Authors
The Art of Maintenance
Art and maintenance… two things that are not normally associated with each other. For many, maintenance is a mundane task, vacuous of thought and abundant in labor. On the golf course maintenance is taken to the next level. Superintendents have learned to shed the myopic view that sometimes accompanies repetition and look deeper into the business of maintenance. Timing, precision, and calculation, are all components of a well rounded plan that have their roots based in the art of maintenance. […]
Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Planning
As a wedding planner I get a lot of feedback from brides on things they wished they had done for their wedding and some things they wished they hadn’t spent so much time on. Planning a wedding is no easy task but it is a lot of fun for most! During the planning period it is easy to get a head of yourself and out a lot on your plate because you think you will have plenty of time…that time […]
Craft Beer: The Ever Changing Tap
We all know that brands like Budweiser, Coors Light, Heineken and so many others will never be a thing of the past, but could they be competing with some local craft beers? In the past few years there has been a climb in the number of craft breweries popping up in our communities, and it has begun to spark an interest and even create a hobby with many beer drinkers. As someone who enjoys going to new local restaurants I […]
POA – A Seed Head Unlike Any Other
May is a great month; the sun is bright and shining high in the sky, the threat of frost is all but gone and flowers are in full bloom all around us. But while May is one of my favorite months, there is a down side during this time period that I must deal with every new season, Poa seed heads. For many, the term poa seed heads means nothing, but for those that do know the term you are […]
What Trends Will You Be Following This Season?
As somebody who loves attending weddings as much as I love to plan them there is nothing better than seeing what brides are doing at their weddings and what might be trending during that time. Year after year we see what trends brides are doing and what trends the wedding industry wants to see. It would take you a couple days to read through all of the trends that are arising, so I went thorough and picked out some of […]
July 28, 2016
Last evening I watched the Golf Channel’s live presentation: “This Week at the PGA Championship”. During the telecast I heard one of the commentators remark that the PGA was once played as a head to head match play completion and, for many of the past championships, played at match play, the stymie rule was in effect. I, as an older and life-long golfer, immediately knew about the stymie rule. But, I immediately wondered if many of the other viewers had […]
July 19, 2016
A good chef or cook is both an artist and scientist. In this blog post I will focus on the artist side of the chef. There is no question that people eat with their eyes. Many chefs take their time perfecting their skills on presentation. It is a way for the chef to demonstrate the pride in his or her work. The plate, platter or table the food is on is the canvas, the food itself is the paint and […]
July 13, 2016
Golf is a social game that seldom ends after the last putt is holed on the 18th green. Virtually every round is replayed over a cold beer in the grillroom, or as we golfers refer to it… the Nineteenth-Hole. And, with the onslaught of the micro-breweries coupled with a more sophisticated golfer/consumer, the selection of drafts offered at a course’s Nineteenth-Hole can no longer be just a simple domestic light beer. Don’t misunderstand me, there remain those who prefer the […]
July 5, 2016
Bunker Sand A few years ago I was invited to play a golf course in Maine named Belgrade Lakes. Located about 12 miles due north of Augusta, a bit off the beaten path, Belgrade Lakes is a lovely course. I found the layout, designed by Scotsman Clive Clark (he also did Lake Winnipesaukee Country Club), to be an enjoyable play through rolling terrain. Beautifully conditioned greens, tees and fairways but, from the very first hole, the most striking feature of […]
June 28, 2016
For many, the dog days of summer signify a return to easy living; vacation at the beach, barbeque in the back yard, cold drinks by the camp fire and of course, golf! Summer is an amazing time of year to be on a golf course, I have logged many. The warm temperatures bring about a variety of bustling life both plants and animals, all of which I enjoy seeing as I go about my work. However there is a life […]
June 21, 2016
After a round do you ever say to yourself: “I played OK but I could have scored better”. Maybe it was the putt(s) that lipped out, or the errant shot that found a pond. Either way, you feel that your score should have been better. Well… How do you improve that score? Practicing seems to be the obvious answer; that, or taking a lesson. But, before you take the step to lowering your scores, I suggest you first determine which […]
June 14, 2016
