Why is the world focusing its attention a golf course on a small Caribbean island? Like a phoenix, this course has risen from a rocky, tree-infested, sun- baked piece of island to become the world's first "short" course. It is turning heads as well as stirring up debate on its future in Mounds dominate the terrain at Britannia, reminiscent of Scottish courses, (top). $20,000 in brick support work, the golf industry. (bottom) stabilizes water hazards on the course.

ooking out across the sun-dren- troversy and curiosity in the tradi- 240-room hotel, condos and golf Lched golf course, Gene Bates tionally conservative golf industry. course clubhouse. squints against the brightness, deep- Britannia, which opened last Grand Cayman Island is a British ening the crow's feet in his already Christmas, is actually three courses Crown Colony, the largest of three sun-tanned face. superimposed on one 38-acre parcel Cayman Islands with a population of In front of him sprawls Britannia— of land; a 9 hole, 3,180-yard par 35 18,000. This mecca for scuba divers the current media darling among golf championship course; an 18-hole, and turtle lovers is located 480 miles courses. 3,129 yard par 60 course and the 18- south of Miami and 180 miles north- Britannia's fame is two-pronged— hole, 3,338 yard par 72 Cayman west of Jamaica. What was once from its designer, Jack Nicklaus, and course. Three days a week the course Blackbeard's old haunt has evolved its design—a "short" golf course, laid is devoted to Cayman golf, three days from the hub of pirateering in the out to take one quarter of the land of a a week to the championship layout 1800s to, what some conclude, is its traditional golf course and half the and one day a week to executive golf. 20th century counterpart—a tax shel- time to play with a specially-designed The overall 88-acre, $110 million ter for numerous American and for- ball. The concept has stirred up con- resort, when completed, will boast a eign corporations. Now, it adds another tourist lure—the first "short" this trouble spot as well as the fact golf course." the course is close to sea level, and Bates, vice president of Golforce, designed a sophisticated drainage Nicklaus' design operation, built Brit- system to get the water off the annia and knew her long before she course fast. There are even drains became a "star". What stands before the in the grassy swales. The course is builder's critical eye now is a far cry currently irrigated with a Toro from the flat, scraggly Australian-pine- Vari-Time 4000 automatic, double- and-rock-infested hunk of land, baking row, hydraulic valve and under the British West Indies sun that system. confronted him a little more than a year The common bermuda fairways ago. were ready to be mowed within three "I remember thinking, 'Good God, weeks of planting. Sulfur and gypsum how do we build a golf course here?' were used to combat salt and Ph "Bates recalls of his first at the site. Jimmie Griffin and Gene Bates— problems. But build a golf course he did—the superintendent and builder Green size, on the average, is 3,500 first on Grand Cayman Island and the confer. square feet with the smallest of 1,900 first of a new breed, the "short" golf feet. The Nicklaus' design charac- course. and bahia and weeping lovegrass, teristic of "movement" on the greens Bates had only a year to transform a chosen for their drought hardiness. and deep bunkers is particularly evi- forgotten piece of island into the em- From the start, Bates had his work dent at Britannia. bodiment of Nicklaus' and senior de- cut out for him. The original land sur- Starting from 4 feet, Bates created signer Bob Cupp's brainchild. vey done by the Caymanians was in- 12-foot banks along one of the main nacurate. Stakes marking reference water hazards. More than $20,000 in Cream of wheat points for greens, tees and turning rock work stabilizes the banks of In November, 1983, crews began points were constantly knocked over many of the waterways on the course. clearing the shrubs and pines that by the local contractors. filled the area. Excavation was begun "Understanding the local men- Maintenance Dec. 1 with one large and one medium tality was, at times, difficult," con- Course superintendent Jimmie Griffin excavator and five dump trucks. (All cedes Bates. "You also have to be is a human cyclone. This hulk of a equipment had to be shipped over more precise building a short course man seems to be everywhere at once, from the States.) After down time because of the reduced parameters buzzing the course in his golf cart, around the Christmas season, it took which added to the difficulty." inspecting work, having meetings, until Feb. 15 to complete the excava- Twelve Caymanians were used in keeping Britannia's maintenance rou- tion. Then, the arduous task of mov- the initial phases of the project. Amer- tine with the careful eye of a Swiss rail ing 110,000 cubic yards of dirt on only icans were brought in to do the finish- conductor. 