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Feature A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Course Ranking System How does a course achieve that Top 100 ranking? The answer may surprise you.

by Greg Wojick

Golfweek raters Enjoy their round at Bayonne Club in New Jersey.

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ne of the most interesting and great 5s in golf? Would it be an even better Europe, and North America. The panel enlightening endeavors I’ve entered into par 5 if the bunkers in the driving zone had been boasts pro golfers Jim Furyk, Amy Alcott, after shifting from superintendent to indus- left intact? Did Pete Dye err by taking out the and Justin Rose, as well as a host of renowned try consultant/business owner is course rat- fairway bunkers in the driving zone? Is that two- architects such as Rees Jones, Tom Doak, and Oing. Signing on as a rater (one of tiered green one of the best par 5 greens in golf? Tom Weiskopf, and golf industry insiders, the three most recognized course rater Golfclubatlas.com is an online forum that including the USGA’s Mike Davis and Herb groups), I have played some of the area’s— does not formally rank courses, but it does Kohler. and country’s—finest courses, traveling host lively discussions surrounding golf Explaining ’s special breed of with various groups of raters who have only course architecture and other related golf rating, Joe Passov notes, “We have no specific played golf, never worked it. They’re the course topics. Occasionally, participants do criteria that our raters must follow; they tell norm. I’m more the aberration. delve into course conditioning. us what constitutes ‘greatness’ in a course. Does my experience and knowledge of This kind of focus is quite typical of the Still, among the architectural elements they golf courses inf luence how I rate a course golfing public—raters included. Even the consider are design rhythm, variety of terrain versus how my non-turf professional part- raters groups I mentioned weigh course and holes, setting and conditioning, and how ners rate courses? Frequently. design and architecture far more heavily well the course tests a player’s full arsenal of I know that rankings matter to many than conditioning in their rankings. skills. Our panelists determine how much clubs and superintendents. If you ask David There are three “gatekeepers” who man- value to assign to each characteristic.” Dudones (Westchester CC), Steve Rabideau age each of the ranking lists. Brad Klein of (Winged Foot GC), and Scott Niven (The Golfweek magazine, Joe Passov of Golf Mag- Golf Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Stanwich Club), they will acknowledge that azine, and Ron Whitten of each in the World’ their clubs are keenly aware of the rankings have the ultimate say in how the lists are and how it affects their memberships. All created, and each group has a set of criteria At year’s end, with all the raters’ ballots in, Joe three are regularly alerted when raters make for not only ranking courses, but also for Passov has the difficult job of tallying all the their way to their respective first , and selecting their raters. Here’s what I’ve ratings and formulating a list of the Top 100 they make sure to be available to discuss the learned about each rater group and the stan- in the World. Here, in short, is how the Golf day’s course conditions with each rater dards your course may be measured by. Magazine system works: group. For Steve, communicating with ra- Each course that places in the top three ters is one of his yearly management goals on a panelist’s ballot earns 100 points; spots and objectives. 4 to 10 earn 85 points, followed by 11 to Knowing that many clubs and their su- 25, which earn 70 points, 26 to 50 earn 60 perintendents strive for that Top 100 rank- points, and so on down the list up to those ing, I thought I would shed some light on ranked 251+, which are given 0 points. Any not just the ranking process, but also the course that receives a “remove from ballot” people and organizations behind the ratings. vote has 10 points deducted. Are clubs focusing their efforts in the right Architects on the panel are not permitted place to boost their rankings? Read on. Then to rate their own original designs, and course you be the judge. owners cannot rate their own properties. Tripp Davis’s Sentiments on Rating The Makings of a Course Rater Golf Magazine panelist and Architect Tripp One thing superintendents should know is Davis, well known to Met area superintend- that golf raters, even those on the top three ents, takes a concerned approach to the rat- rating panels—Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, ing of golf courses. and Golfweek—never have to take a turf “Too often the rating comes down simply exam and, in fact, generally know very little to beauty contests,” says Tripp, also an ac- about turf conditioning. Their primary Joe Passov, Golf Magazine complished amateur player, who feels that no focus when ranking a course? Its design and one can sufficiently rate a course from just architecture. one round of golf. Tripp would ultimately Here’s a bit of proof of this notion—an Golf Magazine’s Rater Program like the rating event to include, at the very excerpt I drew from a discussion posted on The Golf Magazine group handpicks it’s least, a round of golf followed up the next day golfclubatlas.com: course raters. There are only 100 panelists with another visit to the course to more “Is the 6th hole at Piping Rock one of the across five continents: Asia, Australia, Africa, closely evaluate the architecture of each

