Superintendent John Zimmers Jr. oversees demanding Oakmont CC with a level head

40 Golfdom BY LARRY AYLWARD, EDITOR IN CHIEF

hey are a fussy bunch, course maintenance staff provides an The thick-skinned Zimmers, who's the members of Oak- outstanding setting, the members still in his eighth season at the Pitts- mont Country Club. find things to fret about. burgh club, realizes that dealing They expect nothing John Zimmers Jr., Oakmonts with the clubs 400 members — but premium playing grounds superintendent, takes the considered the most demanding | ; • 'V! i > - conditions on their exalted 104-year- members criticism in stride. In fact, fraternity in golf — is an essential | T 111* * " sT* *•» ' v JS! * ® " old golf course, the site of this months he welcomes their myriad opinions part of his job. i g : " o U.S. Open. And even though the golf about the golf course he oversees.. Continued on page 42 £ Continued from A when I think of what the membership "The members just embrace fast Which brings us to the U.S. Open, strives to do here every day," Zimmers says. greens," Zimmers explains. "We're more whose preparations have also been a vital What exactly do the members strive on the extreme of speed versus any club part of Zimmers' job the past five years. to do at Oakmont? In short, they want out there." Now, if you're the superintendent of a U.S. Zimmers to make the course as grueling The greens are so fast that the United Open host course, you're probably under to play as possible. They want their course States Golf Association plans to slow them more pressure during championship week to be the ultimate test of golf. If someone down for the U.S. Open. (Is that a sur- than Jack Bauer during an episode of "24." shoots par, someone else says, "We can't prise?) So you can see why Zimmers might Such tension comes with the territory of have that here." feel less anxiety during U.S. Open week. staging one of golfs greatest spectacles. Not But make no mistake: The U.S. Open only are the world's greatest players playing More Coverage: won't provide a quick getaway to Mar- your course, the most hypercritical golf "ex- garitaville for Zimmers and his crew, who perts" are scrutinizing its every grass blade. Page 46: Oakmont Regains Its have been preparing fervendy for the week But Zimmers might be an exception Grueling Image of June 11 through June 17 for several to the U.S. Open pressure cooker. That's years. They plan to make the club's mem- not to say the 36-year-old isn't feeling the Page 50: Born for Bethpage bers, the USGA and themselves proud. searing heat to stage a magnificent cham- "When you prepare a golf course at pionship. It's just to say he's accustomed Of course, the demand for difficult this level every day, you want to show it to facing the same loud music from his conditions can have Zimmers and his crew off to the world," Zimmers says. club's members — every day. So you walking a tightrope when it comes to the One doesn't become the golf course won't see Zimmers pulling his closely turf s health. Take the greens, for instance, superintendent at a place like Oakmont cropped hair out if the world's greatest which the members want running at 13 without having a passion for work. So it's golfers complain that Oakmont's rough feet on the Stimpmeter. And they want no surprise that Zimmers comes from a is too tough. Zimmers and his crew to triple-cut the family of hard workers. He grew up in In fact, as absurd as it may sound, the Poa annua-bzmgrass greens almost daily Sinking Valley, Pa., a small town between U.S. Open may provide respite for Zim- and roll them several times a week to State College and Altoona in the state's mers from his normal workweek. achieve their breakneck speed. And, yes, central region. Zimmers says his grand- "This is a really bizarre thing to tell you, they expect Zimmers and his crew to keep father, also named John, was his biggest but I actually think there's a little less de- the greens alive despite subjecting them influence in regard to his work ethic. mand associated with the championship to such stress. "He was the hardest-working guy I've

Their time is up. DuPont Starts working in hours—even minutes. Provaunt INSECTICIDE ever met," Zimmers says of his grandfather, who worked for 43 years at a paper mill. Zimmers' family - Zimmers grandfather died last year. His including wife framed black-and-white photograph sits Tracey and dog on Zimmers' desk. It serves as a reminder Diamond - mean to Zimmers that hard work can get you the world to him. everywhere in life. Zimmers' foray into the golf indus- try came after he answered a help-wanted ad in The Altoona Mirror when he was 18. Paul R. Latshaw, the then-superin- tendent of Wilmington Country Club in Delaware, placed the ad. Country Club in Bethesda, Md., where But it's not just good fortune that has Zimmers rarely read the newspaper he became Latshaw's firstassistant . Zim- propelled Zimmers' career. Dedication then, but he did on this day and saw mers stayed there for two years before tak- to improving his craft has much to do the ad. Zimmers had recently graduated ing the superintendent's position at Sand with it. from high school and was working