40 acres to shape the course's features ing work. "This course is a challenging, in- began. A chartered DC-6 flew in Tifgreen triguing project. It's always the hard- "Actually, we ended up moving sprigs for the greens and Tifton 419 for est being the 'first' of anything," he about 220,000 yards because of the the tees from Tifton, GA. The banks says referring to Britannia's distinc- type of material we were dealing along the lakes are covered with tion as the first course on Grand with," explains Bates. "We moved it 159,000 square feet of Tifton 419 sod. Cayman. "Most of the locals here once to dry it and then again to shape After five days of planting the have never even seen a golf course let it." sprigs, another setback occurred. The alone worked on one." That material was a soupy "cream course's $400,000 reverse osmosis He has a crew of nine Caymanians. of wheat" consistency combination of pumps used to purify the irrigation Greens and tees are his priority coral, rocks, roots, limbs from an old water broke. maintenance areas. The mounds on mangrove swamp and lots of peat "We lost half the tees we planted the course are not irrigated to save moss (so much peat, it still leaches due to lack of water," says Bates. precious water. Where the water sit- tanic acid into the water hazards turn- Water is a ghost that Britannia will uation and labor present his two big- ing them a cinnamon color.) probably never totally shake. Annual gest headaches, turf disease problems "The terrain was actually one of rainfall on Grand Cayman is about 65 give him few grey hairs. our biggest challenges," Bates says. inches a year. All the Caribbean is- "There's not much problem with The land was very unstable and at an lands are faced with water shortages. diseases here. We take care of army- elevation of about plus 4 above sea Britannia can use a minimum of worms with Dursban and diazinon." level. We had to give the property def- 100,000 gallons a day. Five gallons of Rotating the course among the inition. When you walked across it, it feed water going through the reverse three playing options creates more was like Jello." osmosis system will yield one gallon work in setting up the markers and The excavated swamp material of useable water which is then stored flags every day. Monday, Wednesday was hauled up to dry, went through a in a 500,000 gallon reservoir. and Friday are championship layout cleaning and mixing process then The reverse osmosis pumps will days, Tuesday, Thursday and Satur- hauled to shape the desired features, hopefully stave off any severe water day are Cayman golf days and Sunday amounting to what resembles the problems. Cayman water, at $17.58 is executive golf. mounding on Scottish courses. Bates, a gallon, is cost prohibitive to use. Shipping costs of an additional 27.5 John Copeland and Jerry Cooper su- When it does rain, the showers can percent inflates Griffin's $600,000-a- pervised the mounding which was be so intense for a short amount of year maintenance budget. All his Jac- planted with common bermuda, Ar- time they cause flooding and pud- obsen equipment (walking greens gentine and Pensacola bermudagrass dling. Britannia's designers foresaw mower, riding triplex and hydraulic ATOM" RACKS THE POWER VOR TROUBLE-FREE STARTS Permanently eliminates troublesome Power Lawnmower Parts: the POWER in the points and condensers... replacement parts industry for almost a quarter the primary cause of engine failures of a century. In addition to Atom, we manufac- ture and stock over 3000 replacement parts Atom—the revolutionary electronic ignition and accessories for lawnmowers, chain saws, module that insures feist starts, dependable string trimmers and small gas engines. For performance. 