards as well as greens, fairways had to go out personally to water the and rough. There is a paradox about ninth green at midnight to keep from hazards on these courses: though they im­ losing it. pose their penalties with terrifying severi­ Make no mistake about it: with the ty, they, more than perhaps any other golfer, 'it's the little things that count." feature, give the courses their flavor and How then can the Golf Course Superin­ much of their beauty. tendent deal with these little things? And so the golfer does not praise or How can he know the mind of his golfers blame the Golf Course Superintendent for and serve up his course on a day-to-day the inherent good and bad in a course. basis in "apple-pie'' order? The average Superintendent is a profes- He might do this by following five

USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: AUGUST, 1961 11 pieces of advice which are admittedly a there is a problem of rotation of little extreme and perhaps might not al- authority pertaining to golf. The ways be taken literally or might even be Golf Course Superintendent is, modified as circumstances dictate. hopefully, a permanent profes- The Superintendent should: sional employee. He must be loyal 1. Play his course once per week the to a succession of bosses who are year round. If he is not now a doing the job as an avocation. To golfer, he should become one! be continuously effective, the Su- 2. Put himself in the position each perintendent must be a tactful week where he can be criticized person. It is most important that by his golfers. he maintain close communication 3. Be an expert on the . with a hard core of men of good 4. Know thoroughly that portion of will who know something about the USGA Golf System turf and the many problems he booklet which pertains to course faces. Few Golf Chairmen will be- management, course rating pro- grudge him these contacts as long cedure, and the mechanics of as he continues to take his orders handicaps. from constituted authority only. 5. Be insulted when his players play 3. The Superintendent should be a "winter rules." Rules Expert. It might be well to enlarge on the Before he can really be well above somewhat deliberately extreme rounded in his job, lie must know statements. the Rules of Golf, especially as 1. The Golf Course Superintendent they relate to the golf course. He should be a golfer. must deal with such problems as This will give him a chance on a boundary fences, stakes, ground regular basis to see his course under repair, ditches, the mark- from the standpoint of the golfer. ing of obstructions, etc. By his at- It will also give him a chance to tention to these matters, the Su- see it in a leisurely way in the perintendent determines to a con- company of other golfers. It will siderable extent the ease of in- have the collateral advantage of terpretation of the Rules on his having the Superintendent become course. well acquainted with a broad 4. The Superintendent should know cross-section of the players in his thoroughly the USGA Golf Handi- club. In being a regular golfer, the cap System. Superintendent should have the Although a great majority of Golf continuing encouragement of club Course Superintendents do a very authorities. creditable job, there are few in- 2. The Superintendent should peri. deed who understand how to odically subject himself to criti. balance the placement of and cism. holes according to the USGA Merely playing once a week is not Handicap System. The course enough. He should perhaps stay rating, too, requires the coopera- near the first tee awhile on Satur- tion of the Superintendent. In day morning or at some other time fact, the whole handicap system in when there is heavy play. It will a club can be put in serious keep him from being a mystery jeopardy without his cooperation. man. Here he can hear suggestions 5. The Superintendent shoul

12 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: AUGUST, 1961 vantages aside from improving his lie. He may improve the line of USGA FILM LIBRARY flight, obtain a better stance when "Second World Amateur Team Champion- his ball is near a depression or a ship for " is a 17 minute film in full color of the competition at the , or be able to remove a Merion GC last fall which was won by the loose impediment which he could United States team. Ex-President Eisenhower not otherwise lift without moving is shown receiving the American and the his ball. In other words, any modi- Australian teams at the White House. "Famous Golf Courses: Scotland," is an 18- fication of the Rules makes golf minute film in full color. Famous holes were a different game. photographed at Troon, Prestwick, Carnous- tie, St. Andrews, North Berwick and Muir- "Furthermore, there is a certain field. pride and satisfaction in doing a " Highlights," is a a-minute thing right. Observance of the film tracing the early history and play for Rules may present greater prob- the first international golf trophy. Bob Jones Francis Ouimet and other Walker Cup star~ lems in the play of certain shots, are shown. The latter half of the film is in but the acceptance of the chal- color. lenge is sure to increase the skill "St. Andrews, Cradle Of Golf," is a 14- minute, full color, 16mm travelogue of his- and ability of the player. Golf has toric St. Andrews, Scotland, its Old Course always meant more to those who and the Royal and Ancient club- play the game right." house. "First World Amateur Team Champion- In the winter of 1960-'61, the author de- ship for Eisenhower Trophy," is a 14-minute cided to follow these wise words, come full color, 16mm film of the first World Ama: teur Team Championship at St. Andrews. what may. Living in an area where golf Twenty-nine countries compete for the is played avidly the year round, though Eisenhower Trophy. freezing weather and snow are frequent, "On the Green," a 17-minute, full color he nevertheless played weekly and (with 16mm presentation filmed at the Mid-Ocea~ Club, Bermuda, illustrates correct procedures the exception of one round, in a pro-ama- un.d~r the Rules of Golf governing situations teur tournament) never once used "win- arising on the putting green. ter rules." Rarely did he suffer any dis- "Golf's Longest Hour," a 16mm full color advantage when he was unable to get his prOduction of 17% minutes, depicts the clos- i~g stagESof the 1956 Open Championship. foursome to "play them as they lie." This Filmed at the beautiful Oak Hill Country was true on a variety of courses, some of Club, Rochester, N.Y., it shows the eventual wi~ner, Cary Middlecoff, set a target at which might be considered to be "in bad which . Julius Boros and Ted shape." Though his poor record was in Kroll strive in vain to beat. no way enhanced, it was certainly not "Play Them As They Lie," a 16mm color production of 16% minutes in which Johnny harmed by his observance of the Rules. Farrell, Open Champion of 1928, acts as in- It is easy to find in every club a hard t~rmediarv behyeen Wilbur Mulligan, a be- ginner of unlmpeacf1able integrity, and core of golfers who, with a little persua- Joshua P. Slve, a past master in the art of sion, are willing to try abiding by the breaking the Rules. The film was made at Rules. Surely members of national, state the , Springfield, N. J., where Farrell is professional. and local golf governing bodies should "Great Moments in Golf," lets the viewer set the example. see thl! many interesting exhibits in "Golf It is a good question whether the Golf House," . USGA headquarters in New York, and re-Irve golf triumphs of the past with Course Superintendent can control his many of the game's immortals. The film is a players to the extent that they do not 16mm black and white production and runs play "winter rules," even if he gives them 28 minutes. a perfect course. But there will be a hard "The Rules of Golf-Etiquette" stresses the importance of etiquette by portrayal of core of these men in each club. And if all various violations of the code in the course courses are in good shape, it may be that of a family four-ball match. Ben Hogan ap- pears in several scenes, and Robert T. we will live to see the day when golf will Jones, Jr., makes the intrOductory state- be played in this country as it is meant ment. A 16mm color production of 17112 to be played. 'When that day does come, minutes. much praise will be due the Golf Course The distribution of pr;"t~ is handled by National Educational Films, Inc., 723 7th Superintendent. How will he be able to Ave., New York 19, N. Y., which produced reach this point? This is where he must the films in cooperation with the USGA. The rental is $20 per fim; 535 for two; $50 for employ every ounce of persuasion, abili- three; 560 for four and $70 for five, in com- ty, prudence and wise use of the money bination at the same time, inclUding the he has available to get results. cost of shipping prints to the renter.

USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: AUGUST, 1961 13