I expect everyone had a happy holiday season and wish all a happy, prosperous and successful new year.

 

Do you know there is no such thing as “Tee Boxes”. The correct term, according to the United States Golf Association, is “Teeing Ground”.

How do you like this one: American Society of Golf Course Architects former President John LaFoy says “I’ve seen more golf courses improved by hurricanes than by Greens Committees”.

A number of Golf Clubs will be thinking about course improvements over this winter. Sound advice would be to obtain the services of a qualified golf course architect. It will be money well spent. Too many golf clubs go with their best players to improve their golf layout. While these people mean well they are not a true representative of the total membership. A well known nationally recognized golf course architect who is still active told me low handicap golfers have ruined more golf courses with their design ideas than they’ve ever helped.

A well known Golf Professional in Regina during the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s was Fred Fletcher. He was an excellent player despite weighing around 120 lbs. and having a withered leg as a result of childhood Polio. Peter Semko and Pete Lukoni took lessons from him. He and his wife Daisy had 4 children appropriately named Par, Stymie, Dormie and Birdie. In 1926 “The Canadian Golfer” noted he was “a likeable unassuming player, entirely free from the affectations which afflict some of the Pros”.

The New York Times says the average golf score has not changed for decades. This led golf commentator David Feherty to say “Maybe we’re all supposed to stink at this…. it’s our punishment for playing this insane game.”

Playwright George Bernard Shaw wrote “Except during the nine months before he draws his first breath, no man manages his affairs as well as a tree does. It caught my eye, that’s all.

 

I’m part of a golfing segment affectionately known as “the hacks”. We like to play the game, but we aren’t very good at it. We are the majority of those people who play golf and you’d think golf courses would bid good riddance to us. But guess what? Golf needs us more now than ever!

Do you  know golfers have been experimenting with placing the golf bag on wheels since the early 1900’s. However, the pull-cart was not commercialized until after the  2nd World War and it was an instant success! “Wheels” not only reduced the ranks of caddies, they all but exterminated them as a species.

In the early days of golf, caddies were club carriers and coaches. They were the forerunners of the modern pro. A professional meant a professional caddy and the rules permitted only the caddy to give advice to the side he was caddying for about clubs to use and shots to play.

In 1894 the United States Golf Association was formed with six golf clubs. By the summer of 1900, the USGA had 982 courses. 66 were 6 holers, 715 had 9 holes and 91 were 18 hole lengths.

Sparrows first came to North America in 1860. They were brought from England to help control the insects in the U.S.A. The reason there are so many is that they haven’t any predators. Crows are the closest but they are like me… not nearly quick enough.

Just read a little tidbit about Mary, Queen of Scots. She was addicted to golf so much that in 1567, when she was informed of her husband being murdered she went ahead and played a round of golf. Cold-hearted Mary got hers though when she was tried for treason. She was found guilty and penalized one stroke… of an axe. Wonder if she had her head down?

More and more, Golf Clubs are constructing forward tees. New Clubs have 5 sets of tees. The forward tees are used by beginner golfers and youngsters, higher handicap players and by seniors. The tees are gaining in popularity, bringing the yardage down to around 5000 yards. Shorter golf courses enable people to have fun, particularly those senior players who in most cases, built the golf courses.

How many people remembered those West Point Greens Aerators? What a brute of a machine that was. It usually handled us instead of us handling the machine. The only person that could control this pig was Sid Puddicombe. That’s why we hasn’t got a neck.

I’ve read a truck load of material regarding the facts about Golf Course Pesticides and this always comes to the forefront—It is very important to note that pesticides and fertilizers are not used primarily for aesthetic reasons. First and foremost, they are tools that help ensure a healthy playing surface for the game. Furthermore, they help protect a valuable and ecologically important piece of land.

I believe Golf Courses will have a tough time this coming summer. Summer staff will be difficult to find; costs continue to go up as does the demand for perfect conditions; some clubs haven’t a Golf Superintendent and chances of finding a qualified one are slim; the price of turf equipment has gone sky high and some Clubs will have to look carefully at leasing (read the article below for some good information).