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It looks like a regular golf ball, "short" game to be played in x/i the says those who have played the more or less, and that's where the time with l/:i the clubs on x/¿ of the course "have been fascinated by resemblance ends. land of a traditional course. the game." The Cayman ball, the result of McGaughey says a golfer can "One should come and play the two years and $100,000 in research still enjoy the competitive factor course and then pass judgement," and development by lack Nick- and challenge of golf playing with he continues. "It is a marvelous laus' MacGregor Golf Company, the lighter ball. teaching aid as well as a means to has made its debut to mixed "You find yourself starting to improve one's traditional game." reviews. think more about the game. You As general manager, Cullen When everyone is trying to have to look at it as enjoyment," sees the lost income from cart make the ball travel just a little bit McGaughey says. rentals (few people would need a farther, why would a ball that is Maurice Cullen, general man- cart to play the short course) being designed to go only 125 yards when ager of Britannia, which is owned compensated for by more people hit with a driver and weighs half of by the Canadian Ellesmere Ltd., being able to play the course on a what a traditional ball weighs, merit the kind of attention the Cayman ball is getting? First, a profile of the ball itself. The Cayman ball is named after Grand Cayman Island in the British New Modified Golf Association West Indies. It is on this Caribbean island that Jack Nicklaus built Bri- Brings Short Game to the Fore tannia, the first "short" golf course designed to be played with the It was 30 years in the making, but game started long before the Cayman ball. worth the wait. Golden Bear's Britannia was even a The Cayman ball has a bramble At least that's the way Florida glimmer in its architect's eye. pattern covering made of ther- golf course architect Bill Amick "Back in the '50s I had the priv- moplastic material; the dimples looks at it. ilege of working with Bill Diddel being convex instead of concave. Amick is founder and president on a reduced yardage, less lively Both the traditional ball and of the newly-formed American ball, but we never got one that was Cayman are 1.68 inches in diame- Modified Golf Association. Char- really satisfactory," explains ter, but the Cayman ball only tered in March, the non-profit asso- Amick. weighs J/»-ounce, with the tradi- ciation and its seven-member They tried again in the late '70s, tional ball weighing in at 1.62 board of directors are dedicated to but came up with nothing they felt ounces. It's so light, it floats. (Bri- promoting and governing the short could be marketed in mass tannia's pro Cary McGaughey's course golf concept, brought to the quantities. driving range is situated so the center of attention recently by Jack It wasn't until Nicklaus' Mac- balls are driven into the North Nicklaus' new "short course," Bri- Gregor company introduced the Sound. The balls float back to the tannia, on Grand Cayman Island MacGregor 50 and christened it the shore and they're scooped up with and with the Cayman ball, de- Cayman ball, that Amick decided a net.) signed to travel only half the dis- the time had come to get together The ball is made by mixing a tance of a traditional golf ball. The everyone interested in the short thermoplastic polymer with mi- association is currently in a mem- course concept. croscopic glass bubbles and a bership drive. A seminar was held in Daytona chemical blowing agent that is in- "We believe in what Jack is do- Beach in December of last year jected into the ball mold cavity. ing," says Amick. with about 45 attendees, including The Cayman ball permits the But Amick's interest in the short representatives from the USGA, reel) have to be shipped from the Is there a minimum acreage for "When we started to build it States. He employs his own mainte- Cayman golf courses? seemed as if everything that could nance man. "The minimum acreage depends go wrong did—no rain, equipment One of the touted virtues of the on whether you want a nine or 18 hole breakdowns, labor problems, but no Cayman course is that because of its configuration, the shape of the prop- one was willing to accept defeat. I'm size, the way the Cayman game is erty, and the landscape; whether it very pleased with the way the played and the ball that's used, it re- has creeks, lakes or swamps. I would course turned out, except the water duces maintenance. Griffin said he's say 20 acres would be the minimum