.jpg "Result of hardened clay content of fairways and greens.")
To often golf course superintendent are not given nearly the credit that they deserve. It’s funny how often the first people to criticize a golf course’s looks, conditions or playability are the ones who know next to nothing about how to run or maintain a golf course. Last thursday our class, Turfgrass Management at the University of Guelph, had the opportunity to travel to Glen Abbey Golf Club and speak with the Head Super Intendant, Scott Bowman. For those of you not familiar with Glen Abbey, it is the permanent home to the Canadian Open, Canada’s highest and most prestige professional golf tournament.
For anyone who watched the Canadian Open this year, the course was pretty much rained out by the weekend. The fairways were flooding and play was stopped numerous times. For the average person it looked like the course was simply not prepared for this type of weather. What Scott explained is that the fairways at Glen Abbey are of a high clay content soil type. The top layer of soil hardened and literally sealed off any water from draining through. This was the reason for why the course was so flooded. Not because of Scott or his crew’s lack of ability to properly prepare the golf course.
I think that people who watch golf avidly need to pay closer attention to who they are directing their criticism toward and let the professionals do their job. Scott explained how it wasn’t even worth trying to explain the situation in the media tent because of how little they would care for his explanation and most likely lay the blame on someone in the end. All I am trying to say here is that the next time you’re watching a professional event like the Canadian Open take some time to think about the hard work and planning that went into the preparation of the tournament before giving your two cents.
October 28, 2009 at 12:22 am |
Interesting rant. You certainly took a strong position. It’s refreshing to read some passion in a blog. Well done.
Next time when you run pictures make sure you include a caption or cutline. Often the caption to a photo is the only thing that a reader will read. Plus, it wasn’t immediately evident that this is Glen Abbey, although I assume it is.
Make sure you reread your work. If you want to become a superintendent you’d better learn how to spell it. And did you mean “prestige” or “prestigious”?
Andrew
November 8, 2009 at 6:46 pm |
You make great points, Jordan. However I think it’s the industry’s job to educate the media and the public, not be ticked off b/c they’re uninformed. You might want to get someone to help you proofread.