About this time of year, every year, I get some similar communications. They may be different in content, but the context is simple. Sometime, during the course of the season, someone did someone wrong. Be it a GM throwing a super under the bus, a super trashing an assistant, a sales rep repeating something that was said in confidence, etc. You get the picture.
I studied this a while back when I didn't understand why bad stuff kept happening to good people. And vice versa. It made things m
The Ryder Cup was many things to many people, but for me it was the opportunity to see something up close that I have thought about a great deal. This blog has touched on many things and has hopefully created a balanced framework for many of us to look toward. But it wasn't until I got to spend a week at Hazeltine with Chris Tritabaugh and his crew, that I finally found what I have been searching for: a truly Mindful Superintendent.
Chris embodies all of the traits that one would aim for if
As my 2016 Ryder Cup duty comes to a close, it's nice to reflect back on my experiences. There are a few strong takeaways from the event for me. None of them have to do with any sort of agronomic stuff.
First, the welcome that superintendent Chris Tritabaugh gave to everyone at Monday's orientation was special. He introduced and acknowledged each member of his staff, every volunteer, and all of the industry affiliates (me). As a TurfNet correspondent, this was the category I fit into for th
Although our research is still in the infantile stage, we are releasing our Pollinator Decline findings early, to increase our chances of winning one of those environmental awards.
The following film will reveal just how far we will go in the name of science . . . and winning trophies.
(And you thought we were just a bunch of imbeciles.)
While On Location at the Ryder Cup I was very fortunate to have two executives of The Toro Company -- Mike Hoffman, chairman of the board and outgoing CEO, and Rick Olson, president and incoming CEO -- join me for a few minutes on camera to chat about the Ryder Cup and much more. Take a listen...
I don't love large tournament golf.
I don't. It is a degree of unreality that I've been outspoken about for years. Except for The Ryder Cup. If all the other events vanished, I'd be ok. But take away the greatness of The Ryder Cup and you'd hear me cry "Foul". Loudly. To me, there simply is no better competition in our world. Keep reading. I'll make you a convert.
1. Stroke Play Sucks. When I think back to the roots of golf, I just don't see two guys going out and having a wee nip at
In any major golf event the volunteers certainly play a big role in the success of the tournament. It's amazing to me how far away these international volunteers traveled to work the Ryder Cup. I was able to corner a few and find out where they hail from. Take a listen.
On my first trip around the fairways at Hazeltine National, I was amazed at how pure and uniform the fairways were. The main reason why, I realized, was there were no divots! Anywhere. The consistency and uniformity almost made it look like it was a brand new golf course getting ready to open.
Most of the no-divot look can be attributed to a hitting mat used by the members over the last weeks the course was open. Let's take a look
We are aware of how you watch Rockbottum Country Club films. You like to binge watch on cold, wet, winter days.
That's why we rely on really short films during growing season and offer the lengthier films after the hard frost creeps south.
In keeping with that strategy, we thought this would be a good time to announce The Verticutters going out on tour next year by playing a few of our greatest hits.
When it comes to a cool, calm, collected individual... that is how I would describe Hazeltine National Golf Club superintendent, Chris Tritabaugh. I have watched Chris operate for nearly a week now and even though the biggest stage in golf is being played on the golf course he manages, he appears unfazed by the pressure. Maybe there is no pressure on him? Maybe his complete confidence in his staff is the reason? Whatever it is, it's refreshing.
Chris was so kind to give me a few minutes out
On Thursday I had the opportunity to check out Red. There was a lot of talk about Red for a few days and I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. Now many of you may be thinking that I'm referring to "red iron" or Toro equipment, no this is a different kind of red. This Red happens to be Mike Graves, 2nd assistant at Hazeltine. Red did something special this Ryder Cup week and I was fortunate to have a front row seat to watch it transpire and to chat with Red, one on one...
Beyond the spectacle, the perfect turf conditions and the insane merchandise tent, there is one thing that stands out more than anything else at this 41st edition of the Ryder Cup. It is community. It is the connection that only seems to come when greenkeepers, researchers, and industry representatives gather to work toward a common goal.
I got to spend some time with my fellow TurfNet contributor, Dr. Frank Rossi.
