Meet Your Team

Pat Jones
Editorial Director and Publisher

In the movie Citizen Kane, the ambitious publisher played by Orson Welles cherry-picks the best writers from his rival newspapers to assemble what he triumphantly introduces as "The greatest staff in the world." I now have the pleasure of doing the same.

First, let me state our philosophy: We gather the best minds in the business to tell you exactly what's going on in your market. We inform, provoke and stimulate. We are passionate about this business and the people in it.

Unlike Mr. Kane, we didn't have to raid staffs to assemble our amazing team. In two notable cases, they have been part of this publication since it was called Golf Course News. More recently, in most cases, they approached us because they believed they could write candidly about their views and experiences.

I'll start with a couple of veterans. Terry Buchen is, quite simply, a marvel. Legendary super turned longtime turf/operations consultant to some of the world's best clubs. "Travels with Terry" has been a mainstay of this publication – and part of the golf course maintenance culture – for 20 years. He visits scores of courses and shares the little things that make a big difference in great operations.

Jeff Brauer writes like he designs courses – with intensity and purpose. I'm always amazed that a guy who sometimes goes out of his way to be politically incorrect could have been president of the buttoned-down, tartan-coated ASGCA. What matters most is Jeff is a real-life, working golf course designer with a vast understanding of how architecture and maintenance interact.

I tossed Monroe Miller into the columnist meat grinder a couple of years ago after he retired from storied careers as both forever super at Blackhawk CC and the longtime editor of the Wisconsin Grassroots chapter magazine. Monroe combines a fierce passion about the people in this business with disarming Cheesehead candor. He's not afraid to poke bears with sticks when he sees something wrong and he's warm and insightful when he points out the good stuff going on. Love this man.

I was on the phone with Tim Moraghan about 10 minutes after he parted ways with the USGA begging him to write for us. The guy set up a zillion national championships, knows everybody and has a persistent habit of telling the truth…how could he not write for us? Even better, his spectacular spouse Karen is one of the PR moguls of the golf business who – I think – secretly edits Tim's columns.

Do not – I repeat – do not engage Brian Vinchesi about the advanced engineering side of irrigation design and operations. Your head will explode with his smartness. He's probably lost track of the number of Top 100 facilities where he's designed systems. Brian's probably one of the most knowledgeable and committed experts in water conservation, as well. He's another guy who has cloned himself because he's EVERYWHERE…and he still finds time to fly fish in New Zealand. Amazing.

Bruce Williams is – quite simply – The Man. Totally connected, on top of the market, successful in every arena from managing a couple of the world's greatest courses to placing his peers in the best jobs in the world. And he finds time to write astoundingly in-depth and useful articles for us. Now he's focusing his attentions on China. Watch out, China.

I still had a full head of hair the first time I met Dennis Lyon a quarter of a century ago. He never had hair, even then. But under that shiny dome lies the brain of a man with keen insights on how superintendents can be businesspeople, leaders and innovators within a successful public golf operation. He and Bruce are both GCSAA past presidents. He and Monroe are both DSA winners.

Finally, I'm pleased to introduce our newest addition: Henry Delozier. Coincidentally, I just got through telling several folks at the GCBAA meeting that Henry is the smartest guy in the industry and they should listen to whatever he says. Now he's saying it for us.

I've run out of space to adequately mention Bob Lohmann's online contributions, our Digital Turfhead, Jim Black, our young social media guru, Nick Klinkhammer, and 20 other regular contributors.

Our cup runneth over with talent.