Scrambling

I love the 4th of July. Yes, I’m a patriot and I adore my country. But the 4th also means family, relaxation and picnics. Mostly, for me, the 4th means blowing stuff up. Fireworks are the greatest invention ever. They bring out my inner 12-year-old like nothing else.

Last month, I was already looking forward to my annual trip to the fireworks stand (and the trip to the emergency room that inevitably follows) when I received a call asking me if I’d like to spend the 4th of July at the John Deere Classic.

Well, I guess I don’t love fireworks that much. Goodbye roman candles, hello pro-am!

I’ve been to Deere & Company’s big event before, but there was something special about being invited to the world’s best 4th of July party by one of America’s great companies. We golfed, we ate, we mingled and we schmoozed. The only thing I blew up was my score on a wicked par 4 on the back nine at TPC Deere Run, but that was fine by me.

Playing a Tour-ready course is always a great experience. Paul Grogan and his team (including his famed “Grunt Squad” of volunteers) had outdone themselves this year. The payback for six weeks of rain and cold temps this spring was an eye-poppingly green course, pristine fairways and absolutely true putting surfaces.

As cool as the Monday pro-am was, the Tuesday charity scramble at Davenport CC was even better. Why? First because I didn’t have to stress out about a Tour pro laughing his ass off at my swing. And second, because I was put into one of the most interesting foursomes of my life. We scrambled on the course and scrambled with some of the questions facing our business.

I was paired with Deere golf chief Gregg Breningmeyer, GCSAA president Bob Randquist and new CEO Rhett Evans. Given the perception I’ve occasionally been tough on GCSAA, I was a little concerned that this might be uncomfortable (or an elaborate scheme to bump me off and leave my body buried in a shallow grave in the Iowa countryside). But, it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable days I’ve had on the golf course.

I decided to ask each of these important guys the same question: What’s your big priority at the moment? Here’s a little about each man and how they responded.

Breningmeyer is intense, focused and funny as hell. He’s also a big thinker. His response to my question seemingly had little to do with selling shiny green equipment. Instead, he said “We have to grow the game. If more people don’t play golf then none of what we do will matter.” I agreed, but I didn’t particularly buy into the institutional programs like Play Golf America or Get Golf Ready. He responded, essentially, that we as an industry have to try everything and Deere would support good ideas that would get the game healthy again.

Bob Randquist might be one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. I have no idea why he wanted to be president of GCSAA. He has nothing to prove to anyone and the time commitment of board service has been risky business for some. I think Bob does it because he’s quietly but intensely passionate about his profession. He said the topic right now is how to keep members in the association during tough times. “Good members are struggling to find money for dues.”

His comment was a quieter reflection of an earlier strong statement made by another attendee, Shawn Emerson of Desert Mountain Ranch, who made it clear that facilities can and should support superintendents and education way more than they do now. “Deere and the other companies give us tremendous support but clubs don’t. It has to change.”

I liked Rhett Evans from the get-go, but I like him even more after spending five hours on a hot, Iowa golf course with him. He’s calm, friendly and open. I suspect he’s a consensus builder ala Steve Mona. I think he’s a guy who listens to everyone equally, whether it’s an eager young turf student from Portland or a cynical old magazine editor from Cleveland. Rhett said he’s heard a lot of concern about the plight of assistant superintendents. “Jobs don’t open often the way they used to and they’re stuck in the middle.”

Pretty astute for a “new guy.” Already thinking about the next generation of members and leaders. And he’s right to do it. I’ve written about it before, but I fear we’ll lose a lot of good young people who simply find there’s no room above them on the ladder.

We didn’t scramble well enough to solve the industry’s problems over a lovely 4th of July weekend, but I felt good that the leaders of our industry are thinking beyond the daily grind…and they’re thinking about you.