For the first time, we are posting a video on GolfClubAtlas.com. It's an idea whose time has come and not surprisingly, the excellent thought was not mine
(it was Don's). In fact, we are posting two videos spaced one week apart. Don just introduced Part I which involves Pinehurst No. 2 and Mike Nuzzo's Wolf Point, two courses with an amazing number of similarities. Most people still don't understand the importance of the recent Pinehurst transformation. At this propitious moment Don spells out the significance of Pinehurst's alteration to its infrastructure and the far reaching implications for other clubs.
From strong player to North Texas course owner, Don has been involved in the game like few others. Two of the most interesting irrigation projects in modern times have occurred under his watch - Wolf Point and the Doak course at Dismal River. He is at the forefront of a movement bent on making golf fun and affordable - and if that doesn't make his insights invaluable, I don't know what does! Plus, he does all this from the most noble perspective: fan of the game.
In the video, Don speaks to the factors that make Wolf Point 'practical to maintain' and 'highly functional.' Unfortunately, those are concepts that you rarely hear
and therein lies the problem! Water management, the rapid dispersion of rainfall, spacing of sprinkler heads, etc. it's all in this 13 minute video. Personally speaking, Don’s attitude of accomplishing more with less is my big takeaway.
Listening to him reminds me of Donald Ross's quote,
"Greenskeeping is destined to be a very important and lucrative profession, of really far greater import to a golf club than the services of a professional. We haven’t realized this sufficiently here yet, but already some of the universities in the east have started special courses of greenskeeping and course maintenance." I don't know about the lucrative part so much but certainly the importance of Greenkeeping cannot be overstated.
Indeed, one of the most important ways that GolfClubAtlas.com can serve golf is the open discussion of what constitutes best Greenkeeping practices. Don's words and thoughts are cornerstone to such meaningful conversations and we are THRILLED to add this content and a new format to the Best of Golf section.
Stay tuned for Part II next Tuesday!
Best,