Homework assignment: List one thing you're proud of, related to golf

[George Pazin]

I gave one of our architect posters a bit of a hard time a few days ago, because I misread one of his posts.

In private discussion with him, several recurring themes came up: how posters misread others' posts, how posters tend to overvalue the contributions of Golden Age architects, etc.

So I got to thinking (always a dangerous thing).

I'd love to see each poster put up something that he or she is proud of, relative to his or her contributions to the game. I think there are a lot of posters out there - architects, raters, writers, supers, developers, and just plain golfers - who have something to share, but are afraid to come across as bragging or boasting.

For instance, I give Matt Ward a hard time all the time about his notion that others need to "do the heavy lifting". But hidden within this is probably some deep seated envy that Matt is able to find the time and $$$ to do the heavy lifting, while I am not. Matt should be proud of this (even if I disagree with a lot of his conclusions from said heavy lifting ).

Some ideas:

Architects - Maybe you're proud of a unique hole, an unusual use of a landform, bringing a course in way under budget, etc.

Raters - Maybe you're proud of a course you rated high but expected to hate, maybe you brought a heretofore unknown gem to others' attention, etc.

Supers - Maybe you keep your course fast and firm for less $$$ than anyone else, maybe you maintain difficult hazards at a high standard, etc.

Some caveats: This will really only work if a lot of people contribute. If, for some reason, you feel uncomfortable sharing under your own name, private message me your post and I will post it under my own name, of course noting that it came from someone else.

Don't be shy, share something that you're proud of.

[George Pazin]

Okay, sounds like a great idea, I'll go first (I feel like paul cowley, discussing things with myself).

Mine's easy:

I'm proud that I took a leap of faith and wired Greg Ramsay the $$$ to get Barnbougle off the ground. This deal fell through, and my $$$ were returned, but I like to (kid myself and) think that my small contribution helped to keep the dream alive, allowing Mr. Sattler, Tom D, Mike Clayton, et al, to follow through and give the golf world the wonderful gem known as Barnbougle Dunes.

Okay, who's next? Don't make me post for you!

[Bill_McBride]

Our golf course in Pensacola, Florida, the 1902 Pensacola CC, was devastated by Hurricane Ivan after years of 'benign neglect' by a tightfisted membership and board.  As a member of the board and chair of the golf and green committee at the time of the hurricane, I was part of the effort to invest several million dollars in a new golf course rather than just trying to 'fix up' the old course.

A substantial portion of our aging membership supported the fix it up plan, but our group, led by the board, was able to win out.  The result is a new course designed by Jerry Pate Golf Design, modern in construction techniques with classical bones, which was recently named Best Renovation of 2007 by Golf Inc magazine.  Esteemed golf architect Forrest Richardson was part of the panel that made this selection.

I am very proud of the new course and the fact that we were able to overcome resistance to achieve our goal.  The members are thrilled with the course and we have gained almost 50 new members, most significantly younger than our average pre-hurricane.

Good thread George, thanks for the opportunity to share this good news story.

[Forrest Richardson]

I am listing more than one because I have more than one:

• Introduced daughter to golf at age 8
• Routing the Golf Course (book)
• Bunkers, Pits & Other Hazards (book)
• Of Course (book)
• Contributions/involvement to ASGCA
• Making friends in the world of golf

Also...being described as "Esteemed" by McBride is as good as any!  

[Scott Witter]

Interesting...

Off the top--

That I have survived as an architect in this business for the past 13 years--totally self made.

That I was responsible for hiring & employing for 3 years and giving the opportunity to a talented individual who is now making his way in one of the worlds top firms.

Making more money for my clients that I can ever dream of

I'm sure I have more...I know I do, but I don't want to be a show off like Forrest  

[Andy Troeger]

I was involved when my high school decided to start a girls golf team. The first couple of years were a challenge (although still fun and very worthwhile) as we worked to build the program. We finished last or next-to-last in every tournament we played and had a match record of 7-37.

The next three years we had records of 14-9, 18-3, and 18-0 and the final year I coached we won an 18 team invitational, and also our city and conference championships and advanced to the state finals in Indiana. We ended up 12th out of maybe 250-300 schools with girls golf (no class system). The stats are nice, but the memories and friendships and other intangible benefits were easily the best part.

