The Jones family loses its last Grandpa

This has nothing to do with the world of Golf maintenance. I don't think my Grandpa ever once set foot on a golf course.

But Grandpa Nick passed away last week. I was one of his pallbearers. Grandpa was a good guy. While not as big a part of my life as my dad (who died of brain cancer at age 62 two years ago) or my mom, he was an important part of my life.

This is the tribute I wrote to my Grandpa last week... my cousin was kind enough to read it at his service. I thought I'd post it here, because even though Grandpa didn't golf, he still helped me get where I am today.

******

Sad news. Grandpa Nick passed away last night. He was 84. A long life. These last few years had been hard on him, so it's a relief that Grandpa is no longer suffering from his many ailments he was stricken with in his last years.

Grandpa was a first-generation Mexican-American, a WW II vet, a 40-year Boeing employee, a member of a biker gang, a Jayhawk fan and most important to me, my friend. He absolutely loved Evey and my wife.

Grandpa didn't talk much. He was a quiet, stoic guy. He worked on his yard a lot. Watched a lot of car racing, football (hated the Cowboys), college basketball, boxing, a little pro wrestling on occasion. He was the first guy I knew to buy one of those giant satellites they sold in the 1980s -- you know the ones that were like 15-feet wide? We about spun that thing off it's pole trying to get Wrestlemania 2. It's still in Grandma's back yard.

The place you'd see Grandpa most often, especially from about 1982 to 1994, was sitting on the back deck right next to the sliding glass door in a dilapidated lawn chair, no shirt, old blue jeans, Mickey's in his hand. He had just finished working in the yard. And you could sit there and chat with him if you wanted. But he probably liked it better if you just sat there in silence with him and watched the grass grow.

When Grandpa did laugh, he laughed hard, and his entire bald head shook.

The thing I think defines Nick Gomez, the thing I would want people to know about him, is that, if not for him, there would be generations of Mexicans, young and old, full-blooded, half-blooded, practically gringo -- who would have never made it in Wichita. He was the trailblazer. He got a job at Boeing and he stuck it out. He knew what work meant. He had three kids, and those kids had kids -- some more than others. Some of those kids needed help -- some more than others. And whenever they came to Grandpa, he helped them out. He helped his friends out. Grandpa didn't say much, and that included the word "no." You needed help? He helped. You needed work on your car? He worked on your car. You need to buy a car? Let's see how we can buy a car.

I don't know how often the favor was returned for Grandpa. The last time I saw him... hell, the last five times I saw him, I thought that would be the last time I ever saw him. But this last time, I was pretty sure. So I told him as I shook his hand, "Grandpa, I want you to know I love you, and my family loves you. I'm proud of you. And most of all, thank you for everything you've done for this family. There are a lot of people who wouldn't be where they are now if it wasn't for you."

Grandpa just nodded as he got ready to go back to sleep.

Grandpa never talked much.

Is that gas I smell?

Now there's a new blog to help you with that question. It's called "Ask Dave."

Here's the story:

Industrial Scientific today launched a new interactive blog entitled, “Ask Dave,” authored by Dave Wagner, director of product knowledge at Industrial Scientific.

“Ask Dave” originally started as an email question and answer feature on the Industrial Scientific website. The new blog format brings Dave’s extensive knowledge about gas detection to more end users, safety professionals and to those who are interested in learning more about gas detection. In addition to posting engaging topics relevant to Industrial Scientific’s vision of eliminating death in the workplace, visitors can ask Dave nearly any question related to gas detection. Many of the responses will be posted to the blog, which visitors can comment on and discuss.

“The blog provides our customers and visitors to our website an opportunity to open up a worldwide dialogue on gas detection,” says Dave. “We’ll cover what’s new, the latest trends, best practices and hopefully open up some interesting debates on topics that benefit all end users. I am excited to have this new opportunity for communication within our industry.”

Dave has more than 20 years experience in the development and application of portable gas monitoring instruments and systems. His formal training and broad experience give him insight few others have in the industry. Dave excels at simplifying the sometimes complex world of gas detection. You can also follow Dave on Twitter @indSci_AskDave.

“Ask Dave” is available at www.askdaveblog.com.

Gregg Breningmeyer talks about John Daly and hosting supers at JD Classic

In case you missed it in last week's Golfdom Insider, here is the interview I did with Gregg Breningmeyer, John Deere's global director of marketing and sales for turf.

Quick funny story about Gregg. I'm having dinner with Gregg that same evening, and as you can tell from the interview, Gregg has a great sense of humor. We were talking about social media. Gregg was talking about how he won't join Facebook, and even LinkedIn drives him crazy.

"The thing is, these people want to connect with me," he says to me. "Apparently, the thing they don't realize... is that I'm not a very nice guy!"

Cracked me up.

OK, this will round out my coverage of the JD Classic on the Golfdom Daily. My column in the new issue of Golfdom also covers the Classic. And then I'm done! I don't want to make the guys in red and orange green with envy.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 28 -- Are You Flogging Kidding Me?

A few weeks back I wrote about a book written by James Pomerantz titled Tough Guys Always Play From The Tips: A Unisex Guide to Golf, Tough Guys and the Neutered Weenie Fraternity Created By Such an Insane Game. Well, hold on to your manly hat Mr. Pomerantz because I have found something way worse than golf to blame the wussification of America on.

Has anyone heard of Flogton? I didn’t think so. Flogton, (“not golf” spelled backward) according to the AGA, or Alternative Golf Association, is all the rage! Flogton is a version of “golf” (I use the term golf loosely) for candyasses who can’t hack it playing by the rules everyone else plays by so they have to invent their own game so everyone can excel. What a load of B.S. The fact that everyone can’t be awesome at golf it what makes it so attractive to me! If everyone could play like the pros I wouldn’t play! I would go bowl or play some other lame “sport.”

Check out the rules for basic Flogton…… apparently there are new rules the better you get. After you conquer one level, or shoot a score acceptable by the AGA, the rules get a little stiffer. If you get too good at Flogton you might not be able to use a tee from anywhere on the course and penalty strokes might start counting and you might not be allowed to pick up your ball and throw it! Watch out!
------

Rules for Flogton Basic

Use these rules for the first three levels of Flogton

• Move up: Start a par-3 hole 50 yards closer to the green, a par-4 hole 100 yards closer to the green, and a par-5 hole 150 yards closer to the green.
• Don’t dawdle: No more than one practice swing per shot permitted. Violating this rule results in a penalty stroke. (If your real swing misses the ball, however, don’t count that.)
• Tee it up: Use a tee on any shot.
• Bump it: Improve your lie by one club length anywhere but on the green.
• Toss it: Once per hole you can use your hands to toss a “stroke.” (Try it from a bunker!)
• No penalties: Hit it OB or into a hazard? Lose a ball? Either reload or drop near the point where the ball disappeared.
• Putting particulars: Leave the flagstick in – and if you hit it, consider your ball in the hole! Don’t mark the ball – and when it’s your turn, putt until you’re in the hole or have taken two strokes, whatever is sooner. Flogton Basic has a three-putt maximum.
-----

What a joke. If you suck at golf bad enough to make up your own game just stick to something you are good at, like Halo! Seriously, when I read about Flogton it got me fired up. How are we going to grow the best sport on earth if tomorrow's golfers are too busy playing freakin' Flogton to learn the game of golf?

