• ron I1lne

Glass ceiling shattered Mark Woodward, CGCS, New Tahoe-area retiring member of the GCSAA resort earns board of directors, president of the nmental honor association in 2004 and currently operations manager for the Greenwood in Truckee, Calif., city of San Diego, said in the came the first golf facility in March GeM that that the selec- tates to receive the presti- tion of Combs sends a message to the golf industry that GCSAA is s Leadership in Energy and serious about promoting diversity ntal Design award from the within its membership . .S. Green Building Council. "Torrey is such a beautiful uilding Council, a nonprofit place that I just bless every day I'm here," says Combs, former R in Washington, D.C., that longtime superintendent at Balboa ational standard for devel- who has had a -performance, sustainable working relationship with the , directed the award toward PGA Tour event in San Diego enwood's Natural Resource since 1978. "Being able to host the U.S. Open is just the icing on Management Center. the cake." ource center is designed to Mike Petty grasps the flag at the 18th green for one final time, while workers begin dis- mantling the grandstands following the PGA Tour event at Tucson National in late February. o golf courses at the year- Youth has its gig rt. The 11 ,500-square-foot Despite his age, Greytok has comprises course mainte- been around the block more than Superintendents a few times when it comes to big- acilities, a fuel/wash station, time golf course management. ion/fertilization pump house, The nine-year GCSAA member terial recycling bays, storage break the mold cut his teeth as an assistant at such islands and offices. The golf course superintendent profession has achieved some notable venues as Merion Golf Club, Congressional Country Club, Old Greenwood, located in a individual milestones lately. In last month's Front Nine, GeM reported that 10-year member and Pebble a pine forest ecosystem, is a Candice Combs, CGCS, had been named head superintendent at San Beach. Then, a half-dozen years untain Resort property. Joel Diego's and thus stands to be the first woman ago he became the head superin- 17 -year GCSAA member, is superintendent to host one of golf's major championships when the U.S. tendent at Pebble in time to prep S at Old Greenwood, which Open comes to Torrey's South Course in two years. the historic links for the Open. In the meantime, Eric Greytok, the 33-year-old superintendent at "I've been really lucky - s a JackNicklaus signature in Mamaroneck, N.Y:, site of this summer's U.S. lucky to work for both Paul B. is ranked among the coun- Open, is the youngest golf course management professional to prep for Latshaw (at Merion) and Paul R. new upscale public venues. that prestigious event twice - he did it for the first time in 2000 at Latshaw (at Congressional and . Riviera) and also Mike Giuffre And then there's Mike Petty, a superintendent for two decades in the (Congressional). All are highly Submit news items Arizona desert who hosted his 15th and final Chrysler Classic at the respected by the PGA Tour as or suggestions for Front Nine to Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa in late February - one of agronomists. Having them as your Terry Ostmeyer, [email protected]. the longest tournament course management relationships ever with the mentors, to guide you through PGATour. your career, is very fortunate."

April 2006 Greytok literally followed in are mixed emotions," he says. "On the footsteps of the elder Latshaw, one hand, it's a lot of work and Throwback prairie Paul B.'s father, when he took the we've been doing it a long time, so layout to host job at Winged Foot in 2001, there's some relief On the other PubLinks shortly after the USGA began con- hand, we're going to miss the tour- sidering the club as host of its fifth nament. Obviously, you miss the Murphy Creek Golf Course, Open and first since 1984. challenge. It's also been such a neat sprawling prairie links layout in "Most of it is timing, being in community event on the level that Aurora, Colo., will host its first the right place at the right time it has been as the Tucson Open." and having the opportunity to Petty says that there are some championship, the U.S. Amateu work at the facilities that I have," options being discussed of the Public Links, in July 2008. says Greytok, who prepped for the possibility of future championship Designed by Ken Kavanau 2004 U.S. Amateur at Winged tournaments at Tucson National. reflect the rural tone of archite Foot. "I had goals I wanted to Meanwhile, the Conquistadores, a Eric Greytok will become the youngest in the 1920s, the 6-year-old v reach and I think having those superintendent to host two U.S. Opens nonprofit civic organization that great golf courses on my resume when that event comes to Winged Foot in had run the Tour event in Tucson features length, generous fai helped tremendously." June. since the mid-1960s, apparently and wide corridors, as well as will have an active role with the barn and farm implements loc A great run ends Accenture Match Play, mostly in throughout the course. For Petty, the Chrysler Classic match play championship had hospitality and ticket sales. is good enough, thank you - or run opposite each other for the last For now, Petty will have to get Murphy Creek has been th was, that is. The curtain came several years, with the latter being used to not having a Tour event and of many local and state events down on the PGA Tour event, a held at La Costa Resort & Spa its issues on his mind year-round. with four U.S. Amateur qualifier near San Diego. staple oflife in Tucson for 60 years, "Our maintenance practices superintendent is John Magnl:J a little more than a month ago. The Tucson's PGA Tour event had won't have to be worked around the seven-year GCSAA member. departure makes way for the pop- been hosted by Tucson National tournament any longer," he says. "I ular World Golf Championship for 30 years, the last 15 under guess my main concern is will my event, the Accenture Match Play, Petty's watch. To be sure, life will staff perform at the same levelwith- which has been moved to the be different for the 18-year out that pressure? Is everyone still GCMWEB EXCLUSIVE South Course of the Gallery Golf GCSAA member, who has been at going to be motivated to achieve Club just north of Tucson. the resort facility since 1987. that level without the event?" Looking for more in-depth re The Chrysler Classic and the "It's kind of interesting. There Petty says the early answers to ing on some of the educational 0 those concerns have been positive. ings and seminars that were avai He also notes that the final corre- in Atlanta for the 2006 GCSAA sponding tournament action in GCSAAsurveys 2005 turf grads Tucson and La Costa provided Education Conference and Golf some very interesting results. Industry Show? Look no farther GCSAA has completed its second senior survey of students who As the sun set on the Chrysler this month's GCMWeb exclusi graduated between Sept. 1-Dec. 31, 2005. The highlights included: Classic - won by Kirk Triplett - which features recaps of many • Slightly more than half of the respondents had already secured a postgrad- the Accenture Match Play Championship was being won by those events, from the Tribal Gol uation job, either as an assistant superintendent, second assistant, crew Geoff Ogilvy, who just happened Forum to the USGA Green Secti foreman or technician. to be the defending champion at educational session. • Eighty-four percent said becoming a golf course superintendent was their Tucson but was unable to defend The GCM Web exclusive is after he qualified for the WGC long-term goal. a full-length feature story that event. Furthermore, finishing a • ~eeting the right people was listed as the greatest concern of those sur- surprising fourth at the Match will be available only on the G veyed' followed by jOb security, understanding and mastering workplace Play was 46-year-old Tom portion of GCSAA's Web site at politics and earning enough money during their first years of employment. Lehman, who just happened to www.gcsaa.org. redesign and configure part of • Most respondents with jobs had had at least two positions on the golf Tucson National's new Sonoran course, such as general crew member and intern. Course in 2005, as well as do • As for GCSAA improving or expanding student services, most respondents some renovation work on the resort's tournament layout, the cited a more comprehensive Web site and a more progressive student net- Catalina Course. working strategy. "Kind of strange, huh?" Petty says.

April 2006