for a Ridge Golf Club, a new Tom Fazio "If you want to be better than any- local landscaper. He figured he had noth- design in Chardon, Ohio. body else, you have to be willing to put ing to lose by phoning Latshaw to find Zimmers says Latshaw taught him in the time," Zimmers says. out more about the job. most everything he knows about the busi- The amount of work he puts in is Zimmers liked what he heard and ness. Zimmers says he's also grateful to "mind-boggling," says his wife, Tracey, took the job on Latshaw's crew. He Bill Conway, owner of Sand Ridge, for who is the office manager at Oakmont's worked for Latshaw, hailed as one of the giving him his first job as a superinten- maintenance complex. Zimmers is at top superintendents ever, for four years dent when he was only 25 and work by 4:30 a.m. daily to begin his crew at Wilmington. Zimmers also decided to involving him in the construction and on their assignments. He also works week- £ attend Rutgers University to study turf- grow-in of one of the top clubs in north- ends. Near-100-hour weeks are the norm. £ grass management while he worked at east Ohio. Sometimes it might seem like John is Wilmington. He received a two-year turf- "I was really fortunate," Zimmers says. married to the golf course and not her, £ grass certificate in 1993. Later that year, "I was able to do things there that I did- says Tracey, his high-school sweetheart g he followed Latshaw to Congressional n't get to do at other places." Continued on page 44 i

They can crawl, but they can't hide. DuPont Provaunt No buffer zones to worry about. INSECTICIDE superintendent with a similar resume wouldn't? But Oakmont's members wont prompt his departure. They have grown to appre- ciate the superintendent they have in Zim- mers, says Tom Wallace, Oakmont's gen- eral manager. "They recognize that he is one of the finest superintendents in the world," Wal- lace says. mers, standing near Oakmont's famed Wallace enjoys telling Zimmers-at- rch pew bunker, is praying for good work stories, which illustrate why Zim- ither during championship week. mers is so well regarded by the members. One summer day a few years ago, Wal- lace watched from his office window Continued from page 43 With nearly eight years in at one of as Zimmers cut a small hole with his and wife of 17 years. But she understands America's premier golf clubs at such a pocketknife in the turf on the ninth the commitment John had to make when young age, some people wonder if Zim- green. Zimmers then peeled back the he became superintendent of Oakmont. mers will ditch his pressure-packed job cut turf, lowered his face to the exposed The couple has no children. and move on after the U.S. Open. area and began to sniff it. "It's a way of life for him," she says. But Zimmers says he's not going any- "I thought he was losing his mind," But while his work consumes him, John where. Oakmont is the place for him, Wallace says. has realized the importance of family, Tracey right now. Besides, the prestige of another Wallace left his office and walked down says. He is there when family members Major tournament — the 2010 Women's to the green to findou t exacdy what Zim- need him. He doesn't use work as an ex- U.S. Open — is on the horizon. mers was doing. When he asked him, Wal- cuse to miss important family functions. "It fits my niche of where I'm at in lace got a quick lesson in agronomics. "Do you live to work or work to live?" my life right now," he says. The weather that summer had been Tracey asks. "Sometimes you have to find But Zimmers, like any career-minded extraordinarily hot and rainy. Zimmers a balance, and John has. I'm proud of him individual, thinks about his future and explained to Wallace that rainwater, which for that." is keeping his options open. What Continued on page 46

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They've never seen anything like it. DuPont Provaunt New mode of action catches them off guard. NSECTICIDE Continued from page 44 had become trapped in the turf because it has nowhere to drain, was literally heating up and cooking the roots of the greens. Construction Zimmers told Wallace he could smell dead equipment was a roots, and that he would have to aerify the greens to rectify the problem. "He knew it was the middle of the summer and that aerifying at that time would be controversial," Wallace says. "But he did it, and he saved the greens." Under Zimmers tenure, Oakmont has soared to another level, Wallace says. "He has taken a very beautiful diamond and polished it even more," Wallace adds. "That's more difficult than taking a lump of coal and turning it into a diamond." Zimmers believes he has earned the trust of Oakmont's members because he is honest and forthright with them. "At no point has the support for John BY LARRY AYLWARD course when Fownes designed it, but they been any stronger than it is right now," accumulated over the next 90 years. Most Wallace says. n preparing for this month's U.S. Open, of the trees were planted in the 1960s as Zimmers doesn't duck the inquisitive John Zimmers Jr. helped oversee Oak- part of a beautification program. But the members, either. He has learned that if you mont Country