What are your thoughts on Flogton? Go to the official Flogton website and let me know what you think.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot because I am so fired up about this dumbass Flogton! This week is the British Open and with a major comes another edition of The Golfdom Hackoff! In case you are not aware The Golfdom Hackof is a fantasy golf league Golfdom hosts during every major. It is a lot of fun and best of all it is free! Here’s how to sign up….

The Hackoff is going to be at http://golf.fantasysports.yahoo.com/golf just like in the past. Click on "Sign up now!" for "Tee it Up!" fantasy golf (it's the only fantasy golf game they have.) Once you create your team, click "join a group." The group ID is 17466 and the group name is The Great Golfdom Hackoff (Yes I know 'hackoff' is spelled hack-off but I was limited in spaces to enter a name and I had to have the name be The Great Golfdom Hackoff!)



You will need a password to join the group. The password is golfdom123.



If you have signed up in the past just sign in and make your picks for this weekend. If not, what are you waiting for? You could win a number of great prizes! Jones scored some sweet Spy sunglasses for the winner of the U.S. Open, maybe he'll come up with something cool again for the British Open! All you have to do is sign up for your chance to win some great prizes and go down in history as the first British Open edition Hackoff Champion! (We really need to get a trophy with the winner's names engraved on them... I'll have Jones work on that!)

Until next week!

-- Matt Hendren

Polo over golf in China

That's what they're saying in this article on CNN.

What's the matter with golf?

"Playing golf, no one sees you," says one source.

For some of us, that's one of the best things about the game!

We'll keep an eye on this and see if chasing around a ball on horseback really is hurting our preferred sport, chasing around a ball on foot.

Interview with Paul Grogan, CGCS, host super of John Deere Classic

In case you missed this in last Friday's "Golfdom Insider" email newsletter, here's the interview I did with Paul Grogan, who is the superintendent at TPC Deere Run.

Some equipment greeting guests at the JD Classic

This is only half of it! Behind me was the other half!

I heard that a pro was trying to wrangle the kid's Gator (bottom of the photo) for free from one of the John Deere people. After every few holes, he'd repeat the question: How much does that cost again? Are you sure?

Ah, just win the tournament, dude! You get a free Z-track! And then you can afford the kid's car, too!

Patriotic Gators

This was the scene at the TPC Deere Run maintenance facility on the 4th of July -- all the equipment was adorned with a U.S. flag.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 27 -- Family Togetherness

Welcome back to another riveting edition of Hendren’s Hyperbole! I hope everyone had a great 4th of July holiday weekend. I spent the weekend at the lake on my boat just hanging with my family. Anyways, enough with the pleasantries, let’s get to it.

Does anyone feel that golf is kind of their time away from the family, four hours to just hang out with friends and do something you love? I do, most of the time. I am not going to lie to you and tell you I've never played golf with my wife because I have, a few times. I actually had a pretty good time playing a round with her but it is not the same as playing with friends. There was very little beer drinking going on and absolutely no cigar smoking and how many time can you feel good about out-driving your wife? The answer is never, if you were wondering.

The following press release is what brought this topic up…..

• Kiawah Island’s “Family Tee” program – Developed as a way for beginner golfers to get out and learn the game of golf, it is also a great way to encourage family togetherness. The program runs all summer long (May 30 – Sept. 4) on Osprey Point, Turtle Point, Cougar Point and Oak Point golf courses. Starting times are in 15-minute intervals from 6pm and 7:30pm. Everyone is required to play from the family tees (ranging for 100 to 200 yards per hole) allowing the whole family the fun of playing together. An adult must accompany children and visa versa. Adults pay $45 per round, children under 17 play free of charge.

I understand needing to come up with new and inventive ways to encourage play at your course; I really do, but encouraging family togetherness!?! I think the line has been crossed! Families are great, I think mine is the best but my golf time is sacred to me. After all, we're only talking about four hours to yourself every once in a while! I just think that a guy's time on the course and his time in the restroom are two areas that should be free from mandatory family togetherness!

Fire me a comment and let me know what you think!

-- Matt Hendren

Hanging at the John Deere Classic

Myself, TPC Deere Run first assistant Dustin Peterson, and director of maintenance and operations Paul Grogan, enjoying a quiet moment on the 4th of July before the action really heats up at the John Deere Classic.

John Deere HQ

Happy 4th of July!

You're probably enjoying a backyard barbecue or at the lake today, and I would be doing the same, but Golfdom takes no holidays!!! Especially when there is an invitation to attend a golf event!

I'm in Moline, Ill., site of the John Deere Classic. Last night we had a reception at JD headquarters (pictured) that included a Q&A with a few of the industry's big-wigs. I'll post some photos and some sound bites soon.

Right now, I'm off to TPC Deere Run. I'll check in from there soon.

Again, happy 4th! Be careful with those explosives!

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 26 -- A Story with Heart

I know I generally write about the PGA Tour but this week I am going to relate a very inspiring story about Erik Compton, a Nationwide Tour member and first time Nationwide Tour winner last week at the Mexico Open. I heard this story on the Jim Rome Show so even if you can’t stand Rome please read on because this story is remarkable and very inspiring.

Erik Compton is the only professional athlete that has received not one but two heart transplants in his short 31 years. At age 12, Erik had a virus attack his heart which required him to be placed on a transplant recipient list. He received the first of two transplants that same year, at age 12, from a 15-year-old girl named Janine. After the transplant was successful he needed an activity that would help aid him in his recovery and keep him active, and he chose golf.

Choosing golf as his sport turned out to be a great choice because he was a natural. Erik started winning tournaments and even earned a free ride playing golf at the University of Georgia. Following his career at the Georgia, Erik played on the Hooters Tour and the Canadian Tour, winning tournaments on both.

If you are thinking this story couldn’t get any better, or be more inspiring, you would be wrong. At age twenty-eight Erik suffered a heart attack. A heart attack for anyone is horrible but a heart attack on a transplant heart is brutal. Directly after the heart attack Erik drove himself to the hospital making phone calls the entire way saying his goodbyes to friends and family. He thought it was the end of what he describes as a great life, but it wasn’t.

This is where Erik’s second heart transplant comes into the story. He received a second heart from Isaac, who was an All-American volleyball player. Erik said Isaac was a "6’4” stud who was way stronger and more athletic than I am.” He is still in contact with Isaac’s family to this day.

Erik’s philosophy on life is that life is not a race; it’s all about what you do with your life in the time you are given. Erik also believes you don’t have to be perfect, just live life to its fullest each day. He also said the problems you have in life don’t define you; it’s what you do about them that define you and makes you who you are.

Erik is a true inspiration to everyone. Just think about all the “problems” you let get in your way on a daily basis. Considering I still have my original heart and my health I guess you could say I really don’t have any true problems. Something to think about anyways.

