TurfNet Superintendent of the Year 2008
Finalist Profile:
Jake Renner, CGCS, The Legend at Brandybrook, Wales, Wis.
 Members at the Legend at Brandybrook are so enamored with the job Jake Renner, CGCS, does tending the turf at their course that 80 of them banded together to nominate him for TurfNet's 2008 Superintendent of the Year Award. Then, rather than send him to the Golf Industry Show in New Orleans, a group of them decided to take him on a golf trip to Las Vegas the same week.
Renner, 57, has been at the course in Wales, Wis., since construction began in 2002. Nearly to a man, the membership at the club has been thrilled with the job he and his staff have done keeping Brandybrook's A-4 greens in top condition.
"Jake Renner has created a world-class course in less than six years that is a great challenge for any golfer," wrote member Lyle Orwig in his nomination of Renner for superintendent of the year. "Our A-4 greens generally (roll) at 12 or greater, and roll true. Not easy, just true. Doing that for two weeks for a PGA (Tour) event is one thing, but to do it all summer long is quite the challenge for any superintendent."
His skills at turf management were put to the test last year when the club received record rainfall for the month of June - in two days.
A total of 17 inches of rain fell the first weekend of June, leaving parts of the golf course several feet under water and washing out bunkers throughout the property. Holes 2 and 3 are across the street from the rest of the Brandybrook layout, and an 18-inch culvert that goes under the road had backed up, leaving those two holes under nearly 5 feet of water.
"When I came to work on Sunday morning, you could only see the top of the flag on the No. 3 green," Renner said.
Renner and his staff had worked throughout the weekend to secure 12 pumps to get rid of the water. He and club officials quickly worked with the village president to get the OK that allowed them to pump water over the road and into another tunnel to relieve the flooding.
Staff members, including Renner and his assistants, manned the pumps throughout the night to ensure the course drained. Within three days the course was drained, only to have another storm pass through that dumped nearly 5 additional inches of rain, and causing the course to flood again. This time, 3 feet of water covered the area, and Renner and Brandybrook members thought the club's A-4 bentgrass greens were doomed. It took another 18 hours to drain the course the second time.
"I wanted to get the greens breathing again as soon as possible," Renner said. "I wasn't concerned about the fairways."
While Renner and his staff worked to save the course, the situation tested the members' confidence in him.
"What he had to endure was pretty intense," said Brandybrook head professional Dave Bobber. "A lot of people were pointing fingers at him.
"He made his own culvert. There were pipes everywhere, and this guy knows which way the water flows. He knows the people in the community he needs to talk to to get things done."
The second flood in a week pushed Renner and his crew to the breaking point.
"Tee boxes and fairways were under water; there were washed out bunkers everywhere. It was total chaos," Bobber said. "This golf course never floods."
Renner estimates that he and his staff pumped more than 10 million gallons of water from the course that week.
While pumping water from the course, Renner managed to keep 15 holes open for play. The flooded holes were reopened within three days of the draining them for the second time.
"I have belonged to other courses and private clubs in the past, and never have I had the pleasure of being associated with a finer golf course superintendent," wrote member Ray Arndt. "His expertise, positive, can-do attitude, ability t motivate and develop his staff, excellent stewardship of our course, tireless work ethic and high-touch approach with all of our golf members not only helps improve our overall golf experience, he makes the experience for all of us. He is truly an honor to his profession."
The Superintendent of the Year award, sponsored by PrimoMAXX® from Syngenta, is presented annually by TurfNet to one outstanding superintendent selected from among those nominated by club officials, course owners, members, casual golfers, or staff members.
The winner will be announced at GIS in New Orleans, and will travel with a guest to Ireland for a week-long golf course tour, courtesy of Syngenta.
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