situation," says Bates. "Bob Cupp noticed less divots because "with the for a nine-hole Cayman course and 40 and Jack Nicklaus are the geniuses Cayman ball, you don't hit down on acres for an 18 hole course." that made this thing work. They're the ball; it's more of a sweeping mo- Even with the pitfalls of building a on the same wavelength. People tion." golf course on an island in the Carib- have been talking about building a Future plans call for more trees bean, Bates is proud of the course and golf course here for years, but no one and vegetation to fill out the planting of the friendships and camaraderie was willing to try it." scheme once the course stabilizes. that grew out of the experience. Until now. given day. Those estimates range The Cayman Controversy: as high as 18 percent more players completing play per day because of the shortened playing time. Britan- The Emperor's nia's membership will be limited to condo owners, hotel guests and a few limited open memberships. New Clothes? Interest in the short course con- cept, according to Gene Bates vice by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, president, American Society of Golf Course Architects president of Golforce, Nicklaus' design operation, has been steady. "We've had about 50 inquiries et's put Cayman golf into from Portland to Chicago (since Lperspective. Britannia opened)," he says. • Is it a great idea, or just a passing novelty? As a golf course architect, I have some strong personal thoughts on the subject. Before expressing my views, I would like to clearly state that the MacGregor Golf Company, Golden American Society of Golf Course Ar- Bear Enterprises, golf course archi- chitects has no formal opinion on this tects and others interested in the concept, but it does strongly support concept. A slate of officers was any idea that helps this great game elected and three short course grow and flourish. An opinion poll of tournaments planned to introduce our members would be expected to the game to the public. The first of vary as widely as one taken of any these tournaments was held ear- other golf-related professional organi- lier this month at the Oceans golf zation on whether it is a good or bad course in Daytona Beach Shores idea. which was a Par 3 modified to ac- Putting things into perspective comodate the Cayman game, with means looking at historical facts and another scheduled for May 18 and present developments, then evaluat- the last on June 8. They will all be ing the relative value of an idea Dr. Michael Hurdzan held in Florida. within the context of current society. "These tournaments, as well as The relative worth of an idea can only short course. introducing the game to the public, be arrived at by examining what the Now, I will try to substantiate these will also help us as an association, idea "is" and "is not" and the proper facts and observations. learn about the peculiarities of the weighting of its positive and negative As I said earlier, the idea of a re- game," says Amick aspects. duced distance golf ball is not new Amick admits there are diehard Let's begin by examining what this and originated when golf was still golf purists who will never play the "short ball" concept "is" and "is not." played with gutta percha golf balls. Cayman game. The concept of: A small item in the Nov. 6,1891 issue "There will be a percentage that • a reduced distance ball is not new. of Britain's Golf suggested using plays both and there will be some • a reduced yardage golf course is not "hand-fives" balls that "... do not who will be happy to play the new. carry so far, while at the same time ... Cayman game exclusively because • short ball golf is probably not the let you know when you made a clean it's less intimidating." wave of the future. drive. This is important for those Amick sees countless applica- • Cayman golf is not golf under USGA whose space is limited, and it also tions of the short game to Par 3 rules. enables the learner to do more driv- courses as well as municipal and • short ball golf may not be econom- ing with less walking." school applications. He, person- ically viable. A quick check of golf ball patents ally, has had inquiries about the However, the concept: identified many patents for a "short" short course from all over the U.S. • is good for golf because of the inter- ball with the oldest being issued to a and even one from France. est and publicity it has generated. Francis