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About this blog

Randy and the gang at Rockbottum Country Club pontificate on Rockbottum wisdom and skeletal golf, among other madness.

Entries in this blog

Are You A Working Superintendent?

I heard that interview question three times.  It somehow implied that I was seeking employment consisting only of walking around with a clipboard, wearing Armani and spending all day in meetings. The first time, I was young and still possessed of blind optimism yet to be removed by the reality grinder . . . so I eagerly nodded in the affirmative.  The second time, I had no such delusions, but I reluctantly assured the despot that I was indeed, a WS. The third time?  I replied, "I don
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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What Is The F.H.D.?

In this short film, we discuss the cryptic acronym FHD and one other pressing topic in the world of golf course superintending.  
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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Rockbottum Radio: Afternoon behind the scenes at RCC, then Storytime...

On this Rockbottum Radio audiocast, I drop in behind the scenes at Rockbottum Country Club to investigate a missing golf cart and a stuck trackhoe... then get an earful from Ludell about his difficulties being objectified by women... and hear about changing cups on a day other than Friday. Then, Storytime. Check out my new book, The Greens of Wrath, available in softcover and Kindle versions, at Amazon.com.
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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The Last Time I Saw Her

Back in '73, when I turned 17, which is middle age in Georgia, two of Dad's superintendent buddies, (a Mr. Maples and a Mr. Womack, if I recall) informed him that his eldest son was suffering from the worst case of golf irreverence they had ever seen.  They suggested the only cure was the Great Golf Pilgrimage in April. While it's true I may have used the offensively irreverent phrase "Overseed National", Cousin Ludell was much worse, as he often intentionally referred to our golfers as "pa
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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Do You Wear Pants?

WARNING for those of you who wear pants!  Do you suffer from Mandatory Khaki? There has been a significant breakthrough!  Watch this film . . . or suffer this summer in sweltering silence.         
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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Color And Invasive Species On The Golf Course

For decades, as I pursued affordable seasonal color with wildflowers, native grasses, ornamental shrubbery and ground covers, I worried about accidentally introducing dangerous, invasive species.  Our region has a history of suffering invasive species, the worst being Kudzu, Fire Ants, General Sherman, Carpetbaggers and Bentgrass. I abandoned the traditional golf course color platform--the formal tee-side annual flower bed--for two reasons:  First, beds of summer begonias, spring tulips, an
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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Low Input Science At Work In The Lab

As promised, Mark Hoban hosts this inside look at a research lab, with Dr. Mussie Habteselassie, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Soil Microbiology at the University of Georgia Griffin Experiment Station campus. Dr. Habteselassie, while conducting an experiment dealing with Trichoderma Atroviride and its use in controlling certain turf pathogens, shows us one method for counting fungi in soils. While this film deviates from our typical offering and feels more like a college class in soil
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

1

Rockbottum Radio: The Millennial Workforce Problem

In this first episode of Rockbottum Radio -- live from deep in the TurfNet Zone -- your host Randy Wilson goes Point | Counterpoint with Ludell Hogwaller on the topic of the Millennial Workforce Problem... and what to do about it. Topics on the table include turfgrass education, The Tritabaugh Effect, hybrid staff positions and the modern housing dilemma.   Brought to you by VinylGuard Golf and Macrosorb Technologies.
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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Bikes On The Golf Course?

In Skeletal Golf, we look for every possible low-cost, extra-sustainable alternative to doing things the way they've always been done.  One of our favorite methods has been adapting the Human Powered Utility Vehicle (HPUV) to golf course operations. It worked very well for years.  Sure, there was the occasional complaint from golfers who hated seeing the irrigation tech using a mountain bike to service controllers or water sod . . . but after I changed over to a tractor with no muffler, the
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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Dynamics in Golf Course Maintenance

The most consistent complaint I receive concerning our films would be the perception of inconsistency.  The caller (it's always the phone, presumably to avoid leaving written evidence) lectures me on the need to stick with one kind of format, style, etc. 80% want golf related humor, mostly for stress relief after a difficult day.  Another 10% would prefer serious topics on industry trends, while about 9% just want to see features on fellow golf course superintendents.  That last 1% want me
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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Skeletal Golf: The Hidden Chart

Over 20 years ago, we developed a Chart of Golf Course Stratification, to help us categorize courses and determine what type of player we would encounter.  The Chart also aided us in creating a maintenance plan to fit the player, the budget and the personnel we could afford. This film offers 5000 CEUs toward MOGS, or Mystic Order of Greenkeeper Stratification. For a small fee, you can skip re-stratification, cause we're pretty up front about the whole thing.      
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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TurfNet Forum Reveals Surprising Netflix Favorites

TurfNetters, in a recent Forum discussion on Netflix viewing, revealed a sophisticated appetite for quality TV.  I expected this, as TurfNet members tend to be more intellectual than residents of other golf internet sites, where "reality" shows rule.   Here at Rockbottum CC, we strive to present an outward image of sophistication and erudite intellectualism, but when alone with Netflix in our darkened home theatre/cart barn, we like to watch British TV comedy. Once you learn the langua
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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The LPC Course Recon

