It's one thing to be required to maintain a golf course to championship conditions. It's another matter entirely to be held to championship standards by the game's greatest champion.Such is life for Paul B. Latshaw, who, since 2003, has managed the turf at Jack Nicklaus's own Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.
"It's a challenge, no matter what we're doing and what we are preparing for," said Latshaw, 49. "If you look at the downturn in the economy, everyone has had to reevaluate what they're doing, including us. Our budget has been reduced to make sure we stay viable, and you have to look at other ways to get things done without compromising playability.
"We still have to keep conditions firm and fast, because that is the way Mr. Nicklaus wants the course to play."
No pressure there.
For the impeccable conditions he is able to produce under demanding standards that include an annual PGA Tour and a double-dip with the 2013 President's Cup, and his role as a teacher and mentor Latshaw has been named a finalist for the 2014 TurfNet Superintendent of the Year Award, presented by Syngenta.
Finalists are chosen by a panel of judges from a field of nominees based on the following criteria: labor management, maximizing budget limitations, educating and advancing the careers of colleagues and assistants, negotiating with government agencies, preparing for tournaments under unusual circumstances, service to golf clientele, upgrading or renovating the course and dealing with extreme or emergency conditions.
The winner will be named Feb. 26 at the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. Previous winners include: Chad Mark (2013); Dan Meersman (2012); Paul Carter, CGCS (2011); Thomas Bastis, CGCS (2010); Anthony Williams, CGCS (2009); Sam MacKenzie (2008); John Zimmers (2007); Scott Ramsay, CGCS (2006); Mark Burchfield (2005); Stuart Leventhal, CGCS (2004); Paul Voykin (2003); Jeff Burgess (2002); Kip Tyler (2001); and Kent McCutcheon (2000).
Succeeding at a course owned by someone whose golf feats are unequaled requires tremendous agronomic knowledge, a thick skin, superior managerial skills and trust in one's employees.
"Paul is one of the best in the business at delegation of responsibility, leading by example, and the development of a well organized work plan," said Jon Scott, agronomist with Nicklaus Design. "He has contingency plans for almost any circumstance and watching his crew work is like listening to a great piece of symphonic music. Everyone knows their role and each performs it flawlessly. I would take Paul's staff to any golf course, anywhere in the world, and know that the job would be done to everyone's maximum expectations."
Indeed, Latshaw is all business all the time, and that should come as no surprise.
A graduate of Penn State's four-year agricultural science program, Latshaw also completed PSU's two-year turfgrass management degree in one year under the eye of the late Joe Duich, Ph.D. He also spent years prepping under one of the best in the business, his father, Paul R.
While he was superintendent at Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia, Latshaw went back to school again, this time to earn a post-graduate degree in business.
"Excellence and Paul B. Latshaw are synonymous," wrote Muirfield general manager and chief operating officer Nicholas LaRocca in his letter nominating Latshaw for Superintendent of the Year. "Paul always wants to make sure the presentation of the golf course is A-plus for the membership and their guests. The golf course and conditions at Muirfield Village Golf Club are the best in the 40-year history of this special place and that is due to the tireless effort by Paul B. Latshaw. For me, my experience at Muirfield Village is 17 years; what Paul has done for the club is priceless and appreciated. The best or nothing - that sums up what we are all about at Muirfield Village Golf Club, and Paul B. Latshaw makes sure we are the best."
Sometimes being the best means throwing aside old ways of doing things and adopting new ideas, including new ways of delivering fertility.
He has adopted such products as Holganix, compost tea brews, beneficial microbes and Turf Screen, all with positive results. He especially likes Holganix because the self-contained refrigeration unit keeps microbes in a dormant state until they are needed. The results, he said, include a deeper root system on Muirfield's greens, which are a combination of A1, A4 and G6 bentgrasses along with some Poa contamination.
Poa management is an issue each year spring when the club is the host site of The Memorial Tournament. Average daily high temperatures in Columbus in late May-early June are about 76 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. And that is prime Poa weather in central Ohio.
The trust between Nicklaus and Latshaw was put to the test early during the latter's career at Muirfield. Shortly after taking the job in 2003, Latshaw commissioned an arborist to survey the property's trees and to make recommendations for a tree-management plan.
Latshaw explained the report to Nicklaus hole by hole. In total, the report recommended removing nearly 700 trees.
"I was nervous," Latshaw admitted.
The response by Nicklaus was supportive, but came with a disclaimer.
"He told me 'if that's what you need to do, then do it,' " Latshaw said.
"He also said "it better work.' "
It did.