Letters

More on the fire

You do a wonderful job with GCI. I really admire and respect people who have great energy and passion for what they do no matter the vocation... The writing seems to be ahead of the curve and at times has some edgy insight. Most of all, you seem to strike a chord with [superintendents] that other industry publications seem to miss at times. Keep up the good work. You are a wonderful asset to the turfgrass industry.

I find the cause of the FarmLinks fire (After the fire, March 2013) so curious because I fear fire in our shop. Many years ago I had a electric roller start on fire on the first green and it needed a fire extinguisher to put it out, I wish I had investigated the issue more thoroughly. I wonder now, “What if that had started in the shop?” I have seen electric golf carts go up in flames, and now wonder how that happen?

Andrew Kjos, CGCS
Trump International Golf Club
West Palm Beach, Fla.

The editor’s response: That’s a great question, Andy. In our excitement and enthusiasm in putting together the cautionary tale that came out of the FarmLinks fire, we simply forgot to add its cause. We went back and asked, and according to the good people at FarmLinks, the fire was started by a simple lightening strike. This just adds to the tale that this act of God could happen to any facility, anywhere, and it’s best to be prepared for any contingency.

Believe it or not

Editor's Note: We received an unprecedented amount of feedback about Pat’s February Parting Shots column. If you haven’t read it yet, enter bit.ly/Xqr5vu into your Web browser. 

I enjoyed reading your February Parting Shot. Well said.

I thought you might enjoy an article (“A Worthy Calling, August 2011) I wrote on the subject for The Perfect Lie newsletter a few years ago. I doubt I will push turf on my kids, but if they want to go that way I will fully support them because our world needs more people with the character qualities refined by the life of a superintendent.

Dan Tolson Superintendent
3 Creek Ranch Golf Club
Jackson, Wyo.

Whenever I get the opportunity to read Pat Jones’ column, it either brings a tear to my eye, as “You Gotta Believe” did, or it makes me laugh like hell, as “You Gotta Believe” did, as well. Great article, Pat. Hit the nail hard on this one, my friend.

John V. Andersen, CGCS
Regional director of agronomy
Century Golf Partners

Damn near brought a god damn tear to my eye. Well written and extremely well thought out. You hit the nail on the head. My own boys will read it when they visit their superintendent dad this weekend. Thanks for this, Pat.

Thad Thompson
Terry Hills Golf Course
Batavia, N.Y.

We'd like to hear from you. Email us at gci@gie.net with your thoughts and opinions.