Club's massive golf course became so overgrown with trees I give those people face time, they are satis- course restoration, which began before that payability suffered and turf weakened Zimmers arrived at the Pittsburgh-area because of poor air movement and shade. fied, even if they didn't get the answers they course in 1999 and ended in late 2005. Oakmont's grounds committee de- sought. Thanks to the restoration, which in- cided it was time to bring down the trees. Zimmers also explains to members the cluded the removal of more than 5,000 Oakmont was designed as a links-style nuances of certain agronomic procedures trees, Oakmont has regained its take-no- course, not a parkland course, they rea- in terms they can understand. prisoners image. Of course, that's the image soned. Not surprisingly, the board's deci- "You know he knows more about grass the late Henry C. Fownes sought when he sion sparked controversy. than you ever will," Wallace says. "But he designed his only golf course in 1903. The tree-removal program began in has a way that involves you. So the mem- "He set out to make the hardest golf 1995 under the direction of Mark Kuhns, bers don't walk away with their heads course in America, and I think he achieved who spent nine years at Oakmont and is spinning." what he wanted to do," Zimmers says. now director of grounds at Baltusrol Golf Tim Moraghan, the United States Golf Oakmont hired Fazio Golf Course De- Club. Zimmers inherited the project upon signers to engineer the restoration and his arrival in 1999. Most of the work was Association's director of championship builder McDonald & Sons to do the physi- done in-house and in the winter so tree- agronomy, has known Zimmers since his cal work. Zimmers and his staff assisted sentimental members wouldn't witness the days at Congressional. Moraghan has throughout severed lumber toppling to the ground. watched Zimmers grow into a superin- The ambitious $2.5-million restoration, Zimmers has fielded question after tendent who can handle the pressures that aided largely by the use of old photographs question from media members about the come with being superintendent at a top of Oakmont in its heyday, touched about trees, especially in light of the U.S. Open. club. Zimmers doesn't get too high or too every part of the course and included a People, whether from the golf media or low, which is the best way to operate at new irrigation system. not, want to know why so many trees had a place like Oakmont. "They wanted to put the course back to be cut down. It was part of the restora- "It is one of the all-time great courses to the original design that Mr. Fownes tion, Zimmers tells them. And because in this country," Moraghan says. "And had," Zimmers says of Oakmont's 400 there are fewer trees, "the turf is healthier John survives it all very well." members. "They have the utmost respect and therefore we use less pesticides and for Mr. Fownes." fertilizer," he also says. Wallace is impressed that Zimmers sur- There were few, if any, trees on the Continued on page 48 Continued on page 48 Continued from page 46 Oakmont's other hazards - its ditches Continuedfrom 1 Tim Moraghan, the United States Golf - also were repaired. Oakmont has no rounds himself with employees who are Association's director of championship water hazards, but the ditches act as func- just as apt as he is when it comes to agro- agronomy, describes the finished tree-re- tional hazards and provide good drainage nomics. Other superintendents might feel on the course. moval program as "mind blowing." threatened by such employees. "If you had seen the course before Oakmont's push-up greens, which had- Zimmers is the boss, but he doesn't 1995 and seen it today, your jaw would hit n't been disturbed in 102 years, also bark instructions like a Paris Island drill the ground," Moraghan says. needed renewal. They were restored to sergeant. He's more like a coach with his Oakmont's turf will benefit from the their original size. Oakmont also installed tree removal, says Moraghan, who sup- the XGD, or Existing Greens Drainage, on crew, taking time to explain the details of ported the endeavor. all of its greens. Developed by T.D.I. Inter- a chore. Zimmers doesn't run the show "Are we there to play golf on quality turf- national, XGD is a subsurface drainage from his comfortable office. He's on the grass, or are we there to take a walk in the system that removes surface water more golf course as much as he can be. He's not park and look at the birds in the trees?" rapidly and lowers the water table in the afraid to grab a shovel or a broom and get Moraghan asked. "It's hard to convince peo- green, thereby improving turf drainage. down and dirty with the others. ple in the environmental community that Zimmers has worked closely with Mor- Zimmers' affinity to attract top tal- taking down trees is beneficial. But were aghan on course setup for the U.S. Open. ent for his staff is evident by the number not taking down trees in a national park. "Hard and fair" is how Zimmers describes of assistants he has lost during his tenure. Were taking down trees on a golf course." how the course will play. Five of them have moved on to superin- Fazio's