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hole. He clearly knows that many raters, and average golfers alike, can’t help but base their opinion of the course on their own personal “If I had my way there would be experience of the day. “If the sun is shining,” says Tripp, “and the a troupe of cavalry horses run course is firm and fast and the rater plays well, it’s likely that that course will receive a through every trap and bunker on better ranking than if the same individual the course before a tournament played on a rainy, soggy, cold day and played poor l y.” started, where only the niblick Tripp was clear that the strategy of each hole, and the overall course, should be the could get the ball out and then but basis for rating a course. From a conditioning standpoint, Tripp only a few yards.” admits that focus and importance on condi- – C.B. Macdonald, tioning can vary from club to club. Often- architect times, members who frequently travel from course to course will create relative rankings for conditioning. Bunkers, in particular, have been a real concern for Tripp. He notes that the current trend for bunker construction and mainte- nance assures a more perfect and consistent lie than the surrounding grass can offer. In a recent televised golf tournament, Jordan Spieth was actually caught on camera urging his ball to get in the bunker! “Bunkers are supposed to be hazards,” says Tripp, “and many architects will deepen bunkers to create the feeling of a while striving to design the structure for perfect sand conditioning. Liners, capillary concrete, and Billy Bunker-type construction have definitely made their way into course construction and renovation.” This perfec- tion has unfortunately become perceived as what constitutes good conditioning. In Tripp’s observations, he’s noted that playing host to important tournament events gets more serious golfers talking about those courses and can ultimately help the course’s chance of receiving a high ranking. He also knows that having a public relations person on staff helps spread the good word about a cour se. Tripp’s ideal rating system: Put aside the course’s beauty and conditioning and your overall golf experience, and acknowledge the best through analysis of the course’s strategic interest. Golfweek’s Rater Program As director of Golfweek’s Best Course Program, Brad Klein knows that course ratings can be debated almost endlessly. In his book, A Walk in the Park: Golfweek’s Guide to America’s Best Classic and Modern Golf Courses, Brad de- Tripp Davis and Associates scribes the difficult job of a rater and what he Completes Phase Two believes constitutes a great course: Restoration of Spring Lake in New Jersey. “The amazing thing about golf holes is how little they have in common,” writes Brad. “The rulebook specifies only a single regulation—that the little cup we play for on each putting surface be four-and-a-quarter

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“The ideal hole (or golf course) is surely one that affords the greatest pleasure to the greatest number, gives the fullest advantage for accurate play, stimulates players to improve their game, and never becomes monotonous.” – Alister MacKenzie, golf course architect

