Part Two of the Rockbottum Series on The State of Golf involves adaptation and suggested reading material from Pulitzer Prize winning author Jared Diamond.
If you don't have time to read the assignment, just watch this video.
New year, new digs. A time for grabbing life by the horns and doing something that you've never done before. How about expanding the mind, breaking down thought barriers... that is what this blog is going to be all about. It will serve as a utility cart full of ideas, and not necessarily all new. Maybe some are the same ones you used to think about when you were a young lad or lassie walk mowing greens or hand watering for what seemed like forever.
You know what I mean. We have all had thes
In the spirit of The State of The Union Address, I have endeavored to write and deliver a comprehensive analysis of the current state of affairs in golf.
Due to constant interruptions provided by GCS duties, I have been forced to split the State of Golf Address into several segments.
The first segment contains very little of the State of Golf Address, but some of the issues facing golf are presented in short form.
On the bright side, unlike the Presidential State of the Union, you will not h
In the spirit of The State of The Union Address, I have endeavored to write and deliver a comprehensive analysis of the current state of affairs in golf.
Due to constant interruptions provided by GCS duties, I have been forced to split the State of Golf Address into several segments.
Due to constant interruptions provided by GCS duties . . .
The first segment contains very little of the State of Golf Address, but some of the issues facing golf are presented in short form.
On the bri
Our GCM (Golf Course Marshal) is often accused of being lazy, ineffective and unwilling to do the job.
When the GCM attempts to speed play and enforce local rules, golfers howl in protest, calling the GCM a jack-booted power-crazed thug gleefully dealing out harassment and oppression.
If the GCM is polite, the players ignore GCM commands and refuse to comply; it is not unusual for golfers to see a polite GCM as a sign of weakness and follow up with threats and physical abuse.
Here at The Roc
Our GCM (Golf Course Marshal) is often accused of being lazy, ineffective and unwilling to do the job.
When the GCM attempts to speed play and enforce local rules, golfers howl in protest, calling the GCM a jack-booted power-crazed thug gleefully dealing out harassment and oppression.
If the GCM is polite, the players ignore GCM commands and refuse to comply; it is not unusual for golfers to see a polite GCM as a sign of weakness and follow up with threats and physical abuse.
. . . go
(I’m so completely baffled by a recent “change” at a club and the resulting communication around it that I needed to let some angst out of my fingers. You may be able to guess the details. Fine. Good for you. This isn’t really here to skewer someone..well maybe a bit. It’s high time we wake up and wonder why this sort of thing happens and what each of us, as individuals can do to keep the profession from being tumbled. Oh..and pay attention to this..you think this can’t happen to you as you get
(I'm so completely baffled by a recent change at a club and the resulting communication around it that I needed to let some angst out of my fingers. You may be able to guess the details. Fine. Good for you. This isn't really here to skewer someone..well maybe a bit. Its high time we wake up and wonder why this sort of thing happens and what each of us, as individuals can do to keep the profession from being tumbled. Oh..and pay attention to this..you think this can't happen to you as you get you
As the end of the year draws near I find myself in a typical reflective mode. Im thinking big picture about my year, my life, my work and the industry and world I am so eagerly engaged. A world that saw many in our golf turf industry turned upside down by a storm that thought it was in a NASCAR race and made a left hand turn.
Whether you believe that the climate is changing or not, you cannot escape the media blitz that inundates us with whys, wherefores and what ifs. The media blitz and t
As the end of the year draws near I find myself in a typical reflective mode. I’m thinking big picture about my year, my life, my work and the industry and world I am so eagerly engaged. A world that saw many in our golf turf industry turned upside down by a storm that thought it was in a NASCAR race and made a left hand turn.
Whether you “believe” that the climate is changing or not, you cannot escape the media blitz that inundates us with why’s, wherefore’s and what if’s. The media blitz an
Football coaches know their chances of making it to “Legendary Coach” status are greater if their team is talented, highly motivated, fast and smart.
The Golf Course Superintendent is in a similar situation. It can be very difficult to reach the top ranks of Golf Course Superintendents while saddled with a poor team.