Erik is married with a 2-year-old daughter and is second on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2011, which guarantees him a spot on the PGA Tour next year. I don’t know about you but I need to hear a story like this every once in a while to really put what I think are problems in my life in true perspective. I will be rooting for Eric Compton from this moment on.

Erik Compton is the new Hendren’s Hyperbole Johnny Vegas. Let’s go Erik!

-- Matt Hendren

Toro acquires Lawn Solutions Commercial Products

News this morning from Toro:

The Toro Company today announced it has acquired Lawn Solutions Commercial Products, Inc., a leading manufacturer of innovative turf renovation equipment for the landscape, rental, municipal and golf markets. The acquisition, which includes a dedicated lineup of aerators, seeders, power rakes and brush cutters, adds key product categories to Toro’s portfolio to support growth across its core global businesses. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“Turf renovation is a natural category for Toro having built our company around turf maintenance for almost 100 years,” said Michael Drazan, vice president of the company’s Contractor Business. “These products complement our brands and markets extremely well, while extending our offering to customers worldwide. With our expanded distribution and market strength, we believe we can deliver significant share growth in these categories.”

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, and founded in 2006, Lawn Solutions has quickly established its position in the turf renovation market and become known for its reputable line of innovative products. As part of the purchase, David Cook, owner of Lawn Solutions, will continue to consult with Toro after the acquisition and provide important product development and category expertise.

Do you think you can talk to a blade of grass and get it to grow?

Check out this story by Jay Dempsey from the Riverhead News-Review. Here's a sound bite:

"Ladies and gentlemen, being a golf course superintendent requires the skills of a meteorologist, a farmer, a horticulturist, a public-relations expert, a personnel manager, a bookkeeper and a salesman."

Nice story from Dempsey, great quotes from Bill Shuford, superintendent at Laurel Links CC.

A moment of well-deserved rest for River Highlands crew

On Sunday afternoon of the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship, while the final group of Fredrik Jacobson, the eventual winner, and Bryce Molder were on the eighth hole, TPC River Highlands head golf course superintendent Tom DeGrandi, first assistant Noel Hall and second assistant Ben Newfang, along with a small group of family and friends, were parked to the left of the first green. The vantage point afforded a prime view of holes 15-17.

The fatigue from a wild few days was etched into the faces of the three in charge of maintaining the Cromwell, Conn. course; for the first time in weeks, they we able to relax.

Thursday’s soaking rain that suspended the first round shortly after 11 a.m. produced a unique Friday with golf almost non-stop from 7 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. when play was called because of darkness. Not a blade of grass was mowed or an ounce of sand raked, just cups and tee markers moved in between the final group of the first round and the first group of the second round on each nine. The two small crews of maintenance personnel were given a rolling one-hole gap in which to do the quick change.

As a result of no work being done on Friday, Saturday began at 4 a.m., 90 minutes earlier than usual. Greens were double cut, tees squeegeed, fairways dragged and cups changed. After breakfast inside the maintenance facility, the crew was back out at 9 a.m. mowing tees and fairways before the third round commenced.

“I wanted to make sure that players that made the cut had a clean, fresh golf course,” DeGrandi said.

Carbone’s Ristorante of Hartford, thanks to DeGrandi, delivered dinner for the crew. Then, it was back out in the evening to mow the entire golf course, save for the rough. Sunday morning they were back at it.

Conditions were fantastic as evidenced by a bevy of low scores in the final round, the only day that lift, clean and place was not in effect. Greens that had been Stimping in the low 10s late Friday, were a foot quicker for Sunday play.

It came as no surprise that Jacobson lauded final-round conditions that saw shots bounding along in the fairways rather than plugging and putts dropping in from all over.


“The greens were rolling great,” he said.

“They’re the best players in the world,” DeGrandi said. “You want to produce the best golf course you can.”

-- Anthony Pioppi

TPC assistants see big picture

Within the PGA Tour’s Tournament Players Club network is a program that sends assistant superintendents from one facility to another to aid during tournaments of the three tours, PGA, Champions and Nationwide.

For this week’s PGA Tour Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., Jack Creveling from TPC Sawgrass and Adam Weber from TPC Scottsdale are lending a hand.

Their primary job is to collect data for the Tour that includes green speeds, as well as moisture content and firmness of greens. They’ll also be lending a hand doing whatever River Highlands superintendent Tom DeGrandi needs, tasks such as raking bunkers.

DeGrandi’s two assistants, Noel Hall and Ben Newfang, have taken their turn at other courses. This year, Newfang will be at TPC San Antonio for the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship.

Creveling and Weber arrived the Saturday before the tournament began and will stay to the Monday after the Travelers is scheduled to end. Creveling knew he would be at the Travelers in January but Weber found out about two weeks before making the trip after the assistant who was going originally tapped for the assignment took a job at a non-TPC facility.

“It’s been good to see a different golf course,” said Weber, 25. “We don’t have the topography. There’s no slope in the desert.”

This is the first time either have worked on a golf course where the turf variety on greens is primarily Poa annua.

Creveling said dealing with one golf course can produce tunnel vision.

“You become engrossed in one property. (This) expands your horizons,” he said.

Weber said the education is not just about agronomy.

“It helps you see what the (TPC) network is about on a bigger scale.”

-- Anthony Pioppi

Hall's week in the irrigation room

For 13 years Noel Hall has been the assistant at TPC River Highlands,
site of this week's PGA Tour stop, the Travelers Championship. He
started out on the bottom of the ladder and took five years to work
his way up to the no. 2 position. This is his 18th tournament at the
Cromwell, Conn., golf course and he still revels in the moment.

"I enjoy the whole production. To me, this is what it's all about,"
said Hall who graduated from the University of Tennessee with degrees
in business and psychology. "I also enjoy the day-to-day without
members and guests, but there are two different existences."

Hall, who sleeps in the irrigation room during the tournament rather
than make the hour-long drive home each day, doesn't use all of his
downtime to catch up on rest. He can be found out on the course
watching golf, often sporting an orange shirt, in recognition of his
beloved Tennessee Volunteers.

Hall said that the week of the tournament isn't the most difficult,
even though his schedule can be determined by a combination of
tournament play and weather.

"Hell week was the last week. Advance week is the hardest," he said.

For him, even if the predicted thunderstorms cause havoc, that part of
the fun is rebuilding bunkers and squeegeeing greens so that the
course is once again ready for a PGA Tournament.

"If Mother Nature washes us out, that's just another excitement," he
said. "You look back and say, 'wow, I can't believe we did all that.'"

-- Anthony Pioppi

Live from the Traveler's Championship

This week Golfdom contributing editor Anthony Pioppi is working from the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship. Tony checks in today with his first report from the course. -- S.J.

At the 2010 PGA Tour's Travelers Championship, the story was heat with
a relentless procession of 90-plus-degree days. This year, Tom
DeGrandi, superintendent at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., is
having to deal with rain. Today's celebrity pro-am was suspended at
11:06 a.m. because of dangerous conditions;
lightning. One large storm cell is supposed to blow through by early
afternoon but that will probably result in the event being shortened
to nine holes.

