Jump to content
  • entries
    514
  • comments
    765
  • views
    3,995,958

About this blog

Randy and the gang at Rockbottum Country Club pontificate on Rockbottum wisdom and skeletal golf, among other madness.

Entries in this blog

Steve Mason, Sky Valley Georgia

Steve Mason, TurfNet member, is the golf course superintendent of Sky Valley Country Club, a stunningly beautiful "hidden gem" of a golf course, tucked into the mountains of Georgia at nearly 3500 feet.     Unlike many courses in the Appalachians, Sky Valley was skillfully positioned in the gentlest part of the valley and lacks the claustrophobic feel of a layout that was narrowly carved into the side of a mountain with dynamite.  The pastoral view of the valley is magnificent and alluring.  (

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

When Howling Mad Golfers Tried To Kill Me*

Have you ever found yourself fleeing through a heavily forested golf course at midnight, pursued by a mob of enraged golfers with guns?   It was the summer of '71.  Burnt Run CC (not the actual name) was a small town southern pseudo-country club inhabited mostly by good people, poor golfers, and rural socialites.  On one fateful night, something terrifying took place and the result was Dad's forcible abdication from his role as Burnt Run Pro/GCS/GM/F&B and Recreation Director.   Prior to

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

It's About To Get Real, You Ready?

When I was coaching defensive backs for a small high school, one of the more entertaining benefits of that job was hearing the players talk to one another across the line.  The easiest conversation to hear--when I wasn't yelling coverage adjustments at 130 decibels--was usually initiated by the cornerback closest to our sideline.   Sometimes, when the offense was lined up in a spread with receivers all over the place, I could hear the D-line growling and the outside linebackers barking--but th

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Our Favorite Success Indicator

In our modern world of performance measurement standards, quantifiable results and outcome-based incremental bonus/promotion charts, one thing remains as the key indicator of success:     Your truck.      

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Been In The Saddle Too Long?

Been wondering if it might be time to check out a career shift?  Something different, like sales rep, or something easy . . . like golf pro?   Here's a short film to help you spot the warning signs that come from too much time in the saddle.  

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

What Time Is It? It's Irrigation Time!

Here is a remastered version of "The Rapid Deployment Irrigation Vehicle", a short training film guaranteed to help you get ready for summer.   This film stars Buddy, Dave, RW and several billion cicadas.  

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

The Cupcake Golfer Conundrum

The first one to identify the subliminal message hidden in this film will win an autographed photo of Momma and her frying pan.   You can post your answer in the comment section, or if you don't want "others" to know you watch Rockbottum TV, use the TurfNet Private Message system in the upper right corner of the screen.   Alphabet Elitists attempting to maintain their anonymity should use their NSA connections to dig up my personal email.*   *Note:  As always, do not use private email to s

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Rivermont To Host Organic Golf Field Day in July

Mark Hoban and Chris Cupit of Rivermont GC, will be hosting an Organics and Native Grasses Field Day on 19 July, 2016.   The "Mad Scientist" of Rivermont will reveal the results of his envelope-pushing research, as well as provide breakfast and lunch, supposedly of an organic nature.  (No worms, however.)   Topics will include: Biological trials on greens Compost trials (thermal and vermi) on fairways UGA fertilizer trials (organics, synthetics and inorganics) on fairways Native grasses

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Ready For Post Big El Nino?

WARNING:  Contains no actual science, only anecdotal ravings of a madman.  Not responsible for migraines or drinking binge caused by reading this.   During my time on turf, I experienced several El Nino patterns and at least two were The Big Ones.  I didn't know they were El Ninos at the time, but I can look back at my extensive journals, cross-reference with the interweb and clearly see the tell-tale signs of Big El were there.   For me, El Nino was a pattern of winter rain, freight-trainin

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

You Learn Important Stuff From Working Golf

Early Saturday morning, about 0130hrs, I awoke to the scream of tires on our narrow and treacherous mountain driveway, followed by yelling and then pounding on our door.   I answered the door, wearing not much more than my headlamp, glowing red in the center of my forehead, thinking, "This is why I moved away from Atlanta."   A nervous young man stood staring into my red light, probably wondering what horror movie he had just landed in, then blurted out, "Help!  My truck is about to fall off

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

The Real Reason Rockbottum CC Skipped GIS!