every state and half-a-dozen countries. Ranking ‘America’s Best’ In recruiting raters, Golfweek looks for Golfweek refers to its top-ranking courses as people who: “America’s Best.” Those rankings are based • Love golf and are seriously enthusiastic on 10 criteria, including strategic considera- about looking at different golf courses tions of shot-making and design balance, as • Handle themselves well and represent well as the aesthetics of conditioning and Golfweek with the utmost professionalism golf course setting. G ol fw e e k’s patented • Play quickly and without emotional out- “walk in the park test” is another crucial burst variable. It refers to the extent that the four • Are able to rise above their own golf score or so hours spent at a course are worthwhile in examining a course and be objective as an overall outdoor engagement. about a series of detailed architectural What distinguishes the Golfweek Ameri- criteria ca’s Best Courses from the course ratings • Have the time and willingness to get done by other publications is a division of around and see courses they have never the golf course universe into two categories: played before Classic (up to 1959) and Modern (1960 and • Are willing to study, read, and look behind after). Roughly half of the existing stock the scenes, as well as ask good questions of predate 1960 and half postdate that year. established professionals in the field More important are the era-specific differ- • Are willing to turn in their ballots on a ences in design, construction, and grassing. Brad Klein, director of Golfweek’s rolling basis throughout the year Andy Staples, an up-and-coming archi- Best Course Program • Have the ability to cast their ballots tect who has presented educational sessions online at Golfweek rater events, feels that a great inches in diameter. All else is up for grabs: • Are willing to attend and participate in course requires more than a good feel or terrain, elevation, soil, grasses, and setting, as Golfweek rater educational events “walk in the park” appeal. It needs to have a well as yardage and par. When these ele- • Are not members of any other national soul. It needs to reek of golf throughout the ments are combined in an aesthetically publication’s course rating staff entire property experience. pleasing way, we have the makings of great- (On several occasions, raters have resigned ness. Mere beaut y, t houg h, isn’t enoug h. The from other panels to join the Golfweek rater Golf Digest’s Rater Program course must be intriguing, strategically program.) challenging, and perhaps even a bit whimsi- Once prospective raters are accepted into Golf Digest is viewed by many as the best of cal to be recognized as great.” the program, they are sent a brief orienta- the three magazine rating systems. Debut- Continuing on the “business” of rating, tion that helps educate them on the many ing in 1966, it is the nation’s oldest course Brad adds, “All golfers have their likes and elements that go into rating a course. ranking system and easily the most recog- dislikes when it comes to course design. The Golfweek raters are a diverse group with a nizable. Though the group started with a trick in golf, as in any endeavor, is to move variety of playing abilities, careers, and so- rating system known as the “200 Toughest,” beyond the realm of individual opinion and cioeconomic backgrounds. More than half they altered their system in 1969, changing arrive at a more systematic method of evalu- of G ol fw e e k’s raters are single-digit handi- their focus to today’s “100 Greatest.” ation. The process might not be an exact sci- cappers. Nine percent are women—the Recent l y, Golf Digest added a second level to ence, but it certainly can be more than highest percentage of female raters of any their 100 Greatest, now putting the 200 personal preference. Along the way, golfers national publication panel. Many raters are Greatest courses on their list. might learn some things that will help them couples who travel and play golf together. Though held in high esteem, not every- appreciate their own courses and play better Golfweek raters range from the former one sings this group’s praises. Criticism as well. What good is the business of rating head of the American Medical Association seems to stem from the time when Golf unless it helps us enjoy the game more?” to a truck driver. There are golf writers, Digest based its course rankings on “tough- course designers, superintendents, and golf ness,” while requiring all their raters to The Profile of a Golfweek Rater course management executives, as well as maintain at least a 5.0 USGA index. The In 2004, Golfweek had a team of 285 volun- pharmacists, attorneys, schoolteachers, den- implication was—and still is—that only the teer raters (representing 49 states) who per- tists, psychotherapists, and even a brain sur- best players know how to rate courses, and as ennially scoured the countryside in search geon. There are a handful of raters who own high-level players, they tend to be more of the best of the best. The number of raters their own airplanes and some who travel the has now swelled to nearly 700, drawn from country in their RVs.

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“If a course needs to be in great condition to be played effectively, then the design strategy is f lawed.” – Tom Watson, pro golfer

program, Golf Digest’s list is the most re- etation, and terrain) provide individuality to spected because they offer the most trans- each hole, yet a collective continuity to the parency. “We publish category-by-category entire 18? scores of all winning courses, and we base 5. Aesthetics. How well do the scenic values our results solely on those scores,” says of the course (including landscaping, vege- Whitten. “We don’t cook the books.” tation, water features, and backdrops) add to Below are the criteria that go into creat- the pleasure of a round? ing Golf Digest’s rankings: 6. Conditioning. How firm, fast, and rolling 1. Shot Values. How well does the course were the fairways, and how firm yet recep- pose risks and rewards and equally test tive were the greens on the day you played length, accuracy, and finesse? the course? 2. Resistance to Scoring. How difficult, 7. Ambience. How well does the overall feel while still being fair, is the course for a and atmosphere of the course ref lect or scratch player from the back tees? uphold the traditional values of the game? 3. Design Variety. How varied are the golf To arrive at a course’s final score, Ron course’s holes in differing lengths, configu- Whitten explains that they first discard rations, hazard placements, green shapes, and “outlier” evaluations at the high and low green contours? end. (Statistician Dean Knuth, creator of the 4. Memorability. How well do the design United States Golf Association’s Slope and Ron Whitten, Golf Digest features (tees, fairways, greens, hazards, veg- Course Rating System, does the math for

