What kinds of things represent supers?

[Adam_F_Collins]

I'm working on a new logo design for an association of golf course superintendents. I've talked it over with the client, and he finds most superintendent organization logos to be too "stiff" or "corporate-looking". He finds too many logos with something representing a green and a flag...

He wants to have something with more of a feel for the work they do.

What kind of objects or images might be represent the work that golf course superintendents do?

Any ideas?

[TEPaul]

I'd suggest a small and attractive scythe. The scythe has numerous and interesting connotations of man's progressiveness and obviously at this point connotations of tradition. Maybe it would be a good link between the old and the new. You should speak to Merion's old super, Richie Valentine, about the use of the scythe in golf superintendency--I think he still rues the day it went out in place of mechanization, some of which he viewed as a somewhat dangerous bother (oil spills and unnatural results).

[Willie_Dow]

Adam & Tom

If you're getting Richie involved don't leave Kittleman out!

After all he designed the Merion logo.

Willie

[TEPaul]

Willie:

Good point about BillK and the Merion logo. It seems like there're a number of people around there who wish they'd thought of it and not Bill!  

That's an interesting bit of trivia. What was the Merion logo, if they even had one, before BillK came up with the present one?

[wsmorrison]

Wasn't the Merion logo prior to Kittleman's outstanding design the shield of the Merion Cricket Club with the arm holding the cricket bat above and the glove, ball and wickets in the shield?  Maybe they substituted some golf images for cricket but I think it was the Cricket Club's logo.

[Willie_Dow]

Hey - you two guys should write a book!

Wayne is correct in every detail

[wsmorrison]

Thanks, Bill.  I wasn't certain if some golf images were used in substitution for cricket images on the prior logo.  I don't think that was the case but if there were substitutions, what were they?  I'll call you later this morning if you'll be around.
Best,
Wayne

[TEPaul]

Call him now Wayne! We should all call each other and wake up all our wives so they'll all get really pissed at us and throw us all out of our houses. That way we can all go somewhere and play golf!

[Willie_Dow]

Adam

Tom's suggestion of the scythe is a good one.  

Richie tells a good story about one of his team of guys caring for the bunker surrounds with a scythe.  And this guy cared about his job.

I doubt the weed wacker feels that way!

Willie

[wsmorrison]

Tom,
I'll start us off by calling your house and Bill's early tomorrow morning!  Sue M gets up way too early and starts running on the treadmill for an hour six days a week.  Given that the treadmill is right next to the bed...I get up early whether I want to or not.  When she hits the treadmill I hit GCA.  I have a feeling that her routine is a bit better for weight loss than mine.

[A_Clay_Man]

I like the notion that superintendents need to wiegh all the variables. So perhaps something stolen from lady justice? Scales, but not blind. The scales could be weighing science v. nature,
 
or,

 discussion v. complaining

[Adam_F_Collins]

The scythe idea is an interesting one. I like the idea of the historic connection.

At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if it were rejected by the client, as many within the association may not see the connection, as their courses are relatively new (and many of the members are too young to have known the older tools). I'll certainly try some variations with the scythe, and see what they think.

The scales is interesting as well.

What other things might symbolize the work they do?

[John_Cullum]

I don't know what it is like in your part of the country, but in the Southeast US, one of the supers most valuable tools is the English-Spanish dictionary.

[Steve Curry]

A brain, Einsteinesque held out by two cut and callused hands with no ears (not because we don't listen, no because we don't want to hear about your bad shot).

 

Steve

[George Pazin]

I don't know how I'd represent it pictorially, but I'd say something that illustrates the patience of Job.

[Joel_Stewart]

A golf pin should be incorporated with the flag of Mexico.

[Michael Dugger]

Adam,

Here are a few ideas.....I think using a cross section of a ryegrass, for example, is kind of salient.







The following link has a humongous collection of grass drawings

http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/drawlist.html

and here as well....

http://www.1-800-lawncare.com/topics/lawncare101_grasstypes.htm

[Brad Klein]

A shield with a chainsaw and rake crossed, like swords.

[Don_Mahaffey]

Adam,
If you want to see some examples of logos for local GCSAA chapters go to www.GCSAA.org then click on the resources tab on the top menu and clink on links. When the link page comes up click on chapter links and you see all the links to the chapters in the US and Canada. Hope this helps.
Don

[RJ_Daley]

Don, there are some terrific logos on the chapter sites.   It would help to know what chapter or association the logo was for.  Then, perhaps some regional or local theme might be incorporated.  I really liked the San Diego, Philly, Peaks and Prairies, Minn, and Midwest logos to name a few (didn't look at them all)

I think of a sunrise plus dew, sunshine, or waves of grass seed tops as turf characteristics that represent something of an emotional image most supers tell me they connect with.

Or, maybe just an image of a coffee maker and an alarm clock showing 4Am...

[Joe Hancock]

Maybe a picture of a lonely wife waiting for her hubby to return....wait, that won't work any more as there are more and more women discovering the satisfaction of being a golf course super.....

Joe

[Adam_F_Collins]

What're the tools that are used to make and 'cork' the holes?
What is that tool called?

[Michael Dugger]

The hole cutter?

Aerator?

[S. Huffstutler]

It's called a cup cutter...my suggestion would be a picture of a day planner and a cellphone. Not much help, I know. How about a depiction of a sunrise on the golf course.....that's my favorite time.

Steve

[Steve_Roths]

Didn't the Emperor design the logo for Friar's Head?  You should consult with him on this one.