[Anthony_Nysse]

Belfair Plantation, home to 2 Fazio designs, in Bluffton, SC has a new Director of Grounds, Eric Greytok. Eric greytok was Superintendent at Pebble Beach for the 2000 US Open, the Director of Grounds at Winged Foot for the 2004 US AM and the 2006 US Open and left WF for Tom Doak's Wicked Pony.
  As many of you know, I think that Belfair is as good as any 36 complex in the south. It was always a treat to play ther during my time at long Cove. They have a number of different playing surfaces including bentgrass greens, tifdwaf tees and paspalum fairways on the West course. Good luck to eric and Co and i know that they will really bring Belfair to peak conditions!

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TX

[Daryl David]

Does this mean Wicked Pony is a no-go?

[JimFatsi]

Congrats to Eric, I played Winged Foor several times during the Greytok years and with all the play Winged Foot gets he sure did a terrific job in preparing the west for the Amateur and Open.  Interesting to note was Erics email communications to the membership his years, through a member I received a few of his emails, describing some tough times during a dry hot summer and how he was dealing with those conditions.  All emails very descriptive, some were more than a page long,  and helpful to the membership, and something that more and more superindentants are doing today. 

[Michael Whitaker]

Anthony - I am also I big fan of the courses at Belfair. As you well know, warm weather grasses have a unique set of challenges compared to the cool weather grasses predominately found on the courses Mr. Greytok has been previously associated. Do you think there will be a learning curve for Eric or will he be able to hit the ground running (no pun intended  ).

He obviously is very talented or he would not have gotten the job at Belfair, but I was surprised that they didn't hire a warm weather grass specialist.

[Dave_Wilber]

Anthony - I am also I big fan of the courses at Belfair. As you well know, warm weather grasses have a unique set of challenges compared to the cool weather grasses predominately found on the courses Mr. Greytok has been previously associated. Do you think there will be a learning curve for Eric or will he be able to hit the ground running (no pun intended  ).

He obviously is very talented or he would not have gotten the job at Belfair, but I was surprised that they didn't hire a warm weather grass specialist.

He'll do fine. There's a learning curve involved in each and every different climate and some people are very good and sorting out what's what. And I believe that Eric has some warm-season/transition zone experience in his past prior to Pebble.

[Anthony_Nysse]

David,
  I'm sure that Eric is an intelligent guy and would jump into anything that he didn't think that he could handle, but Pebble Beach is an all cool season golf course-bentgrass/poa/bluegrass and rye. There isnt any warm season in that area, nor are the temps warm enough to warrent it.

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TX

[Dave_Wilber]

David,
  I'm sure that Eric is an intelligent guy and would jump into anything that he didn't think that he could handle, but Pebble Beach is an all cool season golf course-bentgrass/poa/bluegrass and rye. There isnt any warm season in that area, nor are the temps warm enough to warrent it.

Yes. And your point is?

I think I was trying to say that Eric had been other places prior to Pebble.

(I remember not so long ago when Pebble's sward was a pretty good population of Kikuyu. It wasn't great but it was there---last I heard Kike is definitely a warm season grass)

[Anthony_Nysse]

David,
  What I'm saying is that he DOESNT have experience on warm season. warm season is a much different monster than cool season, as I HOPE that you know. It's not always and easy transition, but if anyone can do it, I'm sure Eric is the guy. I'm sure that He looks forward to the challenge. I personally think that hes at the best 36 hols complex with the best golfing membership (besides Secession) down there.
  

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TX

[Don_Mahaffey]

Tony,
With respect to you...but your in over your head here...
Dave knows all about bent in the south and all the rest...

[Anthony_Nysse]

Don,
  I fully believe that Dave has all the credibilty in the world as I've heard of his work before. I'm just pointing out the difficulting of making the transition, not just to bermudagrass, but also paspalum and bentgrass in the south. I'm making the point that Eric's experience isn't on the warm season grasses, but I'm sure that he will be fine.

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial
Ft. Worth, TX

[Dave_Wilber]

David,
  What I'm saying is that he DOESNT have experience on warm season. warm season is a much different monster than cool season, as I HOPE that you know. It didn't work out so great for Belfair's last Super because he didn't have experience on Bentgrass greens in the south. There really isnt anything even comparible between the different grasses. I'd think that i wouldn't have to explain this in any more depth with you being in the turf and soil services. It's not always and easy transition, but if anyone can do it, I'm sure Eric is the guy. I'm sure that He looks forward to the challenge. I personally think that hes at the best 36 hols complex with the best golfing membership (besides Secession) down there.
  If you're so sure that Eric has been on warm season turfgrass, name it? Hes from the northwest.

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TX

Thanks for the turf lesson. I guess you think I needed it.

No need to give Eric's resume. He can do that here himself if he likes. He's more than qualified.

And...just to talk straight....this warm season vs. cool season thing...It's a molehill not a mountain and I've said that for years. Of course, experience counts.

The Tyvek is calling your name, Anthony!

Onward. I'm enjoying my annual visit to GCA

[Anthony_Nysse]

Dave,
  Regardless of our opinions, I'm sure that Eric will do fine. One cannot get to the courses and host the events that he has without a knowing a thing or two. In fact, maybe he's really looking forward to the learning curve. I know I would be. Either way, Belfair is lucky to have him. I look forward to a return visit there in the fall.

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TC

[Joe Hancock]

Dave,

One quick, unrelated question: Do you have yourself quoted on your own signature line?

Joe

[Steve_Lovett]

David,
  What I'm saying is that he DOESNT have experience on warm season. warm season is a much different monster than cool season, as I HOPE that you know. It didn't work out so great for Belfair's last Super because he didn't have experience on Bentgrass greens in the south. There really isnt anything even comparible between the different grasses. I'd think that i wouldn't have to explain this in any more depth with you being in the turf and soil services. It's not always and easy transition, but if anyone can do it, I'm sure Eric is the guy. I'm sure that He looks forward to the challenge. I personally think that hes at the best 36 hols complex with the best golfing membership (besides Secession) down there.
  If you're so sure that Eric has been on warm season turfgrass, name it? Hes from the northwest.

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TX

If he's from the northwest he's got all the qualification necessary to do anything - anywhere...   

[Anthony_Nysse]

http://gcm.typepad.com/gcm/2008/04/greytok-heads-e.html

Tony Nysse
Asst. Supt.
Colonial CC
Ft. Worth, TX

[John Gosselin]

Eric is from Philadelphia. Another good one to come out of Merion.

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()