keenly focused on identifying hole and course difficulty and ranking courses How Much Things Change but Really Remain the Same accordingly. Seemingly taking a contrary stance to Look closely at this chart created in 1907 by C.B. Macdonald, who is considered the father of Golf Digest’s ranking priorities, Architect American golf course architecture. Note the similarities between today’s ranking systems Donald Ross describes his more low-key and his vision of the ideal course layout. approach to course design in his book, Golf Has Never Failed Me. Essential Characteristics Merit “Most of the golf courses I’ve built are hardly championship courses,” writes Ross, I. Course 45% “but rather intended to be a delight to play. a. Nature of soil 23% Outside of Pine Valley, the National Golf b. Perfection in undulation and hillocks 22% , and Lido, none I would call real I. Putting Greens 18% championship tests. A championship course today,” he continues, “would mean a distance a. Quality of Turf 10% of between 6,500 and 7,000 yards, and not b. Nature of undulation 5% five golfers in a thousand want that kind of c. Variety 3% course for everyday play.” III. Bunkers and other hazards 13% Ranking the ‘100 Greatest’ a. Nature, size, and variety 4% Controversy aside, many clubs and courses b. Proper placing 9% recognize only Golf Digest as the irrefutable IV. Length of hole 13% “top gun” in the world of course rating. a. Best length of holes 8% Winged Foot Superintendent Steve Rabi- b. Variety and arrangement of length 5% deau is quick to admit that his club doesn’t recognize any other rater group. “We focus V. Quality of turf of fair green 6% solely on Golf Digest,” he says. VI. Width of fair green of the course 45-60 yards 3% According to Ron Whitten, who is re- VII. Nature of teeing ground and proximity to green 2% sponsible for overseeing the Golf Digest 100%