Tom Marzolf was the architec- Oakmont is known for its fast greens, tendent jobs at prestigious clubs, includ- tural anchorman for the restoration. Mar- which members prefer to run at 13 feet zolf's first order of business upon arriving in consistently on the Stimpmeter. The USGA ing Jason Hurwitz, who left Oakmont late 1999 was lengthening Oakmont from the plans to slow them down for the U.S. Open. last year to become superintendent of tees. More than 200 yards was added to Oakmont's members, who love a tough nearby Fox Chapel Golf Club. the course, which now plays about 7,255 test of golf, will take pride in that, Mor- "He is my only mentor," says Hurwitz, yards. A new par-3 tee on No. 8 will make aghan says. "They'll be boasting, 'We have who worked under Zimmers for three the hole 290 yards for the U.S. Open. to slow down the greens for [the pros],'" years at Sand Ridge and for seven years at Oakmont's existing bunkers were also Moraghan says. Oakmont. "I have always admired how restored, and 10 bunkers were rebuilt. Oakmont's members like to brag about focused and motivated he is." Fownes designed Oakmont with 300 their course. They have plenty to talk about It's too early in Zimmers' career to bunkers, but many were removed to cut considering that this year's U.S. Open begin talk of how he will be remembered back on overall maintenance. There are marks the club's eighth national champi- in the golf course maintenance profession. about 200 bunkers on the course now. onship, more than any other establishment. But some people are already talking about The project included the refurbishing of Usually, a course closes a few weeks the church pews bunker, one of the most before U.S. Open week so divots and ball his legacy. famous bunkers in golf. Over the years, the marks can heal, and loose ends can be tied "John is a credit to his profession," church pews bunker floor had accumulated up. Oakmont's members are not giving up Moraghan says. "He makes those around so much sand that it had become raised. their course to the championship until a him better." The floor was lowered and the bunker's day before the first practice round. Oakmont member Bob Wagner, the bottom was rebuilt. Two additional pews "That tells you how passionate they are club's former grounds chairman and pres- were also added to each end of the bunker. about their golf," Zimmers says. • ident, calls Zimmers the nation's top superintendent. When asked how he would like to be remembered, Zimmers talks more about being a team player than a team's star player. "Somebody... that if you were putting your team together, I hope I would get your call," he answers quietly. Oakmont has no Oakmont's members are glad they called water hazards, but its on Zimmers to be the club's superinten- refurbished ditches dent. Zimmers has lived up to their act as functional demanding expectations. lilt! hazards and provide And that is something he'll be remem- good drainage. bered for. •

48 Golfdom June 2007 Born for Bethpage

including the Black Course, which hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and will host it again in 2009. Bethpage also offers picnic facilities, play- ing fields and other recreational endeavors. Catalano's office is on the second floor of the golf complex's clubhouse, which sits amid the five courses, all named after colors — Red, Dave Catalano Yellow, Blue and Green in addition to Black. His office is adorned with several photos and has worked himself illustrations of the park's courses. Bethpage is divided into two divisions, way up the ladder operations and maintenance, both of which Catalano oversees in addition to the pro shop at the historic park, and catering license operation. Bethpage employs six golf course supervisors, including which hosts its Craig Currier, superintendent of the famed Black Course, who reports to Catalano. second U.S. Open Catalano grew up in the Bethpage area. His father and uncle worked at Bethpage. His 2009 great uncle helped build the complex in the 1930s. "I have a family history of working in the park," Catalano says. He began working for Bethpage in the sum- BY LARRY AYLWARD bove Dave Catalano's office door is a mer of 1967 when he returned home from his sign that reads, "Golf Stories Told first year of college. Catalano worked for the AHere." It's an appropriate statement, park's west-side picnic area and cleaned toi- considering Catalano's rags-to-riches story lets and picked up trash, among other duties. about his career at Bethpage State Park. He was 19 and earned $ 1.19 an hour. As the story goes, Catalano worked his way "But that was good by me," he says of the pay. up from scrubbing toilets in the park's picnic- The next summer Catalano began work- area restrooms to overseeing the staging of the ing for the Blue course's maintenance staff. U.S. Open on Bethpage's Black Course. He moved over to the Yellow course for the Talk about a rise to the top. summer of'69. Catalano, the director of Bethpage State Catalano decided to forgo the rest of col- Park, worked hard to get where he is and says lege to work full time at the Yellow course he caught a few breaks along the way to help in 1970. In 1976, he was named superinten- him progress in his career. The 59-year-old is dent of Bethpage's Green course. He left the grateful to begin his 40th year working for Green course in 1978 to become superinten- the New York State Office of Parks, Recre- dent of New York's Caleb Smith State Park ation and Historic Preservation this summer. Preserve in Smith town, N.Y., about 20 min- "My career has been a blessing," he says. utes from Bethpage. Catalano has spent almost 20 of those years Catalano left Caleb Smith in 1981 to be su- at Bethpage, best known for its five golf courses, perintendent of Sunken Meadow State Park. He

