GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY Serving the Business of Golf Course Management

NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN... Vol.22 No. 3

EDITORIAL here aren't many sure things in life. Some That said, I do think hypocrisy of this mag- GIE Media, Inc. T nitude begs a little explanation, so here goes: 4020 Kinross Lakes Pkwy, 2nd floor would cite the old "death and taxes" maxim. Richfield, OH 44286 GCI has grown and blossomed beautifully Phone: 800-456-0707 Others would remind us that, "The sun will in a relatively short time. I'm jumping on the Fax: 330-659-0823 rise tomorrow." Superintendents would, of bandwagon just as the magazine is on the Pat Jones Editorial director course, moan: "Golfers will bitch no matter verge of greatness. Thus, I can take all the [email protected] how perfect the course is." Everybody has their credit without having done any of the actual Mike Zawacki own take on it. work. Editor [email protected] For me, the only absolutely sure, indisput- Being your own boss sucks. There's no one Marisa Palmieri able, unarguable fact in the world is that Sean to blame when the copy machine jams and Senior editor [email protected] Connery was the best James Bond ever. If you this guy who claims to be my "Uncle Sam" attempt to tell me differently, you will likely calls constantly looking for money. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD get a poke in the nose. Pierce Brosnan, my ass. As much as I loved working solo at home, I Terry Buchen, CGCS, MG Golf Agronomy International As Bond, Connery was, quite simply, the began to realize that showering and shav- coolest guy ever. He drove amazing cars, Raymond Davies, CGCS ing occasionally had benefits. Plus, all of the CourseCo frolicked with fabulous women and killed bad voices in my head were starting to Tim Hiers, CGCS guys in a myriad of creative ways. make sense. The Old Collier Golf Club Hell, he even still managed to beat But seriously folks.. .The short Laurence Hirsh Golf Property Analysts Goldfinger at golf after the fat little version is that I've had a lot of jerk cheated. Ted Horton, CGCS changes in my life - I'll be writ- Ted Horton Consulting Connery retired from the Bond ing about those in my "Parting Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D. role inl971 after "Diamonds Are Shots" back page column Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design Forever" and did some crappy in coming months - and Mike Kriel The Brick Cos. movies before unretiring in I've made a commitment Joe Livingston, CGCS 1983 to make "Never Say Never to reinventing myself. Lord River Crest Country Club Pat Jones Again." The film's title comes Editoria! director and publisher knows I needed to. And, Matt Rostal Interlachen Country Club from those who reminded over the years, the owners of him that he had repeatedly GCI have treated me like family. When they and loudly vowed to never make another Bond offered me a larger role with the magazine, it AGRONOMIC RESEARCH COUNCIL Rob Golembiewski, Ph.D. flick. just felt right. Department of Horticulture Well, I was thinking about Sean Connery's The other thing that felt right was the op- Oregon State University change of heart just a few hectic weeks ago portunity to help make GCI a publication that David Kopec, Ph.D. when I found myself enthusiastically agreeing Department of Plant Science truly leads our industry. We're lucky enough University of Arizona to become GCI's publisher and editorial direc- to be able to send this magazine to 30,000 of Dara Park, Ph.D. tor. For five years, I had also repeatedly and Pee Dee Research and Education Center our friends every month. We damned sure Clemson University loudly vowed to anyone who would listen that have an obligation to inform, stimulate, edu- John Stier, Ph.D. I would never return to the corporate rat race. cate and even provoke you on every page of Department of Horticulture I would never go back to all the hassles of run- University of Wisconsin-Madison every issue. I promise you here and now we'll Nathan Walker, Ph.D. ning a magazine. I would never give up being fulfill that obligation. And this time, that's a Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology my own boss. And I would positively never give Oklahoma State University vow you can be sure I will never break. GCI up the cushy consulting lifestyle that allowed Fred Yelverton, Ph.D. Department of Crop Science me to lounge around all day in my flannel North Carolina State University pajama pants and well-worn fuzzy slippers. But I figured if Sean Connery - the coolest man on the planet - could eat his words then a bonehead like me certainly could, too.