Unusual wildlife at Lawrence CC

I was at Lawrence (Kan.) CC early this morning for a photo shoot... I didn't expect to spot such unusual wildlife while I was there!

Two funny things about KU's Big Jay and Baby Jay being at the course this morning:

1. Bill Irving, the superintendent of the course, has a dog named Ozzie. Ozzie, like Bill, is a die hard Nebraska Cornhusker. As you'll see from the first photo, Ozzie was NOT HAPPY about seeing the two mascots at the course this morning! (More on this after the jump!)

2. The mascots stayed "in character" the entire time they were there. It was 7 a.m., the course is quiet, it's just me and Bill at the putting green. The two mascots and their two coaches/handlers/attendees (I don't know what you call someone who assists a mascot... an assistant, I guess) show up. Big Jay wanted a golf ball. He could have walked up and said, "Hey guys, can I borrow a golf ball for this photo shoot?"

No way. These mascots were totally in character. They danced up to us and mimed out "we need a golf ball, please" for us.

Me and Bill are old enough that we're a little past mascot cuteness. Doesn't matter -- the Jayhawks were  pros. They never broke the first law of Jayhawk mascotting: be the bird.

A blog thank you to Bill Irving at Lawrence CC

Bill let us come out and do a photo shoot at Lawrence (Kan.) CC yesterday. We had beautiful weather and hopefully we got some usable stuff for the next issue of Golfdom.

Bill is your typical passionate superintendent. He was stressing about the project he was in the middle of on No. 12 as well as the fact that PGA Tour player (and KU alumnus) Gary Woodland was playing the course that day. And I'm sure I didn't help out his stress by asking to do photos at the course! But the course looked great and I'm sure Gary would agree. (I'll ask him, we have an interview set up for today.)

Here is a photo of Bill, as well as the drainage project on No. 12.