Atkinson (Patent No. 456,920) "We're looking at long-term ac- • is a good teaching tool. of New York City in 1891: almost 100 ceptance here," Amick says. "It • is an alternative to golf much like a years ago. will take awhile for people to 'find' form of miniature golf. Some of the more notable patents the short game. • is, in my opinion, a great publicity since then have included balls made "It's very gratifying to me that Bill gimmick for Grand Cayman Island, of sponge rubber (1922), yarn cover- Diddel talked of this concept enthu- home of Britannia, Jack Nicklaus' ings (1929), and cork (1920). Of partic- siastically more than 30 years ago, ular interest to me was Patent No. and that it's happening today." • 2,364,955 issued in 1944 to the golf Hurdzan is a partner in the design firm of course architect William Diddel. Did- Kidwell & Hurdzan, Columbus, OH. del, recently deceased, had earned a national reputation, among other zones and dedicated green space Grand Cayman holes are Par 3s. It is things, for shooting his age more than closer to population centers. not likely that the USGA will write 1,000 times. He described how his in- My fourth point about Cayman golf new yardage rules for every new golf vention could reduce the acreage for a not being golf under USGA rules ball, therefore, say what you will, the golf course down to 15 acres. His golf stems purely from the yardages used Grand Cayman course is only a Par 3 ball design used butyl rubber with a to set par for golf courses. According course. filling of magnesium oxide and the to the USGA, those yardages are as If we carry this logic a step further ball was claimed to have the "feel of a follows: on the golf ball being able to reduce conventional ball." PAR MEN WOMEN the acreage needed for golf courses, Then Joseph Gentiluomo of Sche- 3 up to 250 up to 210 then the no hook or slice Polara golf nectedy, NY, who was awarded Pat- 4 251-470 211-400 ball may be an equal boon to golf. Af- ent No. 3,940,145 in 1976, for a 5 471 and up 401-575 terall, area is a function of length and width; the short ball reduces length "restricted trajectory golf ball ... hav- 6 — 576 and up ing a flight range of approximately and the straight ball reduces width. one-half to one-quarter the range of The rules of golf don't specify what My last point in the "not" column regulation balls." kind of ball these yardages apply to so deals with the possibility that the So you see, the idea of a short ball is one must assume it applies to all golf short ball course may not be econom- not new. balls, including the short ball. Ac- ically viable. Neither is the idea of a reduced cording to USGA rules, all of the As a dedicated golf traditionalist, I yardage golf course. The earliest of these courses were purportedly designed by sea captains back in the 1800s near port cities so they could pass the time between voy- ages. (Perhaps these men used the hand-fives balls described earlier.) Since that time, there have been any number of patents issued for "short" golf courses or golf facilities placed on small acreage to date. Wave of the future? None of these concepts has gained wide support or attention which brings me to my third "not" point; and that is short ball golf is not the wave of the future. The reason for believing that re- duced distance golf balls and limited acreage golf courses are isolated nov- elties is purely historical and intu- itive. If these ideas have been around for nearly a century and have not caught on, why should they now? We have always had limited space for golf in highly populated areas, and with our modern high speed trans- poration, open spaces are only min- utes away. Besides, we are also beginning to develop more previously unused land for golf courses, such as flood plains, landfills, airport clear