The U.S Open at Oakmont — Green Speed and the Stimp Meter This week’s U.S Open championship will be contested just outside Pittsburg, PA at Oakmont Country Club. It will be the ninth U.S. Open hosted at this famed venue. Virtually all of golf’s aficionados consider Oakmont one of the most difficult courses in America; a fantastic facility to host the nation’s most prestigious golf championship. Narrow fairways, deep bunkers and punishing rough… but, the real challenge of Oakmont is […]
June 7, 2016
Have you ever had a hole in one? Tradition is that the player who hits a hole in one buys a round for everyone. I was curious about this tradition and looked into it and its history. There is no definitive event marking the first round bought by a player acing a hole but may assume it was the result of exuberant golfers celebrating their accomplishment with others and eventually became customary to buy a round for everyone. Naturally […]
May 31, 2016
One of the unique aspects of golf is that it is a game of integrity. There are no umpires or referees; quite simply… there is no on course supervision. Instead, the game relies on the integrity of the individual – the golfer – to show consideration to others, abide by the rules and to have respect for the course. Over my more than 30 years as a golf course superintendent I’ve seen virtually every imaginable type golfer behavior… some good… […]
June 28, 2016
For many, the dog days of summer signify a return to easy living; vacation at the beach, barbeque in the back yard, cold drinks by the camp fire and of course, golf! Summer is an amazing time of year to be on a golf course, I have logged many. The warm temperatures bring about a variety of bustling life both plants and animals, all of which I enjoy seeing as I go about my work. However there is a life […]
June 21, 2016
After a round do you ever say to yourself: “I played OK but I could have scored better”. Maybe it was the putt(s) that lipped out, or the errant shot that found a pond. Either way, you feel that your score should have been better. Well… How do you improve that score? Practicing seems to be the obvious answer; that, or taking a lesson. But, before you take the step to lowering your scores, I suggest you first determine which […]
June 14, 2016
The U.S Open at Oakmont — Green Speed and the Stimp Meter This week’s U.S Open championship will be contested just outside Pittsburg, PA at Oakmont Country Club. It will be the ninth U.S. Open hosted at this famed venue. Virtually all of golf’s aficionados consider Oakmont one of the most difficult courses in America; a fantastic facility to host the nation’s most prestigious golf championship. Narrow fairways, deep bunkers and punishing rough… but, the real challenge of Oakmont is […]
June 7, 2016
Have you ever had a hole in one? Tradition is that the player who hits a hole in one buys a round for everyone. I was curious about this tradition and looked into it and its history. There is no definitive event marking the first round bought by a player acing a hole but may assume it was the result of exuberant golfers celebrating their accomplishment with others and eventually became customary to buy a round for everyone. Naturally […]
May 31, 2016
One of the unique aspects of golf is that it is a game of integrity. There are no umpires or referees; quite simply… there is no on course supervision. Instead, the game relies on the integrity of the individual – the golfer – to show consideration to others, abide by the rules and to have respect for the course. Over my more than 30 years as a golf course superintendent I’ve seen virtually every imaginable type golfer behavior… some good… […]
May 24, 2016
Why are couples now looking for a Woodland Themed Wedding? Well, it starts with their personalities, outside activities, inspiration and vision of what their perfect day would be. Woodland Themed Weddings are gaining more and more popularity, as this is an amazing theme for an outdoor soiree that can be brought indoors. With all of the natural beauty and elements that you could utilize such as burlap, lace, wood based centerpieces, moss, tree branches and seasonal flowers, add a few […]
May 17, 2016
When going to the driving range/practice facility and you take a look around. What is the most commonly used golf club? That’s right…you guessed it…The Driver! It is the longest club in the bag…It hits the ball far…it makes that great smash sound when you hit the ball…and best of all, the golf ball is teed up! Of course, when we play it is important to hit the tee shot well. However, there are several parts of the game that […]
May 10, 2016
During the summer months of my golfing youth I loved playing a late day “twilight” nine with my father. We’d arrive at the course between 5:00 and 6:00 PM and always find a group of evening golfers to join with for a game. And, as the season moved to the latter part of the summer, we’d frequently finish these twilight rounds in the dusk of the soon to be darkness of night. The ninth hole at the course we played […]
May 3, 2016
Use my “Boy Scout “system to host, and still be able to enjoy these events. Every year, here at The Oaks, among our most popular events are our special “Holiday Buffets”. On Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving we host upwards of 600 guests. Yes – 600 guests going through the buffet line! And, as executive chef, it’s my responsibility to make certain that the guest experience is exceptional from the arrival of the first patron to the time that […]