Bethpage Black's Craig Currier refuses to let Biblical-like rains t's easy to commiserate with 60 full-time members and 100 vol- Craig Currier, considering unteers, looking as spruce as George dampen his spirit at it's pouring down buck- Clooney ever could for that time of ets of rain on his parade day. Currier is bright-eyed and clean- — the 2009 U.S. Open. shaven as he starts on the X's and O's this year's U.S. Open You feel downright doleful of the day's game plan. for Currier, the golf course "Where are the bunker guys?" superintendent at Bethpage Black Golf Currier asks of the group assigned to ICourse, for what he has had to endure maintain the Black Course's majes- on this stark Thursday morning, the tic hazards. "Will the rough fluffers opening round of one of America's please meet down in front," he asks. greatest sporting events. After receiving their assignments, It's 10:20 a.m. and the weather the workers scatter out the door and sirens are blaring throughout the golf into the rain. Unfortunately, the fore- course with the message that play has cast for the next four days is similar to been suspended after three hours and the forecast for the week that Noah 20 minutes because of the driving built his ark — steely skies and steady STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS rain. Tiger Woods and other golf- rain. Currier is well aware of it as he BY LARRY AYLWARD ers, who have played anywhere from steps outside to chat with volunteer one to 11 holes, are running for cover Frank Darby, the men's golf coach at from the deluge that will soon trans- nearby St. John's University. Currier, form Bethpage Black into Bethpage a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan, half jok- Lake and cancel play for the day. ingly tells Darby that meeting Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who Currier expected as much. Earlier played Bethpage Black the previous in the morning, he saw the mass of red, week as part of the star-studded U.S. yellow and green blotches approach- Open Challenge, could end up being ing the area on the weather radar. In the highlight of "my Open" because fact, during a 4 a.m. meeting with his of the dismal forecast. crew, Currier announced, i can't imagine we're going to get Currier has labored intently the much golf in today." past few years with United States Golf But that didn't mean Currier Association representatives to get the wasn't going to do his best to make Black Course, one of five tracks he sure a lot of golfYtf//£/be played. After oversees at Bethpage, prepared for the all, he and his staff had been gearing U.S. Open. While they can get the up for this event for a few years since course in the best shape possible for Craig Currier, whether the United States Golf Association the event, they can't manufacture a riding in his utility announced Bethpage Black, located cloudless sky. And rain has a tendency vehicle or walking the on Long Island in Farmingdale, N.Y., to muck up everything from wedding golf course (above), would host its second U.S. Open. days to picnics to golf tournaments. spent ample time Currier and his crew weren't about Currier curls his 6-foot-5 frame on his radios talking to pack it in for the day. into his Toro Workman utility about the weather. Currier has been awake since 2:45 vehicle and speeds off. It's about 5 a.m. He arrived at the 4 a.m. meeting a.m. He'll make many stops before with his crew, consisting of Bcthpagc's the first tee shots launch at 7 a.m. on holes No. 1 and No. 9. As the rain begins ered to Bethpage the night before. Cur- "How you feeling?" Currier asks Oatis, to slow, Currier remarks, "Hopefully, the rier ordered the rollers, which are almost who has been battling a cold. "Hey, it's rain won't be as bad as they say, and we'll 400 pounds heavier than gas-operated the Open," Oatis responds, knowing he get some golf in. It will be a shame if the versions, to squeeze the greens tighter to has no choice but to suck it up. whole day gets washed away." keep the water rolling off them. If this was a sunny and dry morning, The problem is it has been raining After a few minutes, Currier climbs Currier would have the mowers out in on Farmingdalc almost every day for back in his utility vehicle to continue full force. But the weather stymied that the past two weeks. The course is like his rounds. He sails the vehicle through plan. Instead of mowers, Currier has an a soaked sponge. "We really can't take puddles of myriad shapes and sizes. Cur- army of squeegees and a fleet of Water much more rain," Currier says. rier is a multi-tasking man in motion. He Hogs (rolling devices to remove stand- While the sun can't shine through drives the vehicle with one hand while ing water) on the course. the thick clouds, the darkness of the carrying a radio with the other. Another "When you get water like this, every- night soon gives way to morning. The radio is within reach, and he's constantly thing is out the window," Currier says. rain has stopped for now, but the wind switching back between the two. His cell "We're doing everything on the fly." He is starting to blow. During his rounds, phone is stashed in his jacket pocket. smiles slightly before adding, "I'd get bored Currier encounters Mike Davis, the When it rings, Currier fetches it. A cir- if we didn't have this kind of stuff" cus juggler has nothing on him. USGA's congenial director of rules and It's pushing 7 and the wind gusts are competitions. Davis is measuring green It's 6:20, 40 minutes to tee time. gaining strength. One can hear the whip of speed and probably praying for a miracle Currier encounters a white golf car the red, white and blue USGA flags hang- in the form of a big, blue sky. driven by Dave Oatis, director of the ing on the grandstands. The weatherman At another stop, Currier checks on the USGA Green Section's Northeast says the rain machine, which has been off a progress of two crew members who are Region, who has been working with couple hours, will kick back on about 7. zipping up and down a putting green on Currier for months on the course for the The weatherman is dead on. In fact, two new electric rollers, which were deliv- tournament. The two stop their vehicles. Continued on page 34 iflfateejieoaf Continued from page 33 the rain comes pouring down almost exactly at 7. Currier finishes touching up a bunker near the ninth green and spots a group of golfers heading toward the 1 Oth tee. "Let's go watch the first tee shot of the U.S. Open," he says. The rain comes down even harder, but not enough to canccl play—yet. Currier positions rotating workers with squeegees at ever)' green. These guys don't know it at the time, but they will get their share of media exposure, from ESPN to "Sports Illustrated," not to mention the many newspapers, magazines and TV stations covering the event. Many grounds staff members have retreated to the maintenance shop, where a hot breakfast awaits them. Currier is one of the last to show up. He places his two radios in front of him and gobbles down a plate of bacon, eggs, sausage and French toast while watching Currier's staff numbered the tournament on TV. about 160, including about 100 volunteers. Play continues, but so does the rain. He needed everyone of Currier stops by his office. Outside his them to keep the course door, Darby is waiting for him with two in good playing condition former St. John Redman basketball play- ers for him to meet. Currier is a bie fan Volunteer Andy "What can you do?" he says quietly. tenance shop, there is hurt — guys have Taylor fluffs the Currier also doesn't sit and steam. been working their butts off all morn- rough at 4:30 in He relies on his sense of humor to pull ing for naught — but there is humor, the morning. him through. He spots the two former too. It's announced that play for the day St. John basketball players vacating the has been canceled and will resume the 'a. course. "Go Orangemen," he yells. They next morning. Outside, Currier gath- turn to him and laugh. ers a group of drenched workers to tell Someone once said, "Humor is really them the news. It's quiet when Currier laughing off a hurt. " Back at the main- Continued on page 36 TARGET YcAwn or Srwvinr SPECIALTY PRODUCTS Delivering Value The products you need, when you need them. of the Syracuse University Orangemen hoopsters, having grown up near there. The Redman and Orangemen are rivals in the Big East Conference. About 30 minutes later, Currier decides it's time to take another drive around the course. It's coming down in torrents now. It is reminiscent of the scene in "Forrest Gump" when Gump, while stationed in Vietnam, writes in a letter back home that "we've been through every kind of rain there is — little bitty stingin' rain, big oT fat rain, rain that flew in sideways, and some- times rain even that seemed to come Wholesale distribution of specialty agricultural chemicals, straight up from underneath." serving the following industries: Currier can relate.