Thursday's forecast is for scattered thundershowers while Friday is
predicted to have isolated thunderstorms. Cromwell was the recipient
of some severe big storms over the last two weeks, including one drenching
that created a six-foot-deep pond in the 12th fairway. That portion of
the course is built on an old sand pit and drains extremely well.

One consistent with Degrandi from last year to this year is the
sleeping arrangements for some of his crew. As he has for a number of
tournaments in a row, first assistant superintendent Noel Hall will
be bunking in the irrigation room for the week. A camping trailer,
that largest one yet, will again be the temporary home for crew
members, approximately eight this time, who would rather stay over
than be forced to drive back and forth, sometimes twice a day.

Yesterday the River Highlands crew worked from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Because of the nine-hole Golf Digest Junior Pro-Am that began at 5
p.m. interfered with the normal tournament week schedule, front side
mowing began at 1 p.m. Then the rest of the course was taken care of
from 5 p.m. until about 9 p.m. They were back at it again at 5 a.m.
today.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 25 -- U.S. Open Results

Hendren here, of Hendren’s hyperbole! Thanks for checking back again this week! I hope all you fathers had a great father’s day weekend. I had a great one. I watched as much of the U.S. OPEN as I could, hung out with my kids and spent some time at the pool. All in all it was a great weekend.

Congratulations to Gumsguys for winning the inaugural U.S Open Golfdom Hackoff. Also, congrats to Long Knockers and Nowhere Near Scratch for taking 2nd and 3rd. Some sweet prizes are headed your way, or will be as soon as you you all email Seth (sjones@questex.com) with your mailing address and true identities! I hope everyone that signed up enjoyed it, except you Neuty. I hope you had a horrible time!

Stay tuned, everyone, for info on the British Open edition of the Golfdom Hackoff taking place July 14th-17th.

I watched a lot of the Open this past weekend for several reasons. The first reason being that it is my favorite tournament of the year. The second reason is I wanted to see if Rory could hold it together. The third reason was because Tiger wasn’t playing.

I am still kind of in shock that Rory kicked everyone’s ass the way he did. He made it look easy. Is he really that dominant of a golfer? I thought the Open’s setup was supposed to be one of the most difficult of the year. Why were there so many players under par for the tournament? 20 players were under par for the tournament. I know the weather had an effect, but... whatever. It left me scratching my head. Did you think it was too easy?

I just hope Rory is the real deal. I hope he becomes the next big deal in professional golf and not just another really talented golfer who never reaches his full potential. Time will tell.

Until next week!

-- Matt Hendren

How about San Antonio in 2015?

The GCSAA just announced that San Antonio will host the 2015 Golf Industry Show.

The dates of the show will once again be late for this show: Feb. 25-27.

I'm all about San Antonio as a location for the GIS. Among other things I love the River Walk, Mexican food and fast food chain What-a-Burger. (Also, my Jayhawks won a national championship in that fine city back in 2008.)

The only eyebrow-raising from over here is on the dates. Feb. 25-27 is another late show, like the 2012 GIS in Las Vegas. I wonder if the later date will put a cramp on superintendents' schedules? We'll find out soon with the 2012 edition in Vegas, what supers think of the later show date.

From the press release:

San Antonio has been selected by officials of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) to host the 2015 Golf Industry Show and education conferences. The dates of the trade show are Feb. 25-26 and the education conferences are Feb. 23-Feb. 27.

"Based on attendee feedback we selected San Antonio for the 2015 Golf Industry Show," GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Rhett Evans said. "It is a new location that attendees and exhibitors want to go to and do business. It is a great addition to the Golf Industry Show lineup and another outstanding destination."

The 2012 Golf Industry Show (Feb. 29-March 1) and education conferences (Feb. 27-March 2) will be in Las Vegas.

"San Antonio is a perfect complement to the next three Golf Industry Show locations: Las Vegas, San Diego and Orlando," NGCOA Chief Executive Officer Mike Hughes said. "San Antonio is an easy city to travel to and typically features pleasant weather that time of year. We are very optimistic about the networking opportunities available there with the convention center being located on the Riverwalk, where there are so many hotels and restaurants."

Fairway mowers coming up 18

Blue Course super talks about anticipation of US Open

Here's another video I got while at Congressional... this one is with Derek Trenchard, who is the superintendent of the Blue Course at Congressional CC. We talk about how big the crew is for the U.S. Open, the challenge of getting them all trained for the tournament, and what he'll do once the tournament is over.

Chat with Rees Jones at Congressional

I had a chance to catch up with Rees Jones on Wednesday. We chat about the changes to the course as well as his long history with the course.

Fairway mowers in formation

You know I'm a sucker for these photos! (I only took about 100 shots of this!)

The US Open trophy visits maintenance

A cool, fun moment for the entire maintenance team. I'm pretty sure everyone got a chance to take a pic with the trophy.

Check out the rough, and a team photo

I'll have more tomorrow... right now time is against me! Trying to keep superintendent hours, yet I need the late nights to get writing/uploading done as well!

Here are two photos: one is of the entire crew at Congressional (volunteers included) and the other is to show you how deep the rough is.

Tomorrow, I hope to share with you a couple video interviews... fingers crossed!

Players talk Congresional course conditions

I just talked to a few of the players about the way the course is playing the day before the first round of the U.S. Open. Here is what they had to say:

Jim Furyk

"It’s got some brown spots around the greens, you can tell the greens are relatively new and I’m sure the heat from last week put a lot of stress on them… probably need to get a little bit of water, maybe a little bit of rain would help. But the course overall looks pretty good.

I keep reading in the paper how the rough needs some rain because it’s not that thick, but I wouldn’t agree with that. I’ve hit out of it all week, if you can get a club on it you can advance it a little bit, but you’re not going to see a ton of great scores coming out of the rough."

Dustin Johnson

"The course is in great shape. I think the USGA’s done a great job setting it up – it’s tough, but it’s fair. It’s not crazy, if you just miss the fairway they give you a chance to advance the ball. They’ve done a really good job.

The greens are good, they’re rolling good. They’re new, so they react like new greens. You’re not going to see a ball spin back, it’s just not going to happen, just because they’re new. But they’ve got them about as good as they could with new greens.

I think the rough is good and thick, it’s nice. They’ve done a good job with setting it up, they’ve got a couple different cuts. If it just barely runs off the fairway you’re not going to be punished severely."

Bubba Watson

"(The course is) tough, very tough.

The rough is good. It’s fair, you can hit shots out of it, but it’s going to be tough.

People don’t understand how hard it is (to get the course up to U.S. Open conditions). And then with the weather, the weather has to cooperate and I know last week was 100-and-some degrees. There are some bad spots, but it’s because of the weather. The superintendent can only do so much, then the weather has to do the other part. Every golf course is going to have little spots, no matter how perfect it is. That’s the key, is the weather. That’ll make the course or break the course, is weather. And that’s what the superintendent fears, is weather.