Through the years, the golf ball has undergone many and dramatic changes. In the 1890's Game of Five balls or Hand Fives balls were used, covered in leather. In 1902, the bramble-pattern Haskell ball with gutta percha covers became popular. Wilson introduced the Pro Staff in the 1980's with truncated dimples for better resistance to wind. In 1984, the Cayman ball was introduced by the MacGregor Golf Company, weighing half the weight of a traditional ball and designed to go half the distance. have strongly denounced the golf cart if it were designed for the short ball." that the golfer takes to find his ball, except for use by medically or physi- His next sentence is, "the green main- cuss, and pound his club on the cally impaired golfers, or in areas of tenance would be less because the ground, and then replace his divot. extreme heat or slopes. The only argu- ball is lighter." And since on short ball courses people ment that I get from golf cart suppor- Now, think about that. First, the are walking anyway and putting will ters is "yes, you are right, but without time to play golf is not a function of the be the same, how do you save any them, we could not financially sur- cart ride between shots, it is the time time? You will still be loading the golf vive." course on seven minute intervals and I can't believe anyone would take a I believe the playing time on a com- cart to play short ball golf, so that rep- Afterall, area is a pletely filled, short ball golf course resents a substantial loss of income to function of length and will be closer to four hours than to the the course. touted 2.5. Secondly, Jack Nicklaus, designer width; the short ball And even if you could put 500-600 of Britannia, the first "short" course to people per day through a course, can be built, was quoted in the June 1984 reduces length and you imagine what problems of spike issue of Golf Digest magazine as say- the straight ball marks and compaction you would ing, "A 150-acre municipal course have? Less green maintenance—not that would normally handle 200 peo- reduces width. likely. What about the cost to main- ple in one day could handle up to 1,600 tain tees and bunkers? Actually the only reduction in maintenance is in fairways and roughs and then all we are doing is concentrating the divots into smaller spaces. The parking lot to hold the cars that people come in would probably be nine or 10 acres in size. Good for golf Well, if this is what short ball is not, then what is it? First, I believe it is good for golf for it has generated lots of interest and discussion about golf in non-golf pub- lications. This extra exposure is sure to help the game. People may be tempted to try the sport simply be- cause it is a current topic of discussion at the office, cocktail party or social gathering. There is a certain lure to try the short ball alternative to golf for no other reason than curiosity or to be- come the local resident expert. The short ball idea is a great teach- ing tool and one that is not limited to the MacGregor golf company $2 per ball equipment either, for almost any sporting goods store carries sponge, plastic or whiffle balls for a lot less money. But, if you can afford them, the Cayman balls would turn many a backyard into a nice driving range, (it already has at my house). Thirdly, short ball golf is an alter- native to golf much like a big version of miniature golf. It may become a novel attraction as "something to do," but it lacks the essential lure of golf and that is the thrill of seeing a well struck shot soar through the air for a few brief seconds, until it is almost out of sight. Why else would some Japanese spend hours and hours per week on a driving range and never get to play golf. I doubt these folks would be so dedicated if all they had to hit were continued on page 97 TORO ha§ made so many advances in technology over the past three years that now you can do a far more efficient irrigation job, and save money in the process! It may be as simple as switching to one of our new VT-3 Video Controllers. If your system is more than 10 years old, no matter whose it is, it should undergo a full evaluation now, before problems arise. If you're planning a new course, let us demonstrate exactly how TORO can provide the best solu- tion to any irrigation challenge. New course, conversion or up-grade... call The Man from TORO TORO today! You'll find him nearby. Excellence in Irrigation

