Allow myself to introduce...myself..

[David Heiser]

No, not Austin Powers, but I do like his taste in clothing.

Dave Heiser , age 37
Single, no children
General Manager/CPOA lead consultant
Carambola Golf and Country Club
St. Croix, US Virgin Islands

Favorite golf courses played: Bethpage, Merion, Aronimink, Hartefeld, Lookaway, Huntsville, Baltusrol, Casa De Campo, Westin Hills, Haymaker, Turning Stone, Saratoga, and Conklin.  Never been across the pond.

Raised on family owned golf course in PA.  Worked at #6  course in state through college.  Previous owner/general manager of 18 hole course in Upstate New York from 97' to a few months ago.
GM since 1/07 at Robert Trent Jones Sr caribbean course, check us out: www.golfCarambola.com.

   
Hopeless golf design addict. Many years of hands on experience( from ditches to dozers) designing and implementing all aspects of golf infrastructure, adjustments based on efficiency in maintenance, playability, and ability to work cohesively with nature.  Currently overseeing a restoration of the RTJ Sr course including  fleet replacements,  irrigation, bunker restoration, greens regrassing, tee and fairway regrassing, drainage additions, tee additions, cart paths, clubhouse renovation, practice facilities, community infrastructure, etc. etc.  Attempts to retain RTJ Sr characteristics and contours while attaining Audubon certification through naturalization, wildlife habitat improvements, buffer zones, no spray areas, etc.

Some controversal issues that have arisen include but not limited to:
1. Flash facing on bunkers- to retain or not to retain
2. Original tifdwarf greens- can you believe some lobbied to keep the old strain?  Probably going with a no till Champion or Mini verde conversion.
3. Tee locations- adding forwards to open course to a larger demographic of playing abilities.   Also giving in to pressure and adding backs extending course to 7200+ yards.
4. Bunker sand- 97 bunkers, All flash faced. You can't begin to imagine what #1 white costs to ship here.

Anyway, thats me.  Thanks for the invite.  Feel free to provide your opinions on the issues listed above.  

-Dave

[Chip Gaskins]

welcome!

looks you are in a pretty nice place to live, especially this time of year.

chip-

[Dean Paolucci]

Welcome to the discussion!

[Mike Sweeney]

Dave,

A couple of questions:

1. How does Carombola compare with RTJ's work in Upstate NY? I am guessing that you are better terrain than Mahogany Run in St Thomas.

2. Have you had a chance to play the new Norman course on Anguilla?

3. Any local information on the progress of the Nicklaus course on Tortola/Beef Island?

Thanks

[Kyle Harris]

David,

I caddied at Lookaway for their first 3 seasons. It doesn't get much mention around here but it's solid Rees. Probably a bit overrated in the Top 25 in the state, though.

[Bart Bradley]

Welcome.  Played Carambola 3 years ago...very enjoyable course and unbelievable setting.

Enjoy this group...

Bart

[David Heiser]

Gentlemen, thank you for the warm welcome, looks like a great group of people to network with.  

A few replies:

Mike:
Carambola is a somewhat unique property for the caribbean.  While most carib courses are set along the shoreline, we're set in a valley protected by steep hillsides.  Lawrence Rockefeller built the club as his personal enclave back in the 60's.  The original infrastructure is quite impressive, as one can easily see they were on an unlimited budget.  Those days are long gone though, as hurricane Hugo leveled everything in 89' and the island is only recently recovering.  Terrain is rolling with average elevation changes.  I understand Rees spent his college summers here during original construction but don't quote me on that.  I  have a picture hanging on my office wall that has a scorecard and some pictures of the original director of golf here, Chi Chi Rodriguez, playing a round with Gene Sarazen. The scorecard shows Cheech shooting a 69 and Sarazen a 72.   Great old school 60's pics.  It would be hard to compare the course to the Jones courses at Cornell or Green lakes due to the drastic difference in setting and climate, although trademark characteristics are evident such as risk/reward, tough par/easy bogey, bunkering, routing, etc.  

You mentioned Mahogany Run,  where I play quite often on business, but not by choice.  Other than the devils triangle the course is built on poor topgraphy in my opinion.  Too many holes wedged into too little acreage, simple as that.  Ginn runs the resort now and with over a thousand cruise ships a year they hit the tourists hard.  I relate it more to a factory or tourist trap though than a memorable golf experience.  

