Klauk and crew earn redemption at TPC at Sawgrass By Vern Putney The 1990 PGA Tour stop at Sawgrass' Stadium Course at Jacksonville, Fla., is re- The public now has a better membered ruefully for the "Flaying of Fred," perception of how important a public pillorying by the media of the golf the superintendent is to the course superintendent. The 1991 version will be recalled as "Ku- success of the PGA Tour and dos for Klauk" long after Australian Steve golf in general/ Elkington's victory is forgotten. Fred Klauk and his crew of 52 accom- — Fred Klauk plished perhaps the biggest course turn- around in tour history. a better perception of how important the Last year, the pros heaped scorn on the superintendent is to the success of the PGA course and Klauk for conditions admittedly Tour and golf in general. With such sharp and on the ragged side. Mother Nature had critical focus, it's perhaps understandable sabotaged the course, but the pros were not that the super gets all the blame when things inclined to forgive. go wrong. On the other hand, reward can be They were similarly outspoken on the eve great when conditions are near-ideal." of this year's event. They went public as Tour players recognize Klauk as a big loudly, not to bury Klauk, but to praise him. hitter in his own right. A two handicapper, Sessions with PGA Commissioner Deane he's been champion the past four years at Beman, critiques, intense preparation, a two- The recent PGA Tour stop at the Tournament Players Club of Sawgrass in Jacksonville, Fla., drew rave Oak Bridge, a testing course within the week pushback in tourney dates and a break reviews from competitors for course conditions. Much credit goes to the golf maintenance management staff. Sawgrass complex. from the weather paid off handsomely. Left to right are Mark Sanford, chief mechanic; Bob Clarkson, assistant superintendent, Stadium Course; He never scored better, though, than in his Though Klauk felt players were overly Cathy Macormic, office manager; Gene Baldwin, assistant superintendent, Valley Course; Lee Rowe, strictly spectator role in the tournament. critical in 1990, given winter wind and storm landscape assistant, and Fred Klauk, superintendent. Elkington made off with the $288,000 first- troubles, he took the heat. He didn't duck an prize Sawgrass swag. Klauk made millions NBC interview with Bob Costas in which Rocco Mediate, Sawgrass resident and for a tie, and Gary Player hosted a corporate for superintendents in terms of public difficulties appeared magnified. the Tour's leading money winner, best ex- outing shotgun tournament Tuesday. He awareness and goodwill. Greens 1 and 2 were unquestioned rough pressed fellow pros' feelings during a prac- spent part of the morning trying to match That Sawgrass was bracketed by the spots and, yes, there were other areas of tice round. Attached to his bag was a button Brian Claar's ace on the 17th. world's top pros with Augusta National and concern.Instead of hiding his head in the sand, reading "Fred Knows Greens." A seed soil mix quickly cured the post- Medinah, 111., on the "best-groomed" list was Klauk stood his ground and said his mission for Maintenance staff members also wore tourney divot blues. icing on Klauk's cake. 1991 was to make the course the best ever. these buttons, supplied courtesy of Don Klauk, staff and tour officials have re- That coupling is far better than such shafts He set the goal — and delivered. Kepler, Klauk's junior high school coach in viewed the tourney. A few minor adjust- as "Marriott Muni" and J.C. Snead's 'They First step was to huddle with Beman and North Palm Beach, and former high school ments are planned next year. messed up a perfectly good swamp." define needed changes. It was agreed that an teammate Larry Mueller. Despite the 1990 media battering, Klauk Sawgrass resident Snead the past few earlier end to daily play was necessary prior Greens 1 and 2 were no longer verbal enjoys excellent press relations. He pointed months has eaten his words — gladly. to the tournament. targets. They matched the others in im- out that the print media were most favorable "Freddy's Fashion Plate" had prevailed. The course was closed in the fall for maculate grooming. from 1987 through 1989. Course designer Pete Dye's contributions overseeding. This procedure became 80 Greg Norman, perhaps the No. One course Klauk works at media exposure. He's shouldn't be overlooked. Paul Azinger, tour- percent poa trivialis of the sabre variety and critic in 1990, summed up the 1991 layout in friendly with the press and the players. ney leader most of the way, said: "It turned 20 percent bentgrass, instead of the other one word — "perfect." "I am aware of the temptation by the press out to be a great golf course. Maybe Dye did way around. The week's shutdown permit- Elkington said of Sawgrass: "I don't think to create controversy, and that it might be a better job than we gave him credit for." ted uninterrupted germination. there's a harder course in the world to play the supers' lot that tourney players and For trivia buffs, the playing absentee among A tree-trimming program meant more than this one when there is this kind of wind members might say, What have you done the top 20 in the Sony World Ranking was course sunlight. (42 miles per hour the second day), but for me lately?' That goes with the territory. Payne Stewart. Sidelined by an ailing neck, Three months before the tournament, course conditions couldn't be better." 'The big thing is that the public now has he was restricted to commentator duty. preparations were intensified. Two or three Sawgrass' reputation as a destroyer of title persons were added to the work force. hopes in the stretch was reinforced. The Akey element was shutting down the course finishing holes, especially the dreaded but the Monday prior to tournamentwarmup action. hauntingly beautiful 138-yard 17th, finished Playersarrivingthe Saturday beforeThursday's many contenders. opening-day round were amazed at the playing Most memorable was Phil Blackmar. He'd surfaces that loomed like huge carpets fit for a teed off on that most unique hole on the tour, king's royal entry. water-surrounded, most-photographed and In what was believed an unprecedented most-hazardous, tied for the lead. Kerplunk! effort, ball marks on all greens had been Bye-bye, Blackmar. seeded. A fairway divot couldn't be found. Sawgrass was open for resort play the The course was inviolate. morningfollowingFuzzyZoeller'sbirdiemiss Golf Course Accessories USGA deciding fate of last $300,000 Ballwashers • Detergent • Mounting Continued from page 1 project like that." Pipes & Bases • Tee Signs • Spike stirred the most debate among the review A major concern is getting hard, re- Brushes • Hole Cutters • Flag Poles committee, Kenna said. creatable data from such a project, or any of • Flags • Cups • Rakes • Benches "Eighty-five percent of the population the $2.5 million in studies the USGA has • Tee Markers • Practice Greens knows little about golf," he said. "Basically, already funded under the environmental re- Markers • Whipping Poles • Course we know that when people drive by a course, search project, Kenna said. The studies al- Signage • And More. they look at it. But that's about it. ready funded have involved pesticide and Requested by players. Preferred by "We know people enjoy open space. That's agronomic issues. course professionals. Specified by why urban planners usually try to include "If someone finds fault with any of your designers and used with pride parks in their designs. Golf courses are like data, it can crumble your whole argument," wherever golf is played. parks, but they have the advantage of also Kenna said. 'We've started a quality assur- generating revenue. ance/control program to make sure the uni- Call your Par Aide dealer today for "We're wondering how funding that type versity research we get is of a quality we can our FREE CATALOG, or call us at of project would appear to USGA associates. use. 612/779-9851 for the name of the That's what we're debating. The psychologi- "We want the numbers to be well-docu- dealer nearest you. cal effect proposals have come from schools mented and know where they came from so ° 1990; Par Aide Products Co., St. Paul, MN. of architecture. Maybe we need to get the we can re-create the procedure and get the golf course architects association on board a same numbers." .