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OH-513/563 2460 GULF SHORE TURF SUPPLY Cincinnati, OH-513/563 2460 Charleston, WV-304/344 3441 Sacramento, CA-916/488 3490 CHICAGO TORO TURF IRRIGATION Pensacola, FL-904/968 0731 CENTURY EQUIPMENT MID EAST POWER EQUIPMENT PACIFIC EQUIPMENT Itasca, IL—312/773 5555 TURFAID Columbus, OH-614/2941631 Lexington, KY-606/253 0688 City of Industry, CA—714/594 5811 KENNEY MACHINERY CORP CENTURY EQUIPMENT RICHMOND POWER EQUIPMENT CO. and 213/912 8533 Memphis, TN-901/332 8770 Indianapolis. IN—317/872 4793 Toledo, OH-419/865 7400 Richmond, VA-804/355 7831 PACIFIC EQUIPMENT MID EAST POWER EQUIPMENT MISSOURI NORTH COAST DISTRIBUTING TURF EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. Palm Desert. CA-619/340 3392 Lexington. KY-606/253-0688 BECKMANN TURF & IRRIGATION Warrensville Heights, OH- Elkridge, MD-301/796 5575 SAN DIEGO TURF & IRRIGATION SUMMIT POWER EQUIPMENT DIST. Chesterfield, MO-314/532 8880 216/292 6911 San Diego. CA-619/695 2800 WASHINGTON Ft Wayne, IN—219/484 2507 CHAMPION TURF EQUIPMENT SWANSON COMPANY OKLAHOMA BULL EQUIPMENT CO. Kansas City. MO-816/333 8000 WAIT SALES CO. Fresno. CA-209/486-1840 IOWA MONTANA Wilsonville. OR-503/682 2711 WEST STAR DISTRIBUTING. INC. Tulsa. OK-918/584 3334 WESTERN EQUIPMENT MIDWEST TORO MIDLAND IMPLEMENT Hayward. CA—415/887-1222 DISTRIBUTORS Omaha, NE—402/331 -0500 Billings, MT-406/248 7771 OREGON Kent, WA-206/872 8858 TRI STATE TURF WESTERN EQUIPMENT BULL EQUIPMENT CO. COLORADO WESTERN EQUIPMENT Bettendorf, IA—319/332 6684 DISTRIBUTORS Wilsonville, OR-503/682 2711 L.L. JOHNSON DISTRIBUTING DISTRIBUTORS Spokane. WA-509/535 9086 TURF EQUIPMENT COMPANY Denver. CO-303/3201270 KANSAS Spokane. WA-509/535 9086 SOUTHWEST TORO CHAMPION TURF EQUIPMENT NEBRASKA Salt Lake City, UT-801/972 4164 Albuquerque, NM-505/345 8676 Kansas City, MO-816/333 8000 L.L. JOHNSON DISTRIBUTING PENNSYLVANIA WEST VIRGINIA BAKER EQUIPMENT ENG. CO. CONNECTICUT KENTUCKY Denver, CO—303/3201270 EATON EQUIPMENT CORP MIDWEST TORO Charleston, WV-304/344 3441 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION BAKER EQUIPMENT ENG. CO. Hamburg. NY-716/649 2020 Omaha, NE-402/331-0500 E.H. GRIFFITH South Windsor, CT-203/528 9508 Charleston, WV-304/344 3441 E.H. GRIFFITH Pittsburgh, PA—412/271 3365 CENTURY EQUIPMENT Pittsburgh, PA—412/271 3365 DELAWARE NEVADA RICHMOND POWER EQUIPMENT CO. Cincinnati, OH-513/563 2460 PHILADELPHIA TURF COMPANY PHILADELPHIA TURF COMPANY DUKE EQUIPMENT & IRRIGATION Richmond, VA-804/355 7831 MID EAST POWER EQUIPMENT Doylestown. PA-215/345 7200 Doylestown, RA—215/345-7200 Sacramento. CA-916/488 3490 TURF EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. Lexington. KY-606/253 0688 TURF EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. NORTON-NEVADA RHODE ISLAND Elkridge, MD-301/796 5575 Elkridge. MD- 301/796 5575 LOUISIANA North Las Vegas, NV-702/644 4066 TURF PRODUCTS CORP OF MASS TURF EQUIPMENT COMPANY WISCONSIN GOLDTHWAITE'S OF DALLAS Auburn. MA-617/791 2091 FLORIDA Salt Lake City. UT—801/972 4164 MTI DISTRIBUTING Dallas. TX—214/241 3103 GULF SHORE TURF SUPPLY SOUTH CAROLINA Plymouth, MN-612/574 2200 GOLDTHWAITE'S OF HOUSTON Pensacola. FL—904/968-0731 NEW HAMPSHIRE SMITH TURF & IRRIGATION REINDERS TURF & IRRIGATION Houston. TX—713/666-4233 TURF PRODUCTS CORP HECTOR TURF & GARDEN Charlotte. NC-704/393 8873 Elm Grove, Wl-414/786-3163 GULF SHORE TURF SUPPLY OF MASS. Miami, FL—305/652 4470 SOUTH DAKOTA TRI STATE TURF COMPANY Pensacola, FL-904/968 0731 Auburn, MA-617/791-2091 WESCO ZAUN EQUIPMENT MTI DISTRIBUTING Bettendorf, IA-319/332 6684 TURFAID Ft Myers, FL—813/4821259 YERXA'S, INC Plymouth. MN-612/475 2200 Memphis, TN-901/332 8770 South Portland, ME-207/799 2241 WYOMING WESCO ZAUN EQUIPMENT MIDWEST TORO L.L. JOHNSON DIST. CO. St Petersburg, FL-813/522 9402 MAINE NEW JERSEY Omaha, NE-402/331-0500 Denver, CO—303/3201270 ZAUN EQUIPMENT YERXA'S, INC. PHILADELPHIA TURF COMPANY MIDLAND IMPLEMENT Jacksonville, FL—904/387 0516 Doylestown, PA—215/345 7200 TENNESSEE KOLB & CO Billings, MT-406/248 7771 ZAUN EQUIPMENT South Portland, ME-207/799 2241 STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Atlanta, GA-404/691 4801 TURF EQUIPMENT COMPANY Orlando, FL-305/841 8460 Somerville, NJ-201/722 9830 MARYLAND MID EAST POWER EQUIPMENT Salt Lake City, UT-801/972 4164 TURF EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. GEORGIA NEW MEXICO Lexington, KY-606/253 0688 Elkridge, MD- 301/796 5575 KOLB & CO. SWT TURFAID Atlanta. GA-404/691 4801 Albuquerque, NM-505/345 8676 Memphis, TN-901/332 8770 ZAUN EQUIPMENT Jacksonville, FL—904/387 0516 CAYMAN from page 37