(On the winning score) If the weather gets crazy, and gets hotter and hotter, the course is going to get tougher and tougher and harder and harder. You’re looking at even par to 5-over. If the weather cooperates, to somewhere between 1-under and 5-under, somewhere in there. Nothing major, though, I don’t think there’s going to be a 14-under, unless it stays soft somehow."

Quick syringing for greens at Congressional

The staff is on top of it out here at Congressional. Mike Giuffre told me he has over 150 volunteers out here, and every single one of them has been on time everyday.

There's been some buzz in the media that the greens are looking worn, but I'm not seeing it. There are a few stress areas around the collars on some greens, but I think people are trying to anticipate drama, and they're just wrong. I'll get some close-up photos this afternoon and share tomorrow.

While the greens look good, Giuffre does look worn. Unfortunately for Giuffre, he woke up ill this morning. Just a cold. But there's no time to be sick this week, so he's just toughing it out.

Quick stop at Atlanta Athletic Club

Had a great time hanging out with Ken Mangum and Kasey Kauff at AAC this morning. The course is looking great. Kasey is, to put it mildly, high on Champion bermudagrass. (Wait, that doesn't sound right... ahh, forget it!)

More from AAC soon... like, next issue... right now, let's get to the US Open!

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 24 -- HACK-OFF!!!

Welcome to a special Hendren’s Hyperbole being written from #18 at Congressional!

...Alright, I am really in Kansas City just wishing I was going to be witnessing my favorite tournament of the year in person (I hate you Jones!!!). A guy can dream, can’t he?

This weekend is THE U.S. OPEN! The only thing that could make this weekend better is if Tiger was playing but as we all know…he is not, unfortunately. Actually I am not how sure unfortunate it really is. Sure, I love a good meltdown, a few swear words, and some good old fashioned club throwing... but just for one week I would like the emphasis to be on anything other than El’ Tigre.

Maybe this will be Phil’s year? How about Dustin Johnson or Rory McElroy? Probably none of the above, but I wouldn’t mind if it was any of them. Any golf tournament is next to impossible to predict a winner but the OPEN has to be the most difficult.

Speaking of predicting a winner, it is time for the Golfdom Hackoff, U.S.Open edition. To sign up just follow the directions below.

The Hackoff is going to be at http://golf.fantasysports.yahoo.com/golf just like in the past. Click on "Sign up now!" for "Tee it Up!" fantasy golf (it's the only fantasy golf game they have.) Once you create your team, click "join a group." The group ID is 17466 and the group name is The Great Golfdom Hackoff (Yes I know 'hackoff' is spelled hack-off but I was limited in spaces to enter a name and I had to have the name be The Great Golfdom Hackoff!)



You will need a password to join the group. The password is golfdom123.

If you have signed up in the past just sign in and make your picks for this weekend. If not, what are you waiting for? You could win a number of great prizes, from gift cards to U.S. Open merchandise to Rain Bird and SubAir golf gear! All you have to do is sign up for your chance to win some great prizes and go down in history as the first U.S.Open edition Hackoff Champion!

I hope to read your trash talking best on the leagues message board.

Good Luck!

Until next week!

--Matt Hendren

HACKOFF TIME!

I know Hendren will get into this more tomorrow, but just an early head's up... it's Hack-Off time!

Here's the blurb I've got going in the next Golfdom Insider email newsletter:

Participate in the Great Golfdom Hack-Off!
Once again Golfdom will be where the world of golf is… this time that place is the U.S. Open at Congressional CC. We’ll be reporting live from Congressional during the week, but in the meantime, let’s have some fun and give away some prizes! Enter your picks for the U.S. Open and you could win a number of great prizes, from gift cards to U.S. Open merchandise to Rain Bird and SubAir golf gear! Just click here for directions on how to enter the Hack-Off!

Bill Rose is back, Ceplo wins award

Ahh, computer problems! Love it! My internet went down, limiting the work I could accomplish, but just because the computer is down that doesn't mean the turf news stops!

Here are two interesting bits:

Bill Rose, Crystal Rose-Fricker and Ed Rose, principals in Rose Agri-Seed, Inc and Pure-Seed Testing, Inc., announced that after a five-year hiatus they will re-enter the professional turfgrass business.

The announcement comes after Rose Agri-Seed reached an amicable agreement that allows the company to market professional turfgrasses while continuing to provide custom seed coating and packaging services. The recent agreement will allow Rose Agri-Seed to acquire select Pure-Seed Testing turfgrass varieties and inventories, which will help realign Rose Agri-Seed’s position on the professional turfgrass market.

Rose Agri-Seed Founder Bill Rose says, “We were an industry leader for over 35 years and we are very pleased to be back marketing turfgrass!”

And from New York:

The New York Team of the Global Sports Alliance (GSA) presented its 2011 Environmental Stewardship Award to Matthew J. Ceplo (pictured, left), superintendent at Rockland Country Club in Sparkill, NY. Ceplo is the third recipient of this award, "given to an individual who exemplifies the role of environmental steward in the management of a recreational or sports venue in New York."

Rockland Country Club is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary and Ceplo is also working with other Rockland County, NY golf facilities to earn this certification as well. Ceplo and his staff have built more than 50 bird boxes for purple martins, osprey, wood duck, bluebirds and bats. He has guided several other environmental projects at Rockland, including the conversion of more than 15 acres of out-of-play rough to wildflowers and tall grass areas and the construction of a strategically located wetland that has enhanced many elements of the environment. In addition, he has involved local Boy and Girls Scout groups to assist with some of the planting projects, including increased shoreline vegetation to establish buffer areas and protect surface water.

"Through his progressive management of the golf course, Matt has distinguished himself as a leader. He points the way to the future of the game by maintaining the social and economic integrity of the golf course while resolutely defending environmental quality," said GSA New York Team Captain Kevin Trotta. "His many years of involvement and promotion of Audubon International's Cooperative Sanctuary Program and his pursuit of sustainable practices have earned him the respect of his industry and the respect of GSA New York."

2011 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition Accepting Entries

Feel strongly about water conservation issues? Now's your chance to put your passion -- and creativity -- to good use. Create a short film about responsible water conservation for a shot at $6,000 and a trip to the awards ceremony in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Sept. 20).

Films should range from 1 to 10 minutes in length. Submissions are accepted until Aug. 1. For contest rules, a look at past winners and more information, visit http://www.iuowfilm.com.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 23 -- Sissifying America?!?

Welcome back to Hendren’s Hyperbole. I hope you all had a great weekend and your week is off to a good start. How about Jones playing golf at Sunflower Hills, which is essentially in my back yard, and not even throwing an invite my way! I see how you are Jones. I am not going to lie, it hurts a little. I know he didn’t invite me because he is tired of getting beat like a Grand Canyon mule but it’s still bush league, bush league I tell you!

Anyway….

I think you will all get a kick out of this. There was an article I read on how golf is the cause of the extinction of tough guys. Apparently there is a book; Tough Guys Always Play From The Tips: A Unisex Guide to Golf, Tough Guys and the Neutered Weenie Fraternity Created By Such an Insane Game, written by James Pomerantz, which delves into why golf is the cause of tough guys going extinct.