We have discussed the power of connection here on this blog before, (th
I tracked down my old buddy Dr. Frank Rossi to get his thoughts on Hazeltine National and this massive event called the Ryder Cup.
Frank and I go back some 25 years in this industry. We have battled many times over all kind of turfgrass management subjects and have always had fun doing it. Take a look as Frank and I have some fun on camera.
I had an opportunity today to visit with Noah Wahl of the Toro Company. While now a greensmower product manager, Noah previously worked on the Workman line of vehicles and is the force behind the coolest graphics for a utility vehicle on the property. FYI, that's a custom heat-treated hood wrap on a Workman GTX vehicle
Take a look and listen as I put him on camera to give us some insight on How Its Made.
I got a chance to chat with Hazeltine National's Golf Course Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh about Ryder Cup preparations.
Chris was kind enough to give some time for a conversation about his last preparations for the 2016 Ryder Cup. A special guy and a special episode and a special event.
The Turfgrass Zealot Project is brought to you by Klingstone, proven bunker performance for over 15 years.
The last couple days at Hazeltine have been moisture free, other than a few rain drops during evening duty on Tuesday night.
Speaking of night, a large part of golf course conditioning for morning set-up here relies on portable lights. These are on display every morning at Hazeltine National. The quality of small portable LED lighting is fantastic; tripods, headlamps, mower lights, you name it, the lights are here. At times, many green and tee areas look like mini stadiums spread across the
On Location isn't as easy as it sounds! The wind was blowing so bad at times on Monday that my tripod could barely stay upright, and even my best microphone equipped with a windscreen sounded like a jet engine. I'm not even going to mention the internet in the hotel... But we must carry on, so enjoy my first day walk-around with a music background instead.
A whole bunch of TurfNetters are here. Frank Rossi, Paul MacCormack and Mark Perry from Prince Edward Island, Pat O'Brien from Hyde Park i
Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them... Lucy Maud Montgomery
This post will be the first in a "once on a lifetime event" series. The Mindful Superintendent is on the road this week in Chaska, Minnesota, volunteering with the world class turfgrass crew from Hazeltine National Golf Club. The 2016 Ryder Cup Matches take place here this week and to say I am looking forward to it would be a gross understatement.
While reflecting on our preparation for this exciting week, antici
In this episode of The Renovation Report, host Peter McCormick chats with Bradley Klein, architecture editor of Golfweek, about Arnold Palmer and his legacy within the golf industry.
Brad had numerous interactions with Palmer dating back to 1976. He recalls some of those anecdotes, including flying in Arnie's plane, and the time they were in Palm Springs and Arnie threw him the keys to his Cadillac, telling Brad to have fun for a few days while he tended to a few things.
With this recording
The Ryder Cup is a special event for me. You might say it's kind of a family thing.
In 1967, my Dad, Wendell Ross, was a rules official at the Ryder Cup when it was held at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas. That was back when it wasn't even the Europeans... it was the British.
Growing up, my Dad had some of the memorabilia from that event hanging in the den at our home. As a little guy, he told me stories of how great it was to attend and officiate the tournament. I thought,
In this episode, I speak frankly with David Kuypers, CGCS, former golf course superintendent and now head of Lawn and Garden for Syngenta Canada. A Penn State alum (won't hold that against him) and instructor in the Guelph Turf Institute,
David and I discuss his career transition, Canadian pesticide regulation compared to that in the US, and the stormwater capture project he worked on while at the Cutten Club in Guelph.
Smart talk from leading thinkers and always Frankly Speaking.
Pr
When I was young, I suffered from the delusion of indestructibility, triggered by hormones and too many Roy Rogers movies. While Roy offered good advice, all I seemed to absorb involved fist fights and six-guns.
Years later, I was offered the most valuable bit of wisdom I would ever receive and those same hormones almost caused me to ignore it at a critical moment. I would have surely died had this knowledge been delivered by an ordinary man, but fortunately for me, it was spoken by a grizz
With the recent announcement of a major university conducting experiments in pest control using sonic waves, Rockbottum CC is forced to cry "FOUL"!
Once again, we are expected to sit quietly as others take credit for our forays into futurism and what has been called "golf sci-fi".
Well, not this time. We are releasing proof of our earliest sonic pest control--and not just with something harmless like nematodes, but truly fearsome beasts.
