A visit to CC of Orlando

I'm back from a week in overcast, rainy Florida. Back in Kansas, where it was snowing on May 2nd, when my flight landed last night (sheesh!)

My last stop was at CC of Orlando, to visit my old friend Kasey Kauff, who became the superintendent of the course a few months ago. The last time I saw Kasey was at the 2011 PGA Championship, when he was working at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Here are a couple pics of Kasey, the course, and the huge trees they have out there at CCO. It's an old Donald Ross course with some really beautiful views.

The last photo, that tree is 600 years old, and they call it Willie Mays, because it catches everything. It's proudly standing near the landing area of a turn on a dogleg right, of course.

Thanks to Kasey for showing me around the course!

PGA Championship leftovers

Well, I had best intentions. We shot this video at the PGA Championship on Tuesday evening before play started. I hoped to get the video posted the next day, but we also had the Rees Jones interview, and we decided to get that video produced and posted first... so then my Kauff/Andersen video fell by the wayside.

There is some good stuff in here... Andersen talks about monitoring the greens moisture levels at AAC, while Kauff talks about keeping a cool demeanor during a stressful week.

Not wanting it to go totally unused, here it is for your viewing pleasure on the Golfdom Daily.

Editor's note: Apologies to Andersen for the blatant misspelling of his last name in the video! ARGHHHH!!!

Where to start?

It was a great day out there at the PGA Championship, but I don't even know where to start.

What was my biggest highlight of the day? The Rees Jones interview? The Graeme McDowell interview? Following the crew on the back nine during evening maintenance?

I'll tell you one highlight that was certainly unexpected... Ken Mangum was addressing the group during dinner. I was snapping photos of him while he was doing it... he was thanking the folks who supported the team at Atlanta Athletic Club... he named BASF, John Deere, Cleary, then some other industry mainstays... then he named ME, Seth Jones, and Golfdom magazine! WOW! Thanks, Ken! What an honor!

I'll tell you another two highlights... Kyle Johnson (pictured, right) gave me a ride from the maintenance facility to No. 10 green, saving me a loooong walk! Thank you Kyle! Then, to finish my evening, Tyler Andersen (pictured, left) gave me a ride to my car, saving me another looooong walk! Thank you Tyler!

Somehow, someday, I'll have to do cover stories on you BOTH, OK?

This photo is a pic of Tyler, Kasey Kauff and Kyle at the practice range. They asked if they should take off their sunglasses. I told them, "No, keep them on, you guys look like Reservoir Dogs!"