Wrapping up

In early 2011, I was starting a new editorial job, eagerly trying to track down superintendent Ian Elko at the Princeton Golf Course to ask him about protecting a growing badger population on his course.

Though the job title has evolved since then, not much has changed directly. Recently, I lost track of time researching the potential for using predatory wasps to slow the emerald ash borer threat.

But there is a big change on the horizon: I’m moving on from Golf Course Industry.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still be working on a magazine focused on grass, and I’ll even be in the same office. But I’ll be leaving the Superintendent Radio Network and other projects in the incredibly capable hands of Mike Zawacki and Guy Cipriano, while they work to carry out Pat Jones’s vision.

In preparation for the change, I went back to the very first editor’s note I wrote back in 2011, and thought about what I’ve learned about the industry since then. Here are a few highlights:
 

Turf is amazing. Golf turf, sports turf, lawn turf – it’s all incredible when we treat it right. When I started, I was astounded to learn just how many different types of turf there were, and how each was adapted to a specific environment. It took a little longer for me to really appreciate what strong turf means not just for the game, but for our larger community. I never anticipated how much I would come to love all the science and hard work that goes into making that plant grow.

From the outset, I was an advocate for turfgrass, and for the professionals who take care of it. You have a responsibility to the game of golf, sure; but as I see it, that responsibility goes far beyond the greens. Professional turf care supports the environment by working with native grass and responsible use of inputs. It means understanding and communicating about the big issues that have fallen out of focus with the average homeowner, like water use.
 

Superintendents are pretty cool, too. That responsibility I mention extends to the people superintendents work with as well. Professionals have to work with labor issues and diverse teams that come from many different backgrounds, and they have to be able to explain the practice to board members and everyday players. Oh, and also be a spokesperson for the course and the entire game in general to any media looking for a story.

But superintendents also know how to build support groups better than so many other industries, whether it’s over social media or at a conference. Knowing one superintendent means knowing a dozen more, and each of them is ready to help when dollar spot catches the crew off guard a few days before the big event.

And one of the best parts of working on SRN was getting a chance to hear the personal stories of superintendents facing big, life-changing moments, and having the support of their colleagues to help. You all do some amazing things sometimes. I don’t think I’ll ever forget getting off the phone with Bob Kohlstedt after he told me the incredible story of his risking his life by diving into a flood to save his course dog. I knew people couldn’t just read that story – they had to actually hear it. And working on stories about superintendent health and West Coast water issues only made the point stronger: These aren’t people who are just passionate about a game, but professionals who care about the turf and the people who surround them as family, friends, crew members and players. When the golf community comes together, it knits together tightly for better or worse.
 

Golf could still stand to grow. As great as the industry is, you don’t have to look far to see aspects that could use some focus. Water is the easy one to notice, even at courses where the resource is plentiful now. Then there are input concerns and pollinators to consider as well, and the constant managing of expectations of a public trained on long, challenging courses with oversaturated green turf.

Turf concerns aside, I think the game’s best chance is to prove itself more inclusive to families and players of all types. That tight knitting I mentioned before can seem imposing to some groups and keep them from having the opportunity to experience the work of turf professionals. Working toward a course that is as fun for the new player as the experienced will go a long way to bringing in resources and interest.

So thanks for letting me be part of the golf industry, and giving me a chance to help tell your stories. I’ve had a lot of fun doing it, and I learned so much in the process. One thing I never did learn, however, was a proper swing. To the few of you who got stuck golfing with me once or twice: Oh man, I am so sorry.