I'd also be remiss not mentioning being as assistant coach for two boys golf teams (including one currently), and starting two high school girls invitationals at local clubs to give the girls teams the same opportunities as the boys.

[Jim_Kennedy]

George,

Getting George Bahto involved at the Hotchkiss School GC.

[Powell Arms]

Easy.  Getting my eight year old son to love the game and being smart enough to bite my lip and not offer him coaching advice.

[Bill_McBride]

Also...being described as "Esteemed" by McBride is as good as any!  

The Links at Las Palomas is worthy of high esteem!  If it were on similar land in California, the green fee would be exhorbitant.  We played three days in three different winds, and it was exciting and interesting every day. That was a very fun trip.

[Ian Andrew]

I’m most proud of the fact that two prominent golf architects - that I highly respect and look up to because of the quality of their work - have both recommended me for a couple of projects. When a peer you respect feels you can do a good job, it lets you know that you have been making the right decisions and building things as they should be built.

[wsmorrison]

I was Tom Paul's designated driver after the USGA Executive Committee party during the Masters.  No way he would have ever made it back to Mike Young's house (125 miles away) in one piece if he was driving.  Still, he did manage to teach me how to efficiently pass on the 2-lane back country roads.

[Lloyd_Cole]

George
I tend toward the old school/testament idea of pride being a sin, but...
I'm glad I provided the funds to start a junior trophy at Connemara. I just wish I had time to get over there to present it!

[Adam Clayman]

I'm proud to be part of a club that doesn't feel the need to join the greens speed race and adheres to core principles closer than any other club i'm aware of.

[Kirk Gill]

[Jeff_Brauer]

I'm with Kirk - I seem to talk about my son's junior golf accomplishments the most, including a host of district championships, making the AJGA Footjoy season ending tournament by ranking in the top 100 juniors, and finishing with a Junior Scoreboard ranking of 47th.  Still can't figure out why he took a junior college golf scholarship to stay in Texas, though!

If it were my proudest professional accomplishment, I guess I am vain enough to list my Golf Digest Best New winners, but growing up on public courses (after playing my first round of golf on Medinah No. 3, courtesy of the next door neighbors) I am just as proud of producing some pretty good $35 public courses like Sand Creek Station, the Wilderness in Lake Jackson TX, and Tangleridge and Ridgeview Ranch, et. al, in DFW, even if they get less fanfare.

[Darren_Kilfara]

I'm proud to have written a book about St. Andrews and Scottish golf in general which seems to have added something (however small) to the canon of Scottish golf literature, even if I do cringe a bit on the very infrequent occasions that I can bring myself to go back and read bits of it myself! Some of the kind letters I received from people who had read the book were very touching, and in particular I was delighted to be introduced to a student while playing the Old Course a few years ago who used my book as his inspiration for attending the University of St. Andrews and doing something very similar to what I'd done myself.

Cheers,
Darren

[cary lichtenstein]

I'm thrilled my dad introduced me to the game at the age of 7 and found it so enjoyable that me was a major factor in my desire to retire early and it has worked  out so well

[Cory Lewis]

As a teacher of the game of golf, I'm proud of the fact that at least 20 people that I can think of have become avid golfers after starting out as beginners taking lessons from me.  It's a wonderful feeling to introduce people to the game I love so much.

[Jeff Taylor]

1. Coaching high school golf.
2. Dedicating the time to rally support for improvements to my home golf course.
3. The trip that my 71 year old father and I will take next month for a weekend of golf.

[tlavin]

1. Played a part in the restoration of Beverly CC.
2. Played a part in the prep of Olympia for the '03 US Open and was involved in removal of hundreds of trees which benefited the golf course.
3. Wrote some columns for Golfweek.com on club life, from a hopefully humorous perspective.
4. Wrote a column during the US Open from a member's perspective in the Chicago Sun Times.
5. Three holes-in-one.
6. Watched my 12 year old daughter birdie a hole in the Father Daughter outing at Olympia.

Number six, of course, brought the most pride!

