Editor’s Perspective
Then and Now
I’ve
had quite the week. Monday, I attended the funeral of a 97year-old. Wednesday, I visited Duke Hospital to see a golfing buddy whose days on this earth in all likelihood are winding down. Thursday, I joined twenty or so “old-timers” for a round of golf at an outstanding facility managed by one of our good friends that is closing down due to economic reasons. And Saturday my wife and I attended the joyous wedding of a friend’s daughter we have known since she was a baby. Talk about the circle of life. So what kind of lead in is that to an article in a magazine devoted to turf? Glad you asked. I realize most of you guys/gals in other facets of our industry are rolling right along with the prosperous times. Golf — not so much. Last issue I proposed that not all great ideas come from ONE direction — the future. Continuing that train of thought, maybe, just maybe the answers to some of golf’s woes can come from circling back and examining where we came from. You know, back in the day before NGF’s “open a course a day” mantra. I thought about the day, a dozen or so years ago, when Marty McFly, Doc Brown and I jumped in the DeLorean and went back to interview a few of those that went before us. The ones that worked long hours out of buildings not much better than lean-to’s, used rudimentary equipment, were treated like second class citizens, all the while earning a crappy salary. You know, back to the 1970’s. No, actually we went wayyyyyy back to some pretty smart guys. As I recall, the conversation I recounted in the VTC Journal went something like this: MV: Old Tom, Chivas Regal, Sean McClenahan, Fisher McDougal… thanks for giving us a little of your time today. I’d like to ask you about
some of the issues facing our profession. First of all, let’s talk about bunkers. How do you achieve consistency from bunker to bunker, and do you feel too much time is spent on bunker maintenance? A puzzled look takes over the room. Finally, McDougal speaks up. FM: Laddie, we dun’t understand this consistency thin’ you speak of. Are ya sayin they should all be the same? OT: Aye, they’re hazards for Gud’s sake. SM: Maybe not, I hear Chivas put a rake near one ah his. CR: Thoot’s a lie McClenahan! MV: What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever heard a golfer say?
Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor SM: I would say the nu reel mowers. But me sheep ur not tu happy about that. FM: Never mind the bull Old Tom, I hear anoder Yank is playin around with a nu material to replace hickory. CR: Dang Yanks wool ruin the game!
FM: Gud one Chivas, you crack me up. For me, it would be “everythin’ breaks towards the Firth of Forth.”
MV: One final question gentlemen. How do you deal with the layers of management at your club, i.e. Board of Directors, General Manager, Men’s Golf Committee, Greens Committee, Beautification Committee, Finance Committee, and Historical Preservation Committee?
SM: “I got meself a bad lie in the ROOF!!”
Again, a puzzled look takes over the room. After a long silence………
SM: Stop it lads, you’re killin me. How aboot this one: “I thin we should be able to move the ball ifin it’s not on grass in the furway.” Wwwhhhaaaa!!
Old Tom: Laddie, you ben hittin the Chivas?
CR: “Chivas, the greens are slower oophill than down.”
(McClenahan falls out of his chair in side-splitting laughter.) MV: What do you think of the new technology, and how is it affecting the way you maintain your course? OT: The gutta percha bull has made the game too easy. Now I hear some Yank is makin a rueber ball thut will travel 205 meters!
10 | Virginia Turfgrass Journal September/October 2018 www.vaturf.org
Sean McClenahan: Sumdays I’d like to hit Chivas. Chivas Regal: Don’t yu touch me McClenahan! Fisher McDougal: Dang Yanks wool ruin this business. Before smashing the DeLorean into a million pieces, I sent this column back. Please tell my wife and daughters I love them. c