50 Golfdom June 2007 was promoted to the state parks' regional head- Currier says Catalano has an uncanny abil- quarters in 1982. He stayed there 13 years and ity to cut through the red tape, which is a lit- was promoted to director of operations. tle thicker at a state-run operation than it "Then I had the opportunity to come back would be at a private one. to Bethpage in '95, and I've been here since," Final decisions often rest with Catalano, Catalano says. but he prefers to get others involved in the Catalano says he always fancied working decision-making process. "I spend a lot of time outside, so he pursued a career in parks and discussing things with my staff," he says. "I try recreation. He took civil service exams to gain to make decisions on a consensus basis. I don't promotions at the state level. But hard work go out there and tell people what to do." also helped him climb the career ladder. Catalano marvels at what Bethpage has be- "He's one of the smartest guys I've ever met," come. The place is always packed with golfers. "I love this place. Currier says. "He's the heartbeat of the park." Tee times have been sold out since 1958. It's no surprise that Catalano lives in a "There is a fluctuation in rounds, but that I'm fortunate to house on the 14th hole of the Black course. fluctuation is either driven by weather or He says his job consumes much of his time. operational schedules," Catalano says. be here." "This is not a five-days-a-week-and-40- Catalano is thrilled that golfers from all hour-a-week job," he says. "You can't possi- walks of life can come to Bethpage and play bly consider working in that type of fashion the A.W. Tillinghast-designed Black course - DAVE CATALANO and hope to be even remotely successful to for a mere $50 during the week and $60 on deal with any of the problems you need to weekends if they are state residents. Green fees deal with that come up on a daily basis. So at the other courses are even more affordable. the job becomes a way of life." "It's the best bargain in the game of golf," Catalano patrols the park in his utility ve- Catalano says. "There's a lot of satisfaction in hicle during the evening. He also fields work- watching people come to this place, enjoy this related phone calls at night. Others might balk place and recreate in this place." at having to work during their off hours. Not When the Black Course hosted the U.S. Catalano. Open in 2002, it was the first time a public "I guess I've convinced myself that I was course of its stature had hosted the tourna- born for this place," he says. ment. Bethpage spent millions on the Black Catalano likes conferring with the courses' course and the clubhouse to ready it for the agronomic experts, including Currier, who Open. It was such a success that the course Catalano says is one of his best hires. was awarded another U.S. Open. "He's as committed and dedicated as any- "Looks like I'm fortunate enough to have body I've ever known," Catalano says. "There's it twice in a lifetime," Catalano says. nobody I know who works harder, and there's So, what does a guy who says his job is nobody I know cares more about this park." "a way of life" do for fun? Occasionally, Cata- Earlier in his career, Catalano learned about lano goes fishing or bowling. He also collects turf maintenance mostly through "the expe- football cards. But his job is where his heart is. rience of others." "It's fun," he says of his work. "I have a broad general background on It's hard for Catalano to believe that so many turfgrass, but I don't involve myself in the daily years have gone by. decisions on spraying and fertilizing," he says. "I remember when I was the youngest guy Catalano says he prefers to function as the on the staff," he says. "Now I'm the oldest." park's resource person. "It's my job to provide Catalano has no desire to retire, but he's my staff with the resources they need to ac- thinking about it. He turns 60 in September. complish their jobs," he says. The 2009 U.S. Open could be his swan song. Currier says Catalano is the most "re- "I love this place," he says. "I'm fortu- sourceful" person he has ever met. "He gets me nate to be here." everything I need to do my job — personnel, Bethpage is fortunate to have him. "He's money, equipment, you name it," Currier says. an icon for this state park," Currier says. • WÈÈÉmEKM " ni J? Se n V

