George goes to the USGA

[Sandy Smith]

I just would like to wish George Waters all the best on his new position with the USGA. I got to know and learn a lot from George a few years ago when Jim Urbina brought him to help shape on a project at my home club. George has a passion for the game that is second to none.
The USGA just got a little bit better.

[David_Tepper]

Don't forget George's excellent book:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17707886-sand-and-golf

[Ronald Montesano]

So Mike Davis retired?


It's common in certain countries to give a little more information on a new position, or a link to an article, or something of that ilk. Does anyone have any more info? A quick googling turned up nothing.

[Adam Lawrence]

George is joining the agronomy team

[John Kavanaugh]

So you could say he joined the other side.

[Sandy Smith]

George has a position with the Green Section dept where he will be editing and helping with special projects.

[Joel_Stewart]

So you could say he joined the other side.

LOL.  I happened to play with George yesterday (we were soundly beaten in a match) and he's very excited about this position.  It's an evolving position but hopefully it bridges the communication between the USGA, the industry and the public about agronomy.  I pleaded with him to not succumb to the USGA legal speak and talk candidly about these issues.


On the downside, he's giving up his promising architecture career. 


I wish him well.

[Kevin_Reilly]

We were very fortunate to have George at Orinda CC last year working with Todd Eckenrode and Brett Hochstein.  If memory serves, the 15th hole was the last part of the project that George worked on.  A large non-original "saving" bunker was removed on the left side, and a large section of lost green space was recaptured (and space to the right and long of the green was re-captured).  The model was the photo of 15 from Hunter's The Links.

A picture of #15 taken by Brett in early November (still during grow-in phase):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTgjE05UsAAVxbc.jpg:large

Good luck George at the USGA...don't be a stranger!

[Bill_McBride]

We were very fortunate to have George at Orinda CC last year working with Todd Eckenrode and Brett Hochstein.  If memory serves, the 15th hole was the last part of the project that George worked on.  A large non-original "saving" bunker was removed on the left side, and a large section of lost green space was recaptured (and space to the right and long of the green was re-captured).  The model was the photo of 15 from Hunter's The Links.

A picture of #15 taken by Brett in early November (still during grow-in phase):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTgjE05UsAAVxbc.jpg:large

Good luck George at the USGA...don't be a stranger!

What a beautiful hole.  Do you get a nice bounce off the front right corner?

[Kevin_Reilly]

Yes, the ball will go diagonally from front right to back left.

The tee closest to the camera is the red tee.  The picture was taken from the front of the white tee.  The new tee area a bit farther beyond is a "forward" tee.  It previously was the site of a drop area for shots into the hazard.

Here is a poor (phone) picture from the blue tee taken recently.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/carrera993/E19035DC-BD6B-4AC0-87AC-DD43945F0FA7_zps9v5glqpl.png

[David_Tepper]

Kevin K. -

Isn't that a pic of the old 7th (I think) green on the OC Ocean course on your chain of pictures? If so, that green became the 4th green on the Cliffs Course before it slid down the slope towards the ocean.

DT

[Kevin_Reilly]

Yes it was.  That was from a Ray Pellegrini tribute on the SF City Championship's Facebook page.