(long post) Joel, since you asked,
I have been head of Finance and Vice-Chair of grounds at Olympia Fields for 3 years, and was chairman of the South Course Project. In those roles I became very well acquainted with Sam. I think it almost takes someone in positions like that, especially one not really qualified to be there (aside from realizing that the most important thing to be is Hippocratic), to appreciate what Sam accomplished in his first 3 years at the club.
Sam MacKenzie was hired to be the Director of Grounds of Olympia Fields Country Club in February, 2006, and was immediately confronted with the following: A membership in an uproar over a damaged North Course, which had several temporary greens in play the previous year, and several others that were on life support; the start of a 3-year Grounds Master Plan that had just begun with the construction of a new Pool and Tennis Facility (already significantly over budget), and under which Sam would be responsible for all landscaping; a renovation plan for the South Course that was slated to start the following July; a demoralized and disorganized Grounds Department, weakened because of infighting and hurt by the ever-worsening condition of the golf courses; and a general economic situation exacerbated by the condition of the golf courses, that placed budgets under stress.
I know; I was there.
Sam's performance that first year resulted in a stunning turnaround. He lived at the club for the first two months of his tenure to get a running start. Among other things, he turned off the water and started bi-weekly aerations, which, by September, had the North Course standing tall at the Fighting Illini Olympia Fields Invitational Golf Tournament, which featured Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Duke, Stanford Arizona State and others. At the same time Sam convinced the Board and the Membership to undertake a hugely controversial tree removal project, which the club refused to do in preparation for the 2003 Open, to improve sunlight and air movement on his greens. He also convinced the club to delay the South Course renovation project by a season to ensure that all necessary preparation and permitting could be completed. Whew!
In 2007 Sam had to manage the renovation of the South Course while continuing to improve conditions on the North Course. Sam took responsibility for all grassing operations in the renovation so that he could get the turf conditions he wanted. this included included 29,000 sq. ft. of green expansions, all new tees, one new green and the regrassing of all fairways. He instilled such esprit de corps in his Grounds Department that his crews stayed into the night to complete seeding operations after rainstorms washed out some of their work. By that time, a scant 16 months after being hired, he put together a highly trained and motivated staff that did not miss a beat on the North Course while he spent the summer supervising the work on the South. I was out there pestering Sam a lot, watching the budgets, and it was great to watch.
In the Spring of 2008 he continued final preparations for the opening of the South Course, which received stunning and (to my eyes) almost unbelievable acclaim from the membership, and has been chosen as the site of the 2010 Illinois PGA and the 2013 Western Amateur Championships. Sam brought the project in slightly under budget, at a cost of $2.87 million on a budget of $2.9 million. And I have not even mentioned that he has also supervised the building of a new maintenance facility and turf care center, slated to open this spring, which is also right on budget. Try that!
This past September almost 12 inches of rain fell in a three-day period ending on a Sunday. The flooding was immense because of Butterfield Creek, which winds through both golf courses. The creek was not back into its banks until late Monday. This was FOUR DAYS before the start of this year's Olympia Fields Fighting Illini Golf Invitational, featuring powers UCLA, Oklahoma State, Stanford, Duke, Florida State and others. By Wednesday, the North Course was ready to play, and the tournament was once again a great success. Duke Coach O.D. Vincent, posting on Golfweek's College U discussion group after the tournament, said the following:
"First off, Olympia Fields, in my opinion, is one of the best tournament courses I have seen. The course demands accurate driving, precise approach shots and tremendous creativity around the greens. What a great experience for these players to compete on such a championship venue. Beyond the course, the hospitality and genuine excitement you feel from every member and staff member at the club is incredible. The Chicago area received over 12 inches of rain the week prior and the fact the grounds crew had the course ready to play was a feat in and of itself."
As important as anything Sam does is mentoring. Five of his assistants have become head superintendents. Most recently, Brad Fry was recently named head superintendent and responsible for the grow-in at Harbor Shores a new Nicklaus course slated to open in 2009.
This is only a brief summary of what Sam has done in the short time he has been at the club. We can't wait to see what happens to our courses in the next few years.
Jeff Goldman