[Tom Yost]

At first, I didn't know if I had anything to add to this thread ("well, I always fix my pitch mark, plus two others..."), then I realized that I should be proud of my three-year service as an officer of a corporate golf club.

We probably didn't know what we were getting into, but myself and two others volunteered to chair the club committee of our company's in-house league of about 50 members.  The golf club held monthly tournaments at various courses around the city.  In three years time, we grew the membership to over 125, and average tournament participation of 40.  Some of our accomplishments:

- After some complaints about various past infractions, we made a simple choice and announced that tournaments would be conducted under the "Rules of Golf" (what a concept). To further the success of this effort, we distributed rulebooks included in the annual dues, bought a "rules explained" video and made it available to the members, and added a rules column to the monthly newsletter.

- Instituted an annual accrued-points based competition (sorta like the Fedex cup) with a trophy awarded at year end.

- Computerized and maintained a handicap system.

- Published a monthly newsletter with tournament results, course previews, rules column, etc.

- Held two "major" tournaments each year with trophies and an awards banquet where participation averaged 65 players.

A lot of work went into improving the operation of the club (much of it on company time, I admit   ) but I am proud of our accomplishments and that when we handed over the reigns to the new volunteers, a very solid club infrastructure was in place to guarantee continued success.

Tom

[Jay Flemma]

ATTA BOY KIRK GILL!  That's the winner so far.

Nevertheless, I may not play the game all that well, but my love of the game is tour caliber.  Here's a piece I was proud of.

http://www.golfobserver.com/features/Flemma/Strantz_021507.php

I added something to it for when its published in my book...it wasn;t what Mike Strantz did for a living that made him great, but what he did for others.  Here's an example.  When Hurricane hugo destroyed much of South carolina, we all know he redid the last two holes at Wild Dunes, but did you also know he helped rebuild Sunrise presbyterian church?  And that he did the stained glass window that ALSO serves as the church's crucifix?

Here is a pic.  When Mike died, the services were held here.  Is it just me, or is this amazing?  This is why people have shrines to his memory this day n S.C...not just because he was a great gold course architect, but because of who he was in toto.

[Chris Cupit]

Having volunteered for the Atlanta Jr. Golf Association for a few years it was obvious that golf is a game where those with access to clubs and places to play/practice have a clear advantage.

A junior golfer in Atlanta whose parents are not members of a club has little chance to find a decent place to play or practice affordabley.  I came up with a "Junior Membership" plan.

The program was aimed at kids who were/are a member of the AJGA and whose parents are not really golfers (at least not enough that they belong anywhere).  The Junior can "join" the club for no initation fee and $150 each month in dues.  No minimum time that he/she must stay (one month or as long as they want up to age 18).  That price lets them play and practice all they want with the only play restrictions being after 1:00 on weekends.  (Not many daily fee courses offer "deals" for junior players--at least tailored to those wanting to play 3-4 times a week).

The AJGA requires a rules/etiquitte class to be a part of their group so I know I have some kids who are well behaved.  Guest fee for juniors (if they want to bring a friend) is $5.

$5 is also my guest fee (for junior golfers 17 & under) for all my memberships.

We limited the "memberships" to 12 and it has been a great success.

We also have complimentary junior golf clinics several times a year, we are a LPGA-USGA girls in golf site and we host 4 high school so that they can play in the spring for their golf matches.

[Troy Alderson]

George,

As a former/future superintendent, I am proud to be traditional in my maintenance methods.  Not to say I will not look at new methods, i.e. the PlanetAir aerator.  But, I do prefer traditional methods of watering, low fertilizer, and real architecture.

As a golfer, I scored an eagle at Illahe Hills CC in front of Erdman and Bayley.  Par 5 stroked a 3 wood off the tee over a right side bunker, 2 iron going for the green 20ish yards short, pitch in the hole.

Troy

[Pat Brockwell]

I'm proud that I made the decision to get involved at Black Mesa based on the notion that I would rather try and fail than fail to try.  Also proud of following through on the commitments by Eddie Peck and myself to keep it fun and make it about the golf and to make sure it works for every one, patrons, principals, neighbors, workers, suppliers, everyone.