Renaissance Man Ben Crenshaw Called 'Friend of Superintendents'

By KIT BRADSHAW

(Editor's Note: This article is a reprint from the GCSAA Showtime magazine published during the na- tional conference and show. I had the opportunity to sit in on the press con- ference with Ben Crenshaw. He is very laid back and what I would call a regular guy; who, I might add, is very; very good at what he does, play .! He was very sincere when he stated that the superintendent is the most im- portant person on the grounds. He called superintendents "unbelievable practicioners." He was very humble regarding his design efforts and praised his partnership with Bill Coore He said that when designing he uses the principles of Old Tom Morris with regard to playability. He said he was given by fellow Texan, Tommy D. glove with the design are the people tries to design from a strategic point. Witt, CGCS and GCSAA director. who take care of the golf courses." He much prefers to work with a natur- Sharing the podium was out-going He praised both and al site rather than move soil, saying GCSAA president, Bruce R. Williams, Old Tom Morris for their vision and "the piece of ground must fit." CGCS. their love of golf, noting that both When asked if the PGA has ever dis- "Ben has always considered golf these individuals had a significant cussed funding any research projects course superintendents to be impor- impact on the game. related to turf, he said that the PGA tant. We have a true friend in Ben Old Tom Morris, Crenshaw said, had not talked about it. However, he Crenshaw," Witt said. "was a fountainhead of information did say that he hoped for more cooper- Crenshaw agreed that his interests on the game, as was Penick. As a ative work along these lines. When are widespread, but recalled when he greenkeeper, Old Tom Morris took asked about "new equipment" and played in the national junior golf tour- care of the course, but let nature take how a course can be built to match it, nament at in its course. But he did so much more. his response, "Saint Andrews was the Brookline, Mass. His life was unbelievable. test character of ground to keep tech- "For a young boy from Austin, Crenshaw said that the book, Life nology in check." He was also quick to Texas, this was a real eye opener. It of Tom Morris, is one of his favorites. point out that the idea of the game was here that I first became interest- Crenshaw said that he has seen golf does not change, just the instruments, ed in the history and architecture of course superintendents do incredible and golfs "selfpolicing code of ethics a . It was here that I fell in things to maintain the standards of has stood the test of time" love with golf." a course, adding "the most important * * * * Crenshaw admitted that it is thrill- man or woman on the grounds is the ing to be a professional player and one taking care of it." en Crenshaw was described as have the opportunity to travel around The golf course architect, golfer and "one of the most popular play- the world, playing on the world's best golf historian can see that there will Bers, whose interest in golfs his- golf courses. be challenges ahead for golf course su- tory and memorabilia, and support of But everyday play by the amateur perintendents and for golf designers the GCSAA is well-known.,, golfer is the backbone of the game," as well. The description of Crenshaw, who he said. "It is amateur play that is the "Designers are doing incredible cre- received GCSAA's Old Tom Morris basis of the strategic design of golf ations on what can be called Award at the '97 National Convention, courses. And hand-in-hand, glove-in- (Continued on Page 34) Mini-Seminar— (Continued from Front Cover) manufacturing and 65% in service. In the Minneapolis area 82% of the jobs are service related!!! This brought about the first question: What is the real goal of service?? lb build trust and rapport as soon as possible!! We then started to work on defining terms and statements such as: Customer and mo- ments of truth. Very simply, a cus- tomer is anyone that you build trust and rapport with and that moment of truth is anytime you communicate with a customer or anyone. It really came down to information (your abili- ty) and emotion (your willingness) related to service. Are you willing and able to serve??? Not just customers but 109 attended the Mini-Seminar but we had room for more! your employees and others? The communications module fo- about the job of trimming trees. This have available to us as a professional cused on getting your message across. would be quite difficult to train some- association. This may lead to apathy We all took a test to help us determine one with only verbal instruction. It and nonparticipating by some, which our own unique communication style. may be a bit easier with a drawing is a terrible mistake. This seminar Are you visually-oriented, verbally- (visual) but we all know that to really was absolutely top drawer, as good or oriented or kinesthetically (doing) get the message across you just have better than anything we have ever oriented? What this told us was that to get out there and try it. offered in recent years. It's just too bad we all communicate (send and receive) The day was well worth the time we didn't have a full house. information just a little differently and spent. I always gauge a seminar by the THANK YOU to Steve Young, Tbm when it comes to training employees "real world take home stuff' that I get Parent, Pat Walton, James Gardner or a grounds meeting, we need to out of it; this one was a 10 out of 10. and Jim Nicol for the assistance you make a special effort to "cover all the Unfortunately, we had plenty of room provided in bringing us this opportu- bases" in our communication. We can for more participants. I think we tend nity to learn and grow. all relate to this very easily if we think to take for granted the education we — Rob Panuska, Editor

Ben Crenshaw Receives — (Continued from Page 33) throwaway properties," he said. "We are returning to a more ing how to design courses," he said. classic design, which I like. I feel the timeless architectur- Water will be a challenge to both the architects and the al designs are the best." superintendents because water resources will be sorely Crenshaw said that he and his partner, William Coore, depleted in years to come, Crenshaw said. On a practical do a couple of golf course designs a year because they like side, that means the standards on the golf course may be to spend time on each project and want to keep their small changed when it comes to green. For golf course superin- crew together for each project. tendents to overcome their members' objections to these "I was lucky enough to have a partner who is an conditions, the green committees must be well-informed. agronomist," he said, "and he has taught me so much about For everyone involved in golf, the increase in performance this field. In turn, I try to work on the playability of the equipment is presenting a challenge as well. course design." "I know this question about the impact of equipment on Crenshaw said that the move of golf professionals into design drives Pete Dye nuts, but it is a good question," Cren- design may give the public the impression that a golf profes- shaw said. "We are at the critical, red line when it comes sional can automatically become a golf course designer, but to equipment, and I'm beginning to agree with Jack (Nick- said that perception is wrong. laus) that we must do something about the golf balls that "I think this perception does an injustice to the golf course are played in professional tournaments." architect, who has spent so much time and energy learn-