The finishing touches in the Woodpecker Grill at Chalk Mountain

The clubhouse renovation was completed in 2009 and it is hard to imagine that is was that long ago.  Somehow it seems like it was just yesterday!  The renovation changed the interior of the Woodpecker Grill from a carpeted floor to a stone tile and the acoustics were dramatically different.  Although the new look was very attractive to the eye, the sound was nearly unbearable when three or more people were inside the building because there was little to dampen the sound.  We did receive a few negative comments about the noise levels, but overall the feedback was very positive and the space has been well utilized.

Joel listened to the feedback and felt it was time to reduce the noise levels to make the space more inviting.  He sought out the help of a local golfer who also dabbles with interior design and the connection was made and the ideas began to flow.  In the photos you can see the window treatments and new bench seating that encompasses the entire space.  The seating alone really adds to the restaurant as it has nearly doubled the seating ability.  Three flat screen TV's were installed to provide viewing from all corners of the room, golf paintings created by one of the "regular players" at Chalk were hung on the walls, table tops were refinished, and finally a new coat of paint was added to the walls to tie everything together.  Not only does it look fantastic, but the window treatments and upholstery on the bench seating have eliminated the noise.  The result is a restaurant with a new look that can compete with their culinary delights and of course that great grilled hot dog!

FREE GOLF for women at all SLO County Golf Courses

June is Women's golf month and we have always celebrated with free women's clinics and specials.  This year we wanted to do something truly to spark the interest of women within our community and the idea we came up with is free golf for women for the entire month of June.  That's right FREE GOLF for women is available 7 days per week after 10 am, but is not available for tournaments, club events, or outings.  Our courses welcome women to the facilities and we are opening our doors to prove it!  Come out and play throughout the whole month for the cost of...well nothing!

“When I die, bury me on the golf course so my husband will visit”

~Unknown      

New Turf Center Office Trailer at Morro Bay Golf Course

Rear of old trailier circa 19??

Our Turf Center office trailer was so old that no one could remember how long it had been there and we have staff that has been at the course for over 30 years!  That is scary or perhaps a testament to how well our staff takes care of our assets.  Regardless of how well cared for a modular office trailer likely has a best before date and our old trailer was well past that date.  Well out with the old and in with the new!

View from the front of the old trailer

The new trailer is a nice upgrade for our staff to hold meetings and eat their lunches...and perhaps get some paper work done.  This is just another step in the constant process of moving the golf course in the right dierction.  Please stay tuned to the blog for more improvements coming soon.  actually some of the improvements have already happened, but just have not been updated to the blog.  We have been busy!!  Enjoy the photos below that document our progress with this project.

Grading the area

New base material

These guys can lay some asphalt, done in less than 45 minutes

What a sight for sore eyes!

Backing the new trailer in place.  It is always fun to watch a good operator!

Compare to the rear of the old trailer above.  The new retaining wall will
help us to keep our new digs nice and clean.

Ready for business.

"If profanity had an influence on the flight of the golf ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is."

~ Horace G. Hutchison, British player and golf writer

Leadership Symposium at GCSAA headquarter

In March, I attended the leadership symposium at GCSAA headquarters with about 50 of my peers throughout the United States and Canada.  What a great experience this was to mingle with other chapter leaders and our chapter executives to find out what they are doing to inspire and promote their individual chapters as well as the golf industry itself.  Improving our chapters, associations, and industry cannot be conquered by individuals alone, but together we will succeed!  The Field Service staff has been put in place to help facilitate the connection between golf course superintendents and their chapters, as well as, provide a voice for our regions back at headquarters.
Overall the experience was a real treat and a great way to cap off a good month following the Golf Industry and Show.  I made some great contacts, learned about our associations goals, and took away some ideas that will help our chapter continue to move toward growing.  It was also great to see headquarters and visit the museum of equipment that was the beginning to what is now a very technological age.  Enjoy the photos and please help grow the game of golf by inviting a new potential golfer out to play this year, pass along all of the great benefits golf provides, or get out and play more golf yourself.  This is a great game and together we will make it even better!



Old Tom Morris at GCSAA headquarters in Lawrence Kansas



Our chapter brick

Early aerification equipment

 

Bubba Watson's amazing golf shot

Let me start by correcting myself.  Last Friday was not National Golf Day...tomorrow is.  When I set my calendar last year I posted my reminder to the 13th and not the 18th by mistake.  When I posted the last post I obviously did not read the article very well as the 18th is noted as being National Golf Day.  The good thing is that the 18th is tomorrow and there is still time to do something that will help honor and bring to light all of the good thing that the greatest sport in the world does for us and our communities.  So get out there and tell the world how good golf is!

Now, on to the topic the title of this post indicates.  By now you have all watched the amazing shot on TV, in newspapers, in magazines, and online that Bubba Watson hit on the second playoff hole to win the 2012 Master's Championship.  Below you can actually witness the path the shot took that makes it all that more incredible.  Look at the path it took and remember that this was hit by a left handed player so that ball should have had significant top spin being the equivalent of a snap hook that most of us are familiar with.  Bubba's ball however hit softly and really did not roll out very far. 

Now I have been to Augusta and the greens there have tremendous breaks and slopes that do not translate to television.  (this is also why they appear so fast because of the undulations that appear flat on TV)  His ball may have landed into a slope to help it slow down and with the softer conditions this year it may not have bounded forward like in years past.  None the less this was a remarkable shot!  The other thing we must consider is that had his ball struck a tree limb and knocked straight down we would be talking about him for an entirely different reason. 

The most remarkable thing to me came after Bubba creid on his momma's should was the number of Tour players that came out to congratulate him on his vicotry.  You never see that kind of support at a tour event and especially not at a Major.  This proves how special of an individual Bubba is as his peers obviously respect him a great deal.  Congratulations Bubba!

"I adore the game of golf.  I won't ever retire.  I'll play until I die.  Then I want them to roll me into a bunker, cover me with sand and make sure nobody's ball lands in there for a while."

~Lee Trevino