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While superb architecture and design are important, they’re not the be-all and end-all of getting your course ranked among the Top 100. There are at least several courses throughout the country that have com- pleted massive renovations only to have their courses’ rankings fall. Conditioning can’t be your sole focus either. What is considered the ultimate to one rater, may mean little to another. As you can see in comments made throughout this article, even famed golf course architects and other industry professionals have oppos- ing views of what makes golf courses great. That said, I do believe you can’t ignore the benefit of putting effort into creating an overall good playing experience for golfers, one that leaves them with a favorable im- pression of your course. Despite the sup- Greg Wojick (second from left) and his Golfweek raters group posed downplay of conditioning in course head out to play Fishers Island Club in Fishers Island, NY. rankings, I’ve found conditions do, if only the group. He tosses out any evaluation Here’s another tidbit worthy of note: subliminally, affect most raters’ percep- that’s more than two standard deviations Seven courses joined the top 100 this year, tions—and potentially ratings—of a course. from a course’s mean score.) but only two of those were built in the past Good press about your course, even if it’s “We then total the course’s average scores 30 years: Wisconsin’s No. 42 , just by word of mouth, is another factor that in the seven categories, double-weighting which opened in 2006, and Florida’s No. can inf luence raters’ opinions. Hosting a the Shot Values category,” says Whitten. “A 100 Streamsong Red, which opened in notable tournament—though not practical course needs 45 evaluations over the past 2012. What took the other five so long to be for everyone—can be a great way to attract eight years to be eligible for America’s 100 recognized? the kind of attention that might actually up Greatest. The minimum ballots for 100 Though Whitten doesn’t offer any in- your course’s chances of receiving a high Greatest Public is 25, for Best in State, 10. sight into these specific courses, we can sur- ranking. Everyone, after all, likes a winner. mise that it’s due to a combination of ma- Debates about rankings invariably enter PGA.com Sums Up Golf Digest’s turity and improvements; slippage among into grillroom discussions so at the very some of the courses that fell down, or off, least it’s wise to become conversant with the Latest ‘Greatest’ List the list; changes to the raters’ tastes and cri- pros and cons of various architectural and design features that your club may one day This year, with the “Golden Anniversary” of teria; and changes to the roster of raters. feel obligated to consider. Golf Digest’s biennial course rankings, it has Whitten notes that there were 125 raters I’ve tried, here, to open everyone’s eyes to revealed its newest edition of what is now when the list began and 10 times that many the fact that finding a precise formula for called “America’s Greatest 100 Courses.” now. earning a high course ranking can be a bit As a PGA.com writer recently noted, Another interesting fact: Course architect like shooting in the dark—unless, perhaps, there are a number of changes to the 2015- Seth Raynor had three courses join the new you’re an Augusta National or Pine Valley, 2016 ranking, which no doubt, will prompt top 100 list, and he’s been dead for 89 years. which has near-endless resources and all much debate in clubhouses and grillrooms How’d that happen? All three—No. 53 the right things in place from the very nationwide over the next few months. Camargo Club, No. 64 Yeamans Hall, and beginning. He points to the biggest change right at No. 99 Shoreacres—have been recently ren- It’s up to each individual to acquire the the top, where Augusta National reclaimed ovated by Tom Doak. As Whitten says, knowledge needed to communicate to club the No. 1 spot from longtime top choice they’re all classic designs that have been boards and committees the potential pit- Pine Valley, which now slots in as No. 2. fully retrofitted for the modern game. falls of making significant changes to their Another change in the top 10 sees the East course with the sole mission of bumping up Course at Merion move up from sixth to So What Is a Superintendent to Do? their course ratings. fifth, switching places with Oakmont. But as I said in the beginning of this arti- There are many more moves up and Now that you’ve read the ins and outs of cle, my mission here was to present a look at down, and off and on, the top 100—and what’s involved in course rankings, you’re the world of course rating—not a definitive even more throughout the second 100. Ac- probably sitting there scratching your head. prescription for boosting your ranking. cording to Ron Whitten, this is due, in part, What I’ve realized in my personal experi- After working on this piece, I feel only one to the fact that 51 of the current top 100 ences as a rater, and now in my research for thing in the world of golf rating is for cer- courses weren’t even around when the inau- this article, is that, first and foremost, you tain, and that is that nothing is for certain. gural list was issued. shouldn’t disqualify any one rater group So is your club focusing its efforts in the In fact, Whitten reveals, only 24 courses from coming to rate your course. As I hope right place to boost its rankings? I’ll have to have appeared on every one of the lists— you can see from this article, each group has let you be the judge. and, he notes, several well-known courses its own merits. haven’t always been ranked. Among them Beyond that, quite honestly, I would be Greg Wojick is a member of the Tee to Green are Shinnecock Hills, which is now all the hard-pressed to recommend that you do any Editorial Committee and co-owner of Playbooks way up to No. 4; National Golf Links of one thing over another to win the hearts for Golf. America, now No. 8; and Chicago Golf and ratings of the golf course rating groups. Club, now No. 14. Tee to Green January/February 2016 7 Tee to Green Jan 2016_tee to green Dec 2010 3/20/16 7:49 PM Page 8 A Year in the Life of a Golfweek Rater