... And From the Superintendent's Viewpoint Whether you're for it or against it, entele we have here wouldn't like could be in our future here. We the short course concept is certainly it. We are part of a 2,300 acre resi- have two courses now, a cham- a topic that stirs up mixed reaction dential condo resort development. pionship course of about 7,200 among superintendents across the Money and time aren't objects for yards and a 6,700-yard course. Nat- country. Most agree in concept with the people here." urally,. the short game will be the idea, but for some, doubts in NEIL "BUSTER" BUSTA- looked upon with great apprehen- other areas surface. Will a short MANTE, Mauna Lani Resort, Ka- sion by the "purists" and I respect course cut down maintenance waihae, HI — "You'd think with their concern. However, just as ex- costs? Will it be the wave of the fu- land being as expensive as it is in ecutive and Par 3 courses have ture? Does it have a place in areas Hawaii and hard to come by, the their place in the game, so will the across the country? Superinten- idea would catch on here. But it short ball courses." dents contacted by WEEDS TREES hasn't and I don't think it will. I've PATRICK GREEN, World of Golf, 8r TURF were candid and insightful. been in the golf business 23 years Florence, KY — "Americans like to Their observations ... in Hawaii and people come out to hit the ball hard and see it go far. I play a golf course, not a rinky-dink don't think the idea will catch on MARK KLIMM, Country Club of course. One course on Maui went here. It would probably be real New Seabury, Mashpee, MA. —"I from an executive course to a tradi- popular in Japan where land is so think the concept is good, but has a tional regulation course because expensive. We tried the lighter limited use. I know the type of cli- people want the longer course. It's balls here. People just weren't that hard for me to fathom the tradi- excited about it. It's OK for the tional golfer going into that (short driving range, though." course) market. Men look for dis- WILLIS FULLER, Eufaula State tance, ladies are more finesse play- Park Golf Course, Ufaula, AL — "I ers. It probably does have an think the game does need to be audience, though, among the el- shorter. It takes too long for most derly, kids and people learning people to play now. It would re- how to play." lieve traffic on the longer courses. FRANK DAVITT, Allentown Mu- We have lots of seniors here who nicipal Golf Course, Allentown, PA would rather play a short course. — "I think there's definitely a It's not for everybody, but it cer- place for it. What I'd like to see is tainly has a place. With the price of Jon Scott ...booster shot for for the course to be toughened up, chemicals and machinery, it would gol/. not modified. I know we could use also help maintenance costs. a course like that here." TOM FLAHERTY, Dennis High- BRIAN MORRIS, Silverado lands, Town of Dennis, MA — "The Country Club, Napa, CA — "Golf is concept is a good one, but I don't too much of a traditional game for know of any club, resort or private the short course idea to catch on. I concern that could afford to pay a think most will stick to a Par 3. Play superintendent the same salary would be limited on the shorter he'd be getting on a larger course course because people would be unless they put him in charge of playing the same fairway." the entire operation." JON SCOTT, Grand Traverse JOE INMAN, The Breakers, Resort Village, Acme, Ml — "I Palm Beach, FL — "It's a good con- think it's a fantastic idea. It will be cept. It's almost like another sport, a very positive influence on the though. Being a resort hotel, we're Willis Fuller...certainly game and the number of people always looking for alternative has its place. who play it. The primary benefit to sports for guests. We could fit this the turf industry will be less cost; right into our schedule. The more less cost to build, less cost to main- you have to offer, the more you can tain and most likely, less cost to advertise. It would also draw a lot play. This translates directly to more places into golf that may not more golf courses, more income for have golf now. I don't see it as com- the turf industry and more golf for petition to the traditional game of more people, especially young peo- golf or regulation, championship ple and seniors. It could just the the golf courses. It's an alternative. I've booster shot golf needs right now. got to hand it to (Jack) Nicklaus. As I understand it, the game is still He's gotten everything he can out played with the same clubs, skills of the game and now he's trying to and strategy. If the long ball hitter's give something back. It's going to ego doesn't get in the way, the short help the whole golf industry more Joe Inman...helps more game and putting may once again than it will ever hurt it. I just wish I than hurts. be championed. A short course would had thought of it. " WT&T