During the Ryder Cup, Chris Tritabaugh shocked and amazed the international media by using a little known Skeletal Golf technique, "The LPC Course Recon". Instead of relying upon a truck or utility vehicle, Chris used the LPC, (Leather Personnel Carrier) to perform his critical daily course survey/analysis.   While the media immediately recognized Tritabaugh's smooth, calm management style and firm grip on logistics, crew deployment and situational response, they were awestruck by his radic
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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A Christmas Card on Film

Merry Christmas from Rockbottum CC Films.  Shot in Highlands on a cold night, we couldn't resist sharing this Christmas card on film with TurfNet. HIghlands is a tiny village on a plateau in the Appalachians at just over 4000 feet, known for amazingly beautiful golf courses, waterfalls, deep dark forests, wildlife and . . . a downtown display of Christmas decorations that reminds us of a simpler, slower time. Highlands is also home to top golf course superintendents like Fred Gehrisch,
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

4

Skeletal Golf Theory: The Business

In Part 1 of SG Theory, we discuss the business of golf, as opposed to the game of golf.  For those who desire letters behind their name and cannot afford big dues, travel and mandatory classes, here's your chance to do it the Skeletal Golf way. Just watch the film series on Skeletal Golf, take the test and earn the right to follow your name with MOG, the designation of the certified member of the Mystic Order of Greenkeepers.  
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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Varmints, Skunks, and Idiots

While shooting the Sewanee film, we noticed quite a bit of SKUNK damage on the fairways.  Our past research indicates Varmints come out in force during a drought, digging for tasty grubs, complaining about hard fairways and bemoaning the lack of lush green turf. To help any TN members who might be experiencing Skunk Pestilence, we hastily pulled our Varmint Training film out of the Rockbottum Vault and re-edited it to remove the stupid parts.  (That pretty much gutted the entire film, so we
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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The Skeletal Golf Series

Skeletal Golf, in several forms, has long been the foundation for the success of Rockbottum Country Club* and the Wilson Golf Dynasty.   The concept of SG is more applicable in hard times than during the euphoric boom time, and given the economic signals emanating from on high...  this might be a good time for those involved in the mid- to lower-level of golf to consider a contingency plan or two. Since leaving the military, I have spent more time studying economics than turf — probabl
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

3

Stop Making That Awful Coffee

As an unrepentant "Caffiend", I'm an expert on awful, terrible coffee.  From instant decaf that tasted like battery acid, to orderly room coffee* in the military, I have suffered it all.  *(ORC is brewed continuously for 24 hours, bubbling like a caldron in a Bill Shakespeare story.) On a dark, snowy night while crossing over the Brenner Pass, I sampled espresso for the first and last time, a black, bitter, teeth-chattering experience.  In the field--during my Army vacation from turf--I tot
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

7

Poisoned by Too Much Screen Time? Enter the UNSOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS

This week's guest author is Ludell Hogwaller.   My name is Ludell and I suffer from TMST.   Last week, I was the guest of honor at an exorcism, carried out by the Rockbottum elite, Chet Lester, Ydnar, Aint Feemy and Bubba.  They intended to excise my Luddite tendencies, citing my refusal to own a "smart" phone as the primary problem.   Apparently, I have angered the flock, because I won't take photos dripping with extreme narcissism, seek peer approval by "following" others, stagger around
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

8

Steve Ventola and The Course at Sewanee

Tucked away on a rugged mountain in Tennessee is a very special golf course.  Like many courses from the early days of golf in America, The Course at Sewanee looks and feels like it could have been a setting in a golf fairy tale.     Renovated by Gil Hanse in 2013, Sewanee is in the exceptionally capable hands of golf course superintendent Steve Ventola.     We found the course almost too good to be real; rugged and natural, while running firm, fast and dry in the right places, it's in Steve
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

2

Don't Follow Your Passion?

(Trigger Warning:  The following is a Ydnar rant, not a safe space.)   Yesterday, I was busy deleting emails, wiping the hard drive with a cloth, and I found a directive from an Alphabet Agency instructing me to read an article from Bloomberg entitled, "Following Your Passion Is Not A Career Goal".   I was puzzled.  Why would these folks suggest a philosophy that runs counter to what is needed to survive as a golf course superintendent?  Did they not read the article?  Perhaps the title soun
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

4

Avoiding The End Of Civilization

Originally, this post was intended to be an intelligent, thoughtful column about modern day golf course operations in the face of a changing economic environment, but then Wilber goes and writes some epic piece on Karma and Kevin Ross shocks everyone with his retirement and Paul MacCormack pens a zenful story about Chris Tritabaugh and the Ryder Cup, so . . .   I decided to wait until everything settled down and the afterglow wore off before I publish my masterpiece.  In the meantime, I'll jus
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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The Mystery of Pollinator Decline Solved!

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.)         
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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The Verticutters Reunion Tour 2017

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.          
Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

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