Yesterday, as the Rockbottum crew enjoyed snow, high winds and cold, a famous Golf Course Superintendent called us from San Diego and taunted us with tales of warm sun, ocean breezes and 83 degrees.   To be polite, we pretended to be envious.  But the real truth is the endless parties, black-tie galas and ballroom dancing associated with attending GIS runs counter to our simple philosophy.   (Also, we hate hot weather, prefer snow and don't own any top hats and tails.)   But to show there'

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Terrific Golf Career Mistakes

While producing training films for Special Ops at Fort Bragg, I learned three important facts about training:   1.  You must show the trainee the proper techniques and procedures required to accomplish the mission.   2.  The trainee needs to see the negative outcome of not following procedures.   3.  You must add something unexpected, even goofy, to the training film, or the trainee will not pay close attention.     (In the military, lack of attention to detail was usually the result of

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

The Artie Hoosemun Incident

The following is a Ydnar Vengeance Bedtime Story rated For Golf Course Superintendents only.   Of all the complex problems the GCS faces every day, most can be solved by studying how others have handled that particular problem.  But, once in a career, along comes a problem so difficult, it requires advice from seasoned professionals . . . or the act of a madman.   Once upon a time, 40 years ago, Dad got entangled in the Artie Hoosemun Incident, and to this day, I still have not figured out h

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Ludell on The Sissifyin' of Golf

Cousin Ludell expounds on his theory "The Sissification of The American Male Golfer", while Dave tests his prototype 'Rain Skirt for Golf' and Roy brilliantly figures out how to increase golf participation by not just thinking outside the box, but getting rid of the box.  

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Rockbottum Pro Shop Employment Test

In an effort to attract younger employees to Rockbottum, (we're all over 50) we have abandoned the traditional written job application/background check/blood test (no one could pass those tests anyway) in favor of a newer, hipper, more "with it" kind of social media internet inspired video employment test.**   If you're up to it, take the Rockbottum Pro Shop Employment Video Test and see how you do.  Questions are worth 25 points, with a bonus question weighted at 50 points.   **Note:  This

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Please, Somebody Help Me

I need help.  No, not the psychiatric kind, too late for that.  I need advice from the most innovative problem solver on the planet, the Golf Course Superintendent.   For over a year, I've been engaged in a bitter struggle with my neighbors, an inconsiderate group of loudmouth, sex-crazed members of the Order of Anura.  What a bunch of toads.   Some durn fool constructed one of those waterfall ponds--yes, the kind I've been trying to ridicule out of existence in the golf world for 25 years--

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

A GCS Christmas Story

Our first Christmas with Dad as a pure Golf Course Superintendent was a little lean.  After several years of serving as a Pro/Super, the debt load was suffocating him.  At Dinky Little Fake Country Clubs--we survived four DLFCC in four years--the Pro/Super often had to finance the pro shop inventory, F&B, and golf maintenance supplies of a time-sensitive nature.   (The DLFCC business plan typically delayed non-essential items like fertilizer, irrigation and mower parts, while demanding tim

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

The 10 Years of Rockbottum Film Festival Winner:

On December 20, Rockbottum CC Films will be ten years old.     For the last few weeks, we have been holding a virtual film festival to display a few of our favorite films.   Today we present "Golf Techno-Phobia", as our grand prize winner.  This film not only summarizes the Rockbottum Theory of Golf, but manages to stir in our fear that technology has run amok and brought a new level of "sissification" to golf.   I have often repeated the wise words of A.W. Tillinghast regarding "the ideal

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Roy, Oscar and The Dragon

Rockbottum CC welcomes Oscar The Yellow Lab to the TurfNet family.   Meet Oscar in this short film that also questions the credibility of internet science.  

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

The Best Minds of TurfNet on The AGCS/Workforce Dilemma

The best minds of TurfNet have recently converged on the AGCS/Workforce problem facing golf, determined to offer a solid solution.     High-powered brains like Chris Tritabaugh, Dave Wilber, Brian Nettz, Matt Leverich, Ken Thompson, Brian Benedict and his ownself, Peter McCormick, have all stepped into the fray.   With the sharpest minds we have working hard to create a productive dialogue, it's only fair we should allow the dullest mind to weigh in . . . sort of a neural counterbalance.  

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson

Before You Buy A Drone This Christmas . . .

In October, the FAA announced a drone operator had been fined $1.9 million for "reckless" operations.   Drones will now be registered, so the FAA will know who to send to Gitmo when some doofus flying a drone in restricted airspace knocks down an airliner.   I know this is entirely possible, because for several years prior to the birth of the stabilized quadcopter, I experimented with various remote control (RC) aerial camera platforms.  As a registered doofus, (RD) I crashed them all, into

Randy Wilson

Randy Wilson


×
×
  • Create New...