I have not read the book, nor will I, because it is a ridiculous take and I don’t want to give any of my hard-earned money to the idiot, I mean author, who decided it was his place to blame golf for all of societies short comings. Short comings in his eyes anyways.

Don’t take my word, decide for yourself. Here are a few excerpts from the book..

“The popularity of golf and the decline of the American Tough Guy certainly have a direct connection,” Pomerantz said. “If they don’t, then can someone please explain plaid pants to anyone with an IQ above concrete? Think about this. While alcohol is forbidden on the field of play in baseball, football and other manly sports, it’s not only available, but encouraged in golf. In contrast, try downing a cold one while coaching your kid’s Little League team. Also, on the exertion scale of physical effort, golf falls in just a hair short of playing poker or sleeping. Finally, football and baseball have complex rules and umpires to prevent cheating of any kind. Meanwhile, on the golf course, players are perfectly content to skip a stroke, take a mulligan, move a lie, concede an easy putt and kick a ball out of the tall grass when no one is looking. In summary, golf is an exertion-free game for alcoholic blowhards.”



Pomerantz points out that golf is a game that rank amateurs can play at a professional level from time to time.
 
“Where else can an overweight, middle-aged, half-in-the-bag Fox News addict hit a shot better than Tiger Woods?” he added. “Put Tiger Woods on a 150 yard par 3 with Skippy the Accountant, and let them each hit a bucket of balls toward the green. I guarantee Skippy gets a shot closer to the pin than Tiger at least once, if not more, during the challenge. Now, take Skippy and tell him to chase Michael Vick out of the pocket a few times. Just have a defibrillator and an EMS team standing by.”



In the final analysis, the culture of golf is in direct conflict with the culture of men, and that’s why Pomerantz thinks it is one of the key factors that is sissifying America.
 
“You know, mothers tell their sons to study hard, get a good education, make the right friends and be nice to people,” he said. “Well, that’s like asking the Dalai Lama to work at Haliburton. Life is about confrontation and confidence, perseverance and integrity. Golf is about drinking, cheating and competition with as little effort as humanly possible. After all, how has golf, a seemingly candy-ass, pull your dress down, non-contact, don't make a sound sport become the most popular amateur sport in America for men of ALL ages?”

This whole thing is ridiculous! What do you think? Shoot me a comment and let me know. But, I guess it is fairly entertaining.

The U.S. Open is only two short weeks away and we will be having another Golfdom Pick’em Challenge, U.S. Open edition. Check back to the Golfdom Daily for more information coming soon!

--Matt Hendren

Golf at Sunflower Hills

Had a great time playing Sunflower Hills in Bonner Springs, Kan., yesterday. Superintendent Mike Yadrich has the course looking good.

One of the many mistakes I made (along with this tee shot into the bunker, above), was when I was lining up my putt on 15... I was trying to concentrate, trying to visualize the ball dropping into the hole... and then I was distracted by the sound of a low-flying jet going over.

Rather than stopping to take a look, I stayed in my stance and missed the put on the high side. I stomped over to tap it in. As I did this, I looked over and saw 5 fighter jets, in formation and low, zipping across the sky into the distance.

The Kansas Speedway is only a few miles from Sunflower Hills. They must have been doing a fly-over for the race that was about to start. So I had my own chance at seeing the fly-over from the golf course, but I was too caught up in my own lousy score to look up and see the jets! Sheesh!

Dr. Wong Gets the Girl

If you're signed up for Golfdom's e-newsletters (and why wouldn't you be?), then you got this morning's "Chip Shots" about Frank Wong.

Not your typical turf story... this one is actually a love story. How about that?

Dr. Wong Gets the Girl

Leaving UC Riverside behind and accepting a job with Bayer in Washington, D.C., Frank Wong gets to be with his bride.

By Seth Jones


It was an easy decision, Frank Wong, Ph.D., laughs, because it involved a woman.


“It was a no-brainer,” he giggles. “You get the job that you wanted, in the place that you wanted, and you get the girl too. It’s an absolute slam-dunk.”


Wong, who previously was a specialist of plant pathology at the University of California-Riverside, accepted a job that moves him across the country to Washington, D.C. He’s now a technical service specialist for Bayer’s Environmental Health division. Most important to him, he’s closer to his wife of two years, Dr. Caroline Ridley, whom he married in October of 2009. Ridley moved to D.C. after she was awarded a fellowship to work as a scientist for the EPA.


“We have a little bit of that James Carville/Mary Matalin thing going on,” Wong says. “She works for the EPA, I work in crop protection for a chemical company.”


For Bayer, Wong will be doing a lot of what he was already doing as an extension specialist at Riverside – meeting with superintendents and growers and discussing what’s best for their turf and crops.


“(Bayer) would like me to focus on providing support for the industry,” Wong says. “From D.C. to Boston to Chicago. Where disease pressure on cool season turf is the highest – lot of brown patch, lot of dollar spot. It all comes down to enhancing customer service and support. Just talking to sales guys, supers, letting them know the best fit for the Bayer product line.”


If Wong has any regrets, it’s that he left behind an area that he feels lacks the support it needs. The University of California’s turf programs have never been like a Rutgers, an N.C. State or a Penn State, Wong says.


“I’m glad the industry has (Dr.) Jim Baird there to work with. There’s still turf research and extension going on at UC Riverside,” Wong says. “I just talked to Bruce Williams, who just accepted the executive directorship of the California Turfgrass and Landscape Foundation, which is being established to help support research and education in California… and I just really encouraged him to get the industry together and lean on the university to get (my former) position filled as soon as possible.”


Recently UC Riverside had halted operations of its turf diagnostics lab as a result of, among other things, insufficient funding.


“I don’t want to make it seem like I was running away from a problem at the university, but, man… when your primary job is to do science and education, and you find yourself 90 percent of the time worrying about budgets, manpower issues, and how to make sure you have enough paper towels in the lab? It really distracts away from the stuff you want to do,” Wong says. “I think this will be a welcome change to work on the part of the job I really love.”


And of course, there’s his true love, the lovely Dr. Ridley. Once this job at Bayer became available, Wong hit the door pretty quickly, he admits. But that’s what happens when personal lives are involved.


“I think it caught some people by surprise,” Wong says. “When an organization wants you to start right away, and for personal reasons, you want to be with your wife right away – I was out the door pretty quick.”


It’s obvious that Dr. Wong is a man in love – with a new job, a new city, and most of all with being reunited with his wife. It’s almost like the couple gets a second honeymoon.


But how will things go when the two are once again under the same roof?


“Man, I’m still just trying to figure out why she married me in the first place,” Wong laughs.


Details, Frank. You got the girl.

Tragic story out of Illinois

A sad story about Willie Werling, a longtime employee at Annbriar Golf Course, dying in a mowing accident.

Thoughts and prayers go out to all his family, friends and co-workers.

Frank Wong talks about the difficulty of being at a state university

I interviewed Frank Wong, Ph.D., recently about his move from UC Riverside to Bayer.