Concerning Anguilla, opinions are mixed so far. Many of our members have made the trip, nobody has gone back that I know of.  I understand the greens fee is $400, yet the course winds through heavily poverty stricken neighborhoods separated by barbed wire fencing. Still, I understand Norman's design is impressive. Look for a new Nicklaus course there as well soon come.  I hope to get down there this spring.  

Golf in Tortola-  Supposedly they ran into minor environmental issues with wildlife concerns, but I am told the project is back on schedule for an 09' opening.  I am sure Nicklaus.com has an update.

Kyle-
There is a substantial chance that we have met in the past.  My father is a founding Lookaway member who plays 3-4 times a week and prefers caddies to carts.  The 4th hole is one of my favorites designs of all time.  I really enjoy the course, plays well to my game.  An even better layout would be Huntsville GC outside of Wilkes Barre.  Impressive routing, great topography, great use of natural elements, and tucked away in an anonymous town.  Concerning Lookaway, they recently bought the historic farm across the street.  Dave Renk is still there and has moved his family into the large statehouse, while an impressive short game practice facility has been added in the front yard and maintenance facilities relocated over there as well taking the demand off of parking issues and noise around the clubhouse.  Graphite is still there as well, and moved into one of the homes on #10.  Their clubhouse design, constructed to resemble a historic village instead of a gaudy clubhouse like Jericho, was very well thought out in my opinion.  

Thanks as well to Bart, you'll have to get back down here now as we have made substantial improvements, but primarily have brought the course back to upscale conditioning and service.  

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

David:

You're living in Paradise yet you find yourself so bored that you need to join this group? Odd.

Enjoy the ride.

Anthony

[Lester George]

David,

Welcome!

Sounds like your course is dealing with the usual suspects in terms of issues.  I would recommend an architect from Richmond, Va to help you through it.  Check him out.

Lester


 

[Kyle Henderson]

2. Original tifdwarf greens- can you believe some lobbied to keep the old strain?  Probably going with a no till Champion or Mini verde conversion.

Welcome, Dave!

One of the things I learned because of this discussion group: Grasses evolve over time to suit their microclimate.

It may be that the old strain will survive and thrive better than anything modern science has concocted because it is perfectly suited to your particular course and has therefore "outcompeted" rival strains.

Just a thought.

Happy posting!

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Lester:

There's an architect based in Richmond? No kidding?

Anthony

[Norbert P]

Welcome David,  Anybody who's played a golf course called Haymaker, and walked away saying it's a favorite, is all right by me.

[Lester George]

Anthony,

Heard of him?  Some say he a little crazy, but I wouldn't know.  Good thread.  Craziest Golf Course Architect ever.  Muirhead doesn't count, neither does anyone you haven't personally witnessed being crazy.

Lester

[Chris Burgard]

Okay...I'll bite....if noone else will.

"I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been round for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith"

 

[Andrew Mitchell]

Okay...I'll bite....if noone else will.

"I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been round for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith"

 

David

"Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But whats puzzling you
Is the nature of my game"

 

[Mike_Cirba]

Hi David and welcome to the real jungle.  

Being an upstate PA guy myself, please allow myself to ask which course your family owned?  

I'm pretty sure I played it.  

[Mark Chaplin]

David,

Welcome, you are clearly missing the across the pond experience, to further your GCA knowledge I'd say it's a must.
Come and see how the land on the links is used in harmony with the game to create options. You will not regret it!

Mark

[David Heiser]

MP-

My grandfather owned a few 18 hole tracks when I was a kid.  Both were sold to developers, that villain.  Every summer I was "volunteered" by my parents.  In 97' I purchased an 18 hole layout in the Finger lakes which worked as a blank canvas for my mad scientist issues over the past decade.  Recently sold it for a nice profit, more importantly, I now live in the tropics instead of the snowbelt.  life is good.

hey slag,, www.haymakergolf.com  in Steamboat Springs.

[David Heiser]

Can you believe it Mark?  Looks like GCA is the next best thing though.  Looking forward to all I can learn from this website, but eventually I need to bite the bullet and get on the plane.