The 100^th PGA Championship was held in the Show-Me State, as Bellerive Country Club hosted its third major championship. Certified golf course superintendent Carlos Arraya was in fantastic spirits the entire week and did an excellent job representing the industry in various media situations (as seen below on the Golf Channel), as well as in his interactions with staff and volunteers. He was always on hand to answer questions and went above and beyond to ensure the volunteers felt at home.



One of the unique features of the week were the daily presentations by Carlos himselfand members of the grounds staff. The presentations provided insight on how the Bellerive team prepared for the tournament, tackled obstacles, as well as working with the PGA, various vendors and industry partners. In fact, during a rain delay in the early portion of the week, Carlos, and assistant superintendents Jared Brewster, Nick White and Matthew Lennon hosted a panel discussion and interacted with the volunteers addressing questions and providing info on their unique roles leading up to the tournament. These were great ways to connect with the volunteers, educate, and address questions many had about what goes into hosting a major tournament. Every detail of the volunteer experience was planned out well in advance, ensuring everything ran smoothly during championship week. I can't say enough about the communication leading up to the event, and the information provided to volunteers.



Even with the brutal summer weather in the St. Louis area, the course was in impeccable condition. Thanks to Carlos and his staff, the course provided a world-class venue for the game’s top players. It was great to work with so many industry professionals from around the country and represent GCSAA at the final major of the year. Hats off to Carlos Arraya, CGCS, Jared Brewster, Nick White, Matt Lennon and the entire crew for making the 100th PGA Championship one for the ages.