V \ p " ^ ' These kids are good, but resist the temptation m to trick up your golf I mm , * course for tournaments ¡1 ^ ^ ^ "It's better to embarrass the course than unior golf is growing up. About the players," says Frank Jemsek, operator of 400,000 new juniors picked up Cog Hill Golf Club in Chicago. "So we do the game last year, according to not change the course. Everyone wants to a National Golf Foundation think that their course is not a pushover, participation study released last but tournaments are supposed to be fun." BY DAVID FRABOTTA month. Almost 5 million kids Jemsek started hosting junior tourna- SENIOR EDITOR ages 6 to 17 play the game in ments at Cog Hill in the late 1980s. When the United States, and the number of junior an experienced tournament director helped Jgolf tournaments at the local, state, regional him shorten nervy par-5s into 300-yard Above, Nicole Schachner sends and national levels have swelled in line with holes, Jemsek starting thinking, "Gosh, some her drive down center fairway. the heightened interest. kids are liable to break par." Its big business. And considering the pop- That's the natural mentality of any opera- ularity of growing-the-game initiatives, includ- tor who is proud of his golf course. But Jem- ing Link up 2 Golf, The First Tee and Play Golf sek eventually understood that elite juniors America, the niche is likely to flourish. play by a different set of rules at the national Subsequently, superintendents are likely level. At the local level, most kids are play- to see more junior tournaments and outings. ing for the experience. That begs the question: How should the golf "Once you're converted, you become a very course be set up? The answer is not much dif- strong proponent of trying to make it more ferently than that of everyday play. That is, like an outing than a tournament," he says. resist the temptation to defend your golf The outing mentality means that Cog Hill course by growing out the rough too much uses the forward tees when possible. If the or making the greens excessively slick. holes are too long to use the forward tees, then Kids' Play

the crew finds a flat spot in the fairway for the for AJGA. "We don't want to leave and have teeing area. The unusual setup requires ex- their greens burn up." cellent: signage and sufficient course markers The AJGA tries to implement that low- to avoid slow play. impact philosophy throughout the manage- "If you have prominent markers on the ment of its tournaments. Oskarson says he first tee, then the players will be accustomed realizes that different golf courses have dif- to looking for them throughout the course," ferent capabilities with their staffs, so tour- Jemsek says. nament directors will sit down with superin- Difficult pin positions can contribute to a tendents to talk about tee times, weather delays, painful pace of play as well. If you're choosing mowing schedules and irrigation practices. your own pin positions, Jemsek says its tolerable The maintenance coordination is the hard- to have a couple challenging ones, but "tough est part, considering some tournaments have pin positions are the slowest days of the week, so a shotgun start at 8 a.m. I would lobby against really difficult placements." "Some staffs that we work with have the If a tournament company or association is ability to mow tees, greens and fairways every organizing the event, then they're likely to se- day before play, but they might not have the lect pin positions for consistency between days budget for it," Oskarson says. "So perhaps we and multiple sites. Continued on page 54 The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) is one of the tournament organizers that prefers to pick the pin positions for each day for consistency — typically six hard, six easy and six moderate locations each day. And although many of the AJGA's players are scratch golfers in the upper ages, the association refrains from making the pin locations or green speed too challenging, partly to let the kids play against each other instead of the course and partly to preserve the turf at the 75 locations that host AJGA events each year. AJGA typically requests greens speed of 9.5 to 11 on the Stimpmeter, again because the association doesn't want conditions to threaten the health of turf. "If they can safely get their green speed to 10, then that's great," says Mark Oskarson, director of operations "We put the 5- to 7-year-olds about 125 yards out on the par 4s; we'll move them just over the hazard on the par 3s, and we'll move the par 5s to around 200 yards," says com- pany founder Allen Wiggins. "We'll give them caddies and really try to let them have fun." In contrast, AJGA members and The Junior PGA of America players are typically 12 to 18 years old, and they play from the tips. The boys' setup plays about 6,800 yards to 7,100 yards, even stretching to 7,300 yards for some invitationals. The ladies play between 6,000 yards to 6,200 yards, which sometimes stretches longer than the member tees. These kids are good. "It's truly the Junior PGA for the upper 25 percent," says Mark Jordan, certified golf course superintendent at Westfield Country Club, which hosts the Westfield Junior PGA Championship for the seventh-consecutive year Continued from page 53 in July. "And for some, it's the highlight of their might ask that greens and tees are mowed each golfing careers. So we want