by Greg Wojick

his past year, I played some required to attend a minimum of one retreat Lessons Learned on the Links in 2015 great courses with great condi- every two years. tions. I golfed with fellow Golfweek A retreat typically offers space for as few Here are a few things I picked up in my Traters who are Wall Street professionals, as a dozen to as many as 50 or more players. travels. businessmen, doctors, lawyers, green com- Some are mini-retreats that might include mittee members, club board members, real two or three courses played over a couple of Lesson #1: Raters aren’t always welcome. A estate pros, and CPAs, many of whom are days. rater can simply contact a club and ask per- private club members. Other retreats offer the opportunity to mission to play and rate the course. Most What you’ll read here are a few of the facts play four or five courses over four or five always the Golfweek membership card must and figures surrounding my travels as a days, with dinners, breakfasts, and educa- be sent to the club. Raters can play and rank Golfweek rater, as well as a number of inter- tional sessions thrown in. As part of the edu- a course alone, but more often than not, a esting, even valuable, lessons learned along cational sessions, Brad Klein frequently is group of fellow raters will come to rate a t he way. there to offer insightful observations and course together. To put things in perspective, here are a comments about the courses we’re about to Generally, clubs are pleased to have their few statistics from my 2015 golfing year: play. Other times architects like Gil Hanse, courses rated, but every once in a while, I’ll George Bahto, Andy Staples, Pete Dye, and get a less-than-receptive initial response to • Rounds played: 20 as a rater; visited ano- Tom Fazio will present their thoughts. And my request to rate a course. ther 100 or so on work-related trips often, the courses’ superintendents will be One of the “best” of these responses came (My experience is that a typical rater plays on hand to present an overview of the days’ from a superintendent I know. When I told between 50 and 150 courses per year.) conditions, upcoming or completed project him I would like to have a group of card- • Met-area courses played: 12 work, or recent golf course renovations. carrying raters join me to rank his course, he • Raters retreats attended: 1 (Utah/Nevada) In 2016, Golfweek is offering 20 rater responded: “Card-carrying? Meaning washed- • Years as a Golfweek Rater: 4+ retreats throughout the U.S., Spain, Portugal, up middle-handicappers who are looking for free South Africa, and Nova Scotia. The retreats golf on courses they can’t afford to play, and then Rater Retreats: They ARE a Treat offered every year include Bandon Dunes, rate those courses based on how they set up to their the Kohler courses, several Casino-related game?” The year started with me and three other courses, Pinehurst, and Kiawah Island. In Ok. I had to acknowledge a tincture of local raters traveling to Utah and Nevada to addition, Golfweek sets up retreats sur- truth in this super’s “joking” response, but attend a Golfweek Raters retreat. Raters are rounding the Masters and the .

“A great course requires more than a good feel or ‘walk in the park’ appeal. It needs to have a soul. It needs to reek of golf throughout the entire property experience.” – Andy Staples, golf course architect and designer of Sand Hollow Golf Course in Hurricane, Utah 8 Tee to Green january/February 2016 Tee to Green Jan 2016_tee to green Dec 2010 3/20/16 7:49 PM Page 9

nonetheless, he did connect my group of height. Though my golf partners had trouble Educating the golfing public about what it Golfweek raters with the proper channels to conversing about golf course maintenance, takes to cultivate and maintain these beauti- play and rank the course. The club? It was and would often make light of it, they could ful golf courses to their standards is a job that Siwanoy and the super, none other than speak quite authoritatively about green still needs to be done—each and every time Steven McGlone. It was a pleasant day and speed and smoothness. the opportunity presents itself. opportunity to see the newly renovated When I would press them to describe course, a Mike DeVries design. what they feel makes for excellent course Lesson #4: Raters are only human. On a glo- Meadow Brook’s John Carlone was conditions, they more often than not rious weather day, three fellow Golfweek another area super who graciously paved the couldn’t list any specifics, just that they raters and I made the fun trip to play Fishers way for our group of raters and gave us a would “know it” when they “experienced it.” Island Club, ranked by all three magazine sneak peek into the specifics of their up- Keep in mind, that this kind of subjective systems as among the top in the world. Each coming renovation work set to start in assessment isn’t likely unique to this group. I hole offers wonderful views, as well as golf August. John and his committee have hired suspect that it happens more often than you challenge, strategy, and interest. As circum- both Brian Silva and Brad Klein to design might expect among other groups of course stances would have it, on this day, one mem- and oversee the work. raters. ber of our foursome was struggling with his This chance to play Meadow Brook be- game. He hit a number of shots off line, fore and, hopefully, again after his signifi- Lesson #3: The Information gap hasn’t sometimes way right or way left. cant renovation is a great opportunity for the closed. This past year, I would play with rater After a dozen holes or so, I politely asked non-turf professionals in my raters group to groups of non-turf professionals, and we him if he agreed that this course is worthy of better understand the dynamic nature of would often be joined by golf pros and one of the world’s top 10 bests. The obviously courses and ultimately improve their ability members from the clubs we were rating. dejected rater responded, “Not one of my to rate them. With each experience, I was made painfully favorites at all.” The 11.0 index golfer ended aware that the information gap between turf with a very high score for the day scoring Lesson #2: Raters’ perceptions aren’t always professionals and golfers is as wide as ever. just shy of 100. Human nature can clearly reality. No matter where we play, I always Little progress has been made in the public’s obscure a rater’s perception of the course. ask my partners questions about their per- perception and knowledge of the turfgrass Most don’t succumb to this type of rating, ceptions of the golf course presentation. management profession. but some do. I can attest to the fact that most Invariably, I would be taunted about my ob- Golfers do generally believe, however, that raters are golf nuts who do take their role servations, which of course included com- they have a grasp on what seems to be “easy seriously, usually in spite of their personal mentary on disease, mowing patterns, work” maintaining a golf course. If only golfing experience on a particular day. watering techniques, trimming, and rough they understood the myriad challenges su- perintendents and their crews face each day.