That’s my excuse.
Everyone in this industry knows what a positive influence a talented equipment tech can have on a golf course. The highly motivated assistant superintendent
Football coaches know their chances of making it to Legendary Coach status are greater if their team is talented, highly motivated, fast and smart.
The Golf Course Superintendent is in a similar situation. It can be very difficult to reach the top ranks of Golf Course Superintendents while saddled with a poor team.
That's my excuse.
Everyone in this industry knows what a positive influence a talented equipment tech can have on a golf course. The highly motivated assistant superint
Recently, Peter McCormick, TurfNet Commander, posted a wildly interesting video in the TurfNet Forum, a classic film on “The Early Days of Greenkeeping“.
While watching the old film, I remembered I had some old film footage stashed away in the Rockbottum CC vault, acquired during my Classic Golf Architecture fanatic period. The footage showed our local muni here in Griffin, Georgia, during the earliest construction phase, in 1932.
I located the film and edited it down for internet attention s
Recently, Peter McCormick, TurfNet Commander, posted a wildly interesting video in the TurfNet Forum, a classic film on The Early Days of Greenkeeping.
While watching the old film, I remembered I had some old film footage stashed away in the Rockbottum CC vault, acquired during my Classic Golf Architecture fanatic period. The footage showed our local muni here in Griffin, Georgia, during the earliest construction phase, in 1932.
I located the film and edited it down for internet attenti
At Rockbottum CC, our green fee for a weekday walker is $10. We don’t get very many walking players, but if someone wanted to play several times a week, it would be affordable.
The fees go up for riders, but the amount is still minimal when compared to other courses in our area, especially the clubs that went millions in debt to attract new members with upgraded clubhouse facilities.
Rockbottum CC doesn’t have the slick shine of our expensive neighbors, but we have one thing they don’t: Play
At Rockbottum CC, our green fee for a weekday walker is $10. We dont get very many walking players, but if someone wanted to play several times a week, it would be affordable.
The fees go up for riders, but the amount is still minimal when compared to other courses in our area, especially the clubs that went millions in debt to attract new members with upgraded clubhouse facilities.
Rockbottum CC doesnt have the slick shine of our expensive neighbors, but we have one thing they dont: P
Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday at Rockbottum CC, mostly because almost every Thanksgiving morning since 1973, we have engaged in a hard-fought, knock ’em down and drag ’em out golf match.
It’s a two-man team, match play event and the rules are simple: To play, you have to be a Wilson, either in the golf business or a veteran of the golf world, and your partner has to be your brother. For the first few years, it was known as The Wilson Brothers Championship of the Universe, but it got bi
Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday at Rockbottum CC, mostly because almost every Thanksgiving morning since 1973, we have engaged in a hard-fought, knock em down and drag em out golf match.
It's a two-man team, match play event and the rules are simple: To play, you have to be a Wilson, either in the golf business or a veteran of the golf world, and your partner has to be your brother. For the first few years, it was known as The Wilson Brothers Championship of the Universe,
but it go
The growing concern over Bacterial Etiolation has raised the stakes on the already high stakes game of high intensity putting surface management. There is little doubt “something” is causing the decline and death of putting surface turf and the unknown is what has left many desperate for a solution.
Early stages of Bacterial Etiolation
Desperation often can lead to questionable decisions. One such decision in my judgement is the off-label use of antibiotics. If you are wondering how bad this
The growing concern over Bacterial Etiolation has raised the stakes on the already high stakes game of high intensity putting surface management. There is little doubt something is causing the decline and death of putting surface turf and the unknown is what has left many desperate for a solution.
Desperation often can lead to questionable decisions. One such decision in my judgement is the off-label use of antibiotics. If you are wondering how bad this might turn consider the current situ
The Rockbottum CC Research Team has released the results of tests carried out on a Varmint Vandalism Deterrent first suggested on The TurfNet Forum.
As pressure mounts for golf courses to use 100% humane, organic, minimal carbon footprint methods for pest management, Rockbottum CC leads the way by carefully examining every possible solution.
