Superintendent Interview Series: 9th Interview Up

[Ronald Montesano]

Here comes the shill. In 2017, BuffaloGolfer presents an interview series with local golf course superintendents. Our first piece, with Eric Tuchols of Harvest Hill (Orchard Park) is live at


http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2017-interview-series-superintendent-eric-tuchols/

[Ryan Taylor]

Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your blog. How often do you send email blast updates?

[Ronald Montesano]

We have nine interviews in the can already, and have a target of 20 for the year. It's a straightforward concept and one we should have done prior to 2017.

[Ronald Montesano]

The Brookfield Country Club underwent a Mark Mungeam reno/resto a few years back. Today's interview is with the Clarence, NY, club's superintendent, Adam Mis.


http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2017-interview-series-superintendent-adam-mis/

[Ronald Montesano]

Third interview in the series is up, with WNYGCSA director Thad Thompson of Terry Hill golf course (Batavia, NY) up on the hot seat:

http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2017-interview-series-superintendent-thad-thompson/

[Ronald Montesano]

Jeffrey Ferguson of Rothland Golf Course sits for an intervew this week on BuffaloGolfer.com.


http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2017-interview-series-superintendent-jeffrey-ferguson/

[Ronald Montesano]

Orchard Park country club is an enjoyable, Walter J. Travis course that sits 20 miles south of Buffalo, nearly in the heart of an originally-Quaker village. The superintendent does an excellent job with the golf course, and sat for our 5th interview. Here is a link:

http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2017-interview-series-superintendent-bob-kelly/

[Ronald Montesano]

#6 in our series represents the East Aurora Country Club, southeast of Buffalo (and dangerously close to the domain of Kevin P. Lynch.) Drew Thompson is one of two brothers tending greens in the Buffalo-Niagara area. We interviewed Thad earlier, so it's on to the younger bro. Here is the short link.


http://wp.me/p20nYT-6Qd

[Ronald Montesano]

#7 in our series is Scott Dodson of The Park Club, in Williamsville, NY. A Charles Hugh Alison design, Park was rejuvenated by Ian Andrew over the last five years. A delightful layout with some teeth and many memorable holes.


http://wp.me/p20nYT-6S1

[John Blain]

Good stuff, Ron. I have always enjoyed playing The Park Club and hope to get out there this summer. Do you know if the renovation has been completed?


One quick question: The Super mentioned that over the years they have lowered the heights of the fairway mowers. At what point are "tight" fairways too tight for the average member to enjoy? I have so many people tell me they enjoy hitting out of the first cut of rough as opposed to the fairway given that fairways are now cut by greens mowers and resemble kitchen floors


Thanks-
John   

[Ronald Montesano]

John,


Ian Andrew can speak to the first question better than I. Scroll down Scott's Twitter feed to April 22 to see how flooded the 18th hole creek was!


https://twitter.com/ScottDodsonCGCS


I do concur with the notion of rough vs. fairway when the latter is a kitchen floor. It's hard to hold the wrists off as an average player, and that's what the shaved fairway cut demands.

[Ronald Montesano]

Our 8th interview is up. This one is Brian Conn, super at Transit Valley CC in East Amherst. Transit Valley has a unique origin. William Rathman has one course to his credit, and he appears to have hired a former Donald Ross guy to build the course. Here is a link to the interview:


http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2017-interview-series-superintendent-brian-conn/


Here is a bit on Langlands and Rathman.


http://www.flagcs.org/files/STransit_Va14091012250.pdf

[Ronald Montesano]

Interview #9, from Scott Howard at Fox Valley Club in Lancaster, NY. This ends the run, unless some others step up for interrogation. It has been an enjoyable and informational trek:


http://buffalogolfer.com/wordpress/2017-interview-series-superintendent-scott-howard/