Member News

New Members • Hunter Keech, Class C, Round Hill In Sympathy Please join us in welcoming the following Club, Greenwich, CT It is with great sorrow that we announce the new members: • Scott Lund, Class SM, Tashua Knolls passing of Al Dolge of Alfred K. Dolge • Rafael Bances, Class C, Sunningdale Golf Course, Trumbull, CT Company in Westport, CT. Al passed away CC, Scarsdale, NY • Carlos Martinez, Class C, Upper August 23 in his sleep at the age of 88. • Kelly Barrell, Class C, Quaker Ridge Montclair CC, Clifton, NJ A member of the MetGCSA since 1991, GC, Sca r sdale, NY • Noah McCahill, Class C, Trump Golf Al called on many Met area superintendents • Steven Bigelow, Class C, Winged Foot Links at Ferry Point, Bronx, NY throughout the years. After earning a bach- GC, Ma m a roneck, NY • Patrick McGinn, Class C, Waccabuc elor’s from Harvard University and attend- • Sean Blatz, Class C, Upper Montclair CC, Waccabuc, NY ing UPenn’s Wharton School of Business, Al CC, Clifton, NJ • Ron McNaughton, Class C, Apawamis enlisted in the air force where he achieved • Joshua Callan, Class C, Trump Golf Club, Rye, CT the rank of captain. Links at Ferry Point, Bronx, NY • Dav id M i l ler, Class C, Sunningdale After his military service, Al joined the • Nicholas DeBellis, Class C, Bonnie CC, Scarsdale, NY C.B. Dolge Company of Westport, CT, a Briar CC, Larchmont, NY • Thomas Panton-Lula, Class C, family industrial chemical manufacturing • Timothy Doherty, Class C, Fenway Wykagyl CC, New Rochelle, NY business founded in 1889. He later became GC, Sca r sdale, NY • Nicholas Pfister, Class C, Waccabuc president of the C.B. Dolge Company, • Wesley Foster, Class C, GlenArbor GC, CC, Waccabuc, NY which merged with Rochester Midland Bedford Hills, NY • Nicholas Roberto, Class AF, Cushman/ Corporation of Rochester, NY. Throughout • Richard Gold, Class C, Winged Foot E-Z-GO, Augusta, GA the years, Al’s interaction with his customers GC, Ma m a roneck, NY • Mike Scheyd, Class C, National Golf was his greatest enjoyment. • Shawn Haverdink, Class C, Quaker Links of America, Southampton, NY Al is survived by his wife, Susan Ridge GC, Scarsdale, NY • Daniel Stover, Class C, Innis Arden Grondona Dolge; his daughter, Elizabeth • Anthony Heath, Class C, Paramount GC, Old Greenwich, CT Christina Dolge of San Rafael, CA; his son, CC, New Cit y, NY Alfred Karl Dolge Jr. of Chapel Hill, NC, and many friends.

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