Here's a good soundbite from our interview regarding the troubles turf schools are facing these days:

"The current conditions with state turf programs does not look good. Most of the schools out there that do agricultural research, the land grant institutions, have always had a significant amount of state and federal funding to support the programs. And that’s the only way you can do it. Now, (dang it), everyone is broke. There’s just the revenue from taxes -- things like that aren’t footing the bill anymore. Federal funding to schools have basically flatlined in the last ten years… all of the inputs have basically flatlined while your costs are going up. Overall it’s getting harder and harder for university programs to do what they want to do."

Look for more from Wong soon!

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 22 -- Memorial Day Edition

Welcome back to Hendren’s Hyperbole! I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. I had a great weekend even though I couldn’t get out and play a round. I just enjoyed spending time with my family. Hopefully you not only had a great three-day weekend at the lake, but you also had a chance to wave a flag and remember what the holiday stands for... I know we did at the Hendren house.

I can’t believe this is the 22nd episode of Hendren's Hyperbole! I figured Jones would send me packing after the 2nd. I guess I could still get canned... especially if someone doesn’t start leaving some comments!

There was lots of golf on the tube this past weekend. Tom Watson rallied to win the senior PGA championship. At the age of 61 that’s pretty incredible. Keegan Bradley earned his first PGA Tour victory at the HP Byron Nelson Championship over Ryan Palmer and Luke Donald won the BMW PGA Championship beating Lee Westwood in a playoff. Donald’s victory moves him to 2nd in the Fed-Ex Cup standings. He only trails Bubba Watson by 29 points for the top spot. Over all this last weekend was a great weekend to log endless hours watching golf.

Well, because this is a short week due to the holiday my post is going to be rather short. Check back in next week and I will fill you all in on why golf is the main cause for tough guys going extinct.

Until next week…!

-- Matt Hendren

Happy Memorial Day!

Here's a nice tribute to an old-time super who passed away recently, Harold Peck, who was the superintendent at Battle Creek CC from 1947 to 1988. Published in the Battle Creek (Mich.) Enquirer.

According to the article, he was a charter member of the GCSAA... but that doesn't sound entirely accurate, as I don't think he was old enough to have been able to have accomplished that... it also says he was a founder of the Michigan State turfgrass program... but it also states correctly that facts blur over the years, especially when someone accomplishes a lot of things in their lifetime.

Regardless, an interesting article about a person who was obviously a hard-working superintendent, dedicated to his craft. Cheers, Harold Peck, and to all those friends who aren't with us anymore...

Super Jimmy Shannon on the local news

Pine Golf Course in Diamondhead, Miss., reopened last weekend... hopefully the guys had nice weather for the unveiling of their new Miniverde greens.

Check out the video to see course superintendent Jimmy Shannon talking about the greens... and you have to like a golf pro with the first name "Hoppy."

Have you checked out the last issue of Golfdom yet?

If you haven't, click here or over on the front cover on the right-hand side of this page. Lots of good stuff in the issue, including our cover story interview with former GCSAA CEO Mark Woodward!

And, for the record, it took me four issues until I got a Radiohead reference on the cover of the magazine. "Fitter, Happier" is a title of an offbeat Radiohead song off of their OK Computer album.

Take that, competition...! We're leading the industry in Radiohead references as well as What-a-Burger references! WHOO-HOO!!!!

US Open host Giuffre in USA Today

Check out our pal Mike Giuffre in USA Today!

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 21 -- Quick Rounds in Vegas, Baby!

Hendren from Hendren’s Hyperbole here! Glad you decided to take a minute to read this week’s post. I have had a great week… so far. I got to play Creekmoor Golf Course, a fairly new course in my area, this last Saturday. Creekmoor is located in Raymore, Mo., and is a great track. It is 7,200+ from the tips, not that I played from the tips. I actually played alright considering the amount of beer that was consumed and how hard the wind was blowing. So I guess I didn’t play very well if I need two excuses for my performance.

Congratulations to David Toms for his win last week at Colonial. It takes some serious stones and intestinal fortitude to lose in a playoff one week and come back the next week the way he did. If my math is correct this is Toms’ thirteenth win on the PGA Tour and first since 2006. The win places him 4th in the Fed Ex Cup standings. Nice work David!

Listen, I’m sure there isn’t one guy who hasn’t wanted to get in a quick round on a Saturday morning and still get home to knock off a few items on your wife’s honey-do-list, but in the end decided not to play due to the simple fact that it is next to impossible to get in a round under 4.5 to 5 hours. I’m sure we all know the feeling of weighing a round of golf versus the wrath that is going to be waiting for us at home after a long round and what your wife considers a wasted day.

Well, Angel Park Golf Club in Vegas has implemented a policy that makes everyone a winner. The following is from a press release from Angel Park Golf Club:

ANGEL PARK GOLF CLUB ANNOUNCES NEW EXPRESS LANE TEE TIMES



First five tee times on Saturday mornings set aside for golfers who agree to finish in at least 3 hours and 45 minutes


LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Angel Park Golf Club now provides Express Lane tee times on one of its two 18-hole golf courses each Saturday morning to golfers who commit to finishing 18 holes in 3 hours and 45 minutes or less. Although the exact times vary with the season, currently the five Express Lane tee times are from 7 am to 7:28 am. 


“One of the things we consistently hear throughout the golf world is that it takes too long to play,” said Greg Brockelman, Director of Golf at Angel Park. “In an effort to combat this issue, we created Express Lane. The reality is that most people live very busy lives. Whether it’s trying to catch up at work or other responsibilities at home, people have a hard time carving out five hours to play a round of golf. Not to mention that some golfers just like to play fast.” 




To ensure that there is no misunderstanding, the reservationist reminds the guest when they book their tee time that they must maintain at least a 3-hour 45-minute pace. A note is placed in their golf car, and the starter provides a final mention. They also sign an agreement stating that if they fail to maintain pace, their round may be interrupted to accommodate faster play. This interruption could include moving them to the other golf course, moving them forward into position, or moving them backwards behind the last Express Lane reservation. While every attempt is made to avoid an interruption, Angel Park must honor the agreement it made with the other Express Lane golfers (i.e. 3-hour 45-minute finish times, guaranteed).




“We love it,” said Las Vegas resident, Lowell Masters. “It’s a win-win situation for us. We can tee it up in the morning, and get back to the house with the entire day still ahead of us.” 


I think this is a great idea and a great way to attract new business to your club! We all know how important it is to set your club apart from the competition and this is a great way to do that at no cost to the club’s bottom line.

I wish I had thought of this idea. If I would have I might have a life-size statue of myself next to the putting green! Probably not, but hey, a guy can dream can't he?!?

What are some ideas you have instituted at your course to help speed up the pace of play? Leave me a comment and let me know what works or possibly didn’t work for you and your course.

--Matt Hendren

Joplin tornado

I'm down here in southern Missouri visiting my wife's family... we're 40 miles east of Joplin, Mo.

Here in Monett, the tornado sirens went off for almost 30 minutes. I think that's the longest I've ever heard them, and that's coming from a guy who grew up in Wichita.

