Super Notes

GCSAA Class A golf operations manager Mark J. Woodward, CGCS is hosting the 108th U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) in San Diego, Calif.

The USGA has also prepared a fact sheet that includes a variety of information about the tournament and golf course. To see it click here.

Superintendents in the news

XM Satellite Radio, June 11: “U.S. Open preview,” live radio interview with Mark Woodward, CGCS, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego, host of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., and recently hired GCSAA CEO.

Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, June 11: “Golf’s busiest worker,” Tom Keegan column about Mark Woodward, CGCS, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego, host of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., and recently hired GCSAA CEO.

Binghamton (N.Y.) Press & Sun-Bulletin, June 10: “Upstate favorite Sluman returning to En-Joie,” preview of the Champions Tour’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Open at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, N.Y., featuring Andrew Cain, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

Schenectady (N.Y.) Daily Gazette, June 10: “Sons give Bigley a push”, article about three veteran local players qualifying for July’s New York State Amateur Golf Championship June 9 at Ballston Spa (N.Y.) Country Club, featuring Rob Bigley, CGCS at Pinehaven Country Club in Guilderland, N.Y., whose sons sent in his entry without telling him and then he posted a five-over-par 76 to tie for seventh and qualify for the state am … which he’s hosting at Pinehaven.

Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review, June 10: “Flood of optimism that play will go on,” column by Mark Tupper about Stevens Creek flooding Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth, Ill., four days before hosting the Michelob Ultra Duramed Futures Players Championship, featuring GCSAA member Greg Foley, superintendent, who saw carp swimming along the flooded 15th fairway.

San Diego Union-Tribune, June 10: “Torrey Pines’ early-rising brigade hopes new manager won’t shut them out,” story about the “Dawn Patrol,” a group of golfers who camp out in La Jolla, Calif.’s Torrey Pines Golf Course parking lot all night for a place in line to get the early tee times, featuring Mark Woodward, CGCS, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego and recently hired GCSAA CEO, who was called in to break up a fight between two Dawn Patrol members a few weeks before hosting the U.S. Open.

Arizona Republic, June 10: “Woodward makes mark at Torrey Pines,” John Davis feature on Mark Woodward, CGCS, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego, host of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., and recently hired GCSAA CEO.

Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette, June 10: “Well-known tree on 18th hole at Kalamazoo Country Club severely damaged in storms,” article about a large, landmark 100-year-old sugar maple tree guarding the left side of the 18th green at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Country Club being in bad health after losing half its branches in a bad storm June 6, featuring John Fulling, CGCS.

XM Satellite Radio, June 7: “PGA Tour Live,” radio interview on the PGA Tour Channel with Jim Thomas, CGCS at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., host of the PGA Tour’s Stanford St. Jude Championship.

Memphis Commercial Appeal, June 9: “It’s mow time, and tending to course a labor of love,” feature on Jim Thomas, CGCS at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., host of the PGA Tour’s Stanford St. Jude Championship.

(Clark County, Wash.) The Columbian, June 8: “A big green thumbs up,” feature on Alan Nielsen, CGCS at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Wash., and his staff.

Asheville (N.C.) Citizen Times, June 8: “Grass is greener at the Muni, thanks to new watering system,” article about the new $234,000 irrigation system at Asheville (N.C.) Municipal Golf Course that has dramatically improved course conditions and will cut the facility’s annual water bill in half, featuring Robbie Brake, GCSAA Class A superintendent.

San Diego Union-Tribune, June 7: “City’s jewel of a golf course to be polished,” report about the $440,000 renovations planned for Coronado (Calif.) Municipal Golf Course, featuring GCSAA Class A superintendent Dave Jones.

(Olympia, Wash.) The Olympian, June 6: “Chambers Bay superintendent always thinking ahead,” feature on GCSAA member David Weinecke, superintendent at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash., host of the 2010 U.S. Amateur and 2015 U.S. Open.

Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star, June 5: “Golf courses feel sting of rising gas prices,” article about Lincoln, Neb., golf courses having to cut back on mowing, staffing, fertilizer, etc., because of rising gas prices, featuring Jeff Gasseling, GCSAA Class A superintendent at Highlands Golf Course and Alan Culver, CGCS at Mahoney Golf Course.

Nanaimo (B.C.) Daily News, June 5: “Man’s best friend isn’t just a pet,” article about Meg, an eight-year-old border collie who accompanies GCSAA member Garth Sjolie, superintendent at Nanaimo (B.C.) Country Club, every day to chase geese from the greens.

WorldGolf.com, June 5: “Torrey Pines superintendent chief Mark Woodward projects even-par for U.S. Open winner, ” Chris Baldwin column about Mark Woodward, CGCS, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego, and his staff’s preparations for the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif.

Dubai Express, June 5: “Summer time, but the living’s not easy,” article about the challenges golf course superintendents face transitioning back to warm-season grasses each spring in the Middle East, where winter quickly turns to summer.

Tulsa (Okla.) World, June 5: “Hidden gem,” notebook entry about progress on recently built Emerald Falls Golf Club in Broken Arrow, Okla., featuring GCSAA member Tim Schaefer, superintendent.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 5: “Oakmont not resting on its laurels,” status report on Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club about its preparations for the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open, featuring John Zimmers, CGCS.

GeoffShackelford.com, June 5: “Greetings from San Diego, the week before The Open edition,” blog post by Geoff Shackelford about a sneak preview of Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., a week before hosting the U.S. Open, featuring GCSAA members Pat Gross, USGA agronomist; Candace Combs, CGCS at the South Course; Andy Slack of Spot Water Management; and Mark Woodward, CGCS, golf operations manager for the city of San Diego and new GCSAA CEO as of July 1.

Chicago Weekly Journals, June 4: “Leuzinger finds joy in greenhouses,” feature on GCSAA member and former superintendent Jeff Leuzinger, CGCS and certified professional arborist, owner and president of Nature’s Way Landscaping and Tree Care in Hampshire, Ill.

Golf Inc., June: “The world of Greg Norman,” feature on World Golf Hall of Fame member, Great White Shark Enterprises chairman and CEO Greg Norman, GCSAA 2008 Old Tom Morris Award winner, Environmental Institute for Golf trustee and Advisory Council chairman.

Water Efficiency, May/June: “Water savings under par,” article in the journal for water conservation professionals about GCSAA’s Environmental Profile Project and its water use survey results, featuring the Georgia GCSA and its work with state government agencies to create a statewide water management plan; and Anthony Williams, CGCS at Stone Mountain (Ga.) Golf Club and two-time GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Award national winner. 

Water Efficiency, May/June: “Drought and demand-side water conservation,” article in the journal for water conservation professionals about the success of demand-side water conservation being related to a variety of factors, ranging from geological location and climate to imagination and enthusiasm, featuring Bill Rohret, CGCS, director of maintenance at Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas.

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