to make it a life day, but fairways might not get done until experience for everybody who plays." after play or only twice during the week." Jordan says the club has tried to peak con- "It's truly the The AJGA also consults with the super- ditions for the tournament in the past by dou- intendent and irrigation technician when ble cutting greens and fairways each day and marking teeing areas, placing signage through- growing out the rough. But there's a risk. Agro- Junior PGA for the out the course and marking pin locations with nomically, turf stress can hinder conditions grass-deadening paint. And the organizers give for the rest of the short Ohio playing sea- upper 25 percent the superintendent a radio so he or she can son. But more worrisome, staff stress can burn stay in the loop with last-minute changes or out an already-weary crew. And for some, it's emergencies. That's why volunteers are crucial to any "After the tournament, we want the superin- tournament, especially one that might qual- the highlight of their tendent to say: 'Having the AJGA here made for ify as a minor's Major. More than 300 club the easiest tournament that we've ever had,' " members, community residents and Westfield Oskarson says. "We try to be as self-sufficient Insurance Co. employees volunteer to be every- golfing careers." as we can, so we're going to take a lot of steps, like thing from marshals to bunker rakers during marking the golf course ourselves." the four-day event. -MARK JORDAN Some more sophisticated regional tour- But volunteers aren't the only turf newbies WESTFIELD COUNTRY CLUB nament organizers will help with course setup on the course. as well. The National Junior Golf Club, a tour- Many of the players cruise around to help nament organizer in Belmont, N.C., works repair turf after their competitive rounds thanks closely with superintendents to make sure the to a new initiative called Care Fore the Course. course is well marked for out of bounds, haz- A collaboration of the AJGA, PGA of ards and ground under repair, as well as America and the Golf Course Superinten- intricate signage for teeing areas. dents Association of America, players attend The National Junior Golf Club holds tour- Care Fore the Course classes that teach play- naments for children as young as 5 years old. ers about etiquette, turfgrass maintenance and The company has grown from a 12-tourna- occupations in the golf industry. ment company in 1999 to hosting about 130 After the tournament, players help replace tournaments throughout the Southeast this year. divots, sand the driving range and repair ball marks as part of the initiative, which also That's why planning for the little touches helps " leave the golf course as good or better — painting cups and benches, edging bunkers than when we found it," Oskarson says. and planting or maintaining flowerbeds — The superintendent plays a big part in the can leave a lasting, positive impression with program by addressing players about condi- players and the gallery alike. tions, golf course background, the grass types, "There is not one set recipe to having a the prevailing winds, the sand type, course successful event," Oskarson says. "Every event layout, strategy and how all the conditions takes on the personality of the facility, and might affect play. every event has the ability to be great." • Superintendents also expose them to envi- ronmental benefits of green spaces for the com- munity; environmental stewardship of lakes, streams and rivers; and preservation initiatives. . 3 of the Top 4 International In the process, many kids are likely to rec- ognize possible occupations in preservation, Developments qf the Year • golf co urse architecture, landscaping and turf- grass maintenance. grassed with SeaDwarf "Not all of these kids are going on to the ¥ * By Golf Inc. Magazine tour," Oskarson says. "So it might trigger a light in someone's head sitting in the crowd, and it: could be a really neat way to stay 3 SeaDwarf Courses . involved in golf." In the end, junior tournaments serve sev- named to America's Top eral functions, including growing the game by creating an emotional bond with the sport and a host facility. And the playing conditions 100 golf communities are an extension of the way kids remember a -- by Travel & Leisure Goff magazine golf course, just like adult golfers. Tournament To-Do List Course Grassed with Prior to play: Drag fairways in the event of heavy dew. Mow greens and tees. Position water or donated beverage on each hole. Relocate ball washers, benches, beverages and trash to appropriate teeing grounds. Remove ropes, stakes and directions sig- nage so tournament director can re-mark the 6th course to set specifications. in the World -by the Toronto Siar Place rakes outside bunkers. Place extra trash receptacles in appropri- ate locations. Identify a place for a pairings box. yjif mi Identify appropriate areas for scoring tent and administrative tents; secure extra tables For a licensed grower near you: and chairs for these areas. I (863) 452-6595 or Provide maps of the course to players and SeaDwarf' administrators. www.environmentalturf.com Borrow or provide squeegees in the event t ^ mP1 MP dP1