I took some photos, but didn't bring my card reader. I'll download and post them later this week. We didn't see any tornadoes here, thankfully, just a lot of ominous clouds.

Thoughts and prayers to everyone in Joplin.

Jerry Kelly as the TCU Horned Frog

Always one of my favorite golfers, check out this video of Jerry Kelly teeing off dressed as the TCU Horned Frog.

Click here for the full story courtesy of Yahoo! Sport's Jay Busbee and Devil Ball Golf.

A bet's a bet. I applaud the guys for their creativity on this one.

The sad thing is that Kelly could probably still out-drive me while he's got a giant frog head on.

Although I will say the swing was a little anti-climactic. If there ever was a time for a trick exploding golf ball, this was it.

Wong joins Bayer as technical service specialist

It was announced today that Environmental Science, a division of Bayer CropScience, has named Dr. Frank P. Wong as its Technical Service Specialist for the northern fungicide business of the U.S.

With more than 15 years of plant pathology experience, Dr. Wong will bring his expertise to the technical and research and development team for the fungicide business.

“We are excited to add Dr. Wong to the Bayer team as he brings an incredible depth of knowledge in plant pathology,” said Laurence Mudge, Technical Services Manager, Environmental Science. “Frank’s insight and experience from his prior research and extension responsibilities will be a valuable asset as Bayer continues to develop and commercialize leading chemistries.”

Prior to joining Environmental Science, Wong served as Associate Specialist in cooperative extension and as a plant pathologist at the University of California, Riverside. Golfdom last reported on Wong in our March 2011 issue (“Cal-Riverside Halts Diagnostics Lab”), when it was announced on March 7, 2011, that the turf diagnostics lab services was being shut down at UC Riverside. “For 2011 we will try to reorganize under a new business plan to meet the diagnostic lab needs of the industry, and relaunch the service under a different model as soon as we can,” Wong said at the time in a letter to the industry.

Wong has also served as the American Phytopathological Society’s subject matter expert for the Environmental Protection Agency, providing information on plant diseases and disease management. Wong received his doctorate in plant pathology from Cornell University and his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. He is currently based in Washington, D.C. and can be reached via email at frank.wong@bayer.com.

“Bayer is an innovative organization that is always on the leading edge of research and development. I look forward to the opportunity to enhance and further develop the Bayer reputation as a leader in science,” Dr. Wong said in a press release from Bayer.

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.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 20 -- Fuchsia isn't my color

Greetings from hyperbole land! I hope everyone had a great weekend watching the Players Championship. Unfortunately I did not get to watch as much of the tournament as I would have liked to but what I missed I got caught up on from Twitter and PGA.com. Having to catch up on golf because I couldn’t watch it live sucks but what are you going to do? Anything involving golf is better than no golf at all… words to live by, write it down.

Last night I had the opportunity to have a great meal at Capitol Grille on the Plaza with Kevin Stoltman, vice president at Questex Media, Pat Roberts, Golfdom publisher, Seth Jones, Golfdom editor-in-chief, and Tom Mentzer from Mentzer PR Group. We all threw down some awesome steaks, enjoyed a few cocktails, smoked a few cigars and had a great conversation on a movie highly recommended by Mr. Roberts. I am not going to ruin the element of surprise by mentioning the movie so next time you see him make it a point to ask him about the best movie ever!

It was great to meet these guys, I’m really enjoying being involved with Golfdom and this dinner was just one example of the fun I’ve been able to have since joining the extended Golfdom family back in January. Jones hasn't been lying when he says this is a cool, fun group of guys. (That's all of us in the purple-y cell phone pic above... it goes Jones, me and Pat in the back row, then Kevin and Tom sitting down in front of us. Fuchsia isn't our natural color, I swear.)

So how about that ending to the Players Championship?!? It was EPIC! David Toms was defeated by K.J. Choi in the first playoff hole. Toms lipped out a 3.5 foot par, his first miss inside 5 feet all week leaving the door open for Choi to sink a 2.5 foot putt for par. This was Choi’s first victory since the 2008 Sony Open in Hawaii, making K.J. the first Korean Players champion.

Granted I didn’t really have a horse in that race but every golf tournament is better with a dramatic finish in a playoff. Now we can start the countdown to the U.S. Open! Only 5 more weeks! Jonesy teased it this week in his Golfdom Insider, and I am so ready. I love all golf tournaments but the Open is my favorite. Maybe Tin Cup has something to do with that? Nah, I just love the fact that the Open is the “everyman” tournament. Anyone who is good enough to make the “cut” can play… in theory.

So what happened to Tiger? He hurt his knee again? Really? Is he in his 30s or his 50s? Fred Funk’s back thinks Tiger is baby. I’m sure his knee is hurt. I’m not questioning that… but why would he try to play in a tournament he has said he doesn’t like in the first place if he has a bad wheel?

Of course, I have the answer: Tiger has to be thinking the sooner he does something besides swear and throw clubs on the course the sooner people, like me, will forget his troubles off the course. Good luck with that El Tigre! It is apparent he shouldn’t have pushed. He just needs to shut it down for the rest of the year and get his body right, along with his mind and try again next year. When it rains it pours, huh Tiger?

Until next time,

-- Matt Hendren

Interview with U.S. Open host superintendent Dave Hutchinson

If you're not signed up to receive the Golfdom Insider (and why wouldn't you be? It's free, it's got tons of content... sign up here.) then you missed my interview with Congressional superintendent of greens and grounds, Dave "Hutchie" Hutchinson.

I've also got an interview with the main man, Michael Giuffre, director of golf course maintenance, but I'm saving that one for another day.

In the meantime, here's the link to check out the interview with our friend from South Africa, Dave. (Dave is pictured on the right, Blue Course superintendent Derek Trenchard is on the left.)

Wrapping up with a cold beer at Tobacco Road...

And the Players Championship. Because that's how I roll!

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Almost wrapped up from N.C.

I've been in North Carolina for eight straight work days. Been all over the state! Tomorrow we head back home. Aside from our trip to urgent care (five stitches for Dan) it's been a great trip.

We've met with BASF, Arysta LifeScience, JRM, IMRE and a few more, maybe even a trip to IHOP if we have time!

It's a Questex-only dinner tonight, so there will surely be some big plans concocted. Good news for us, me and Dan make a pretty good team when we put our heads together... we've already figured out two stories our respective mags can collaborate on. Now we just need a nickname for this new superteam...

Thunder in the background, looks like I'll be sporting a sportcoat over my Jayhawks t-shirt tonight. That's right North Carolina, there is a Jayhawker among you!

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Never the way you want to start the day...

Even editors can get hurt on the job. Just dropped off Landscape Management magazing editor-in-chief Dan Jacobs at the urgent care in Greensboro, N.C. Dan sliced his hand open while opening the trunk of our rental car.

The injury was just like the scene in "Back to the Future," only Marty McFly wasn't trapped in the trunk.

But don't worry Mrs. Jacobs, DJ will be ok, he just needs maybe a stitch or two. Us editors stick together, I'll make sure he gets taken care of!

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