Sept 12 is Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day

September 12 is International Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day

Today is International “Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day” so I am going to give a shout-out to Washtenaw Golf Club’s Superintendents Mark and Harold.

Conditions at Washtenaw (course link) are always terrific; I play a lot of courses around the state and I don’t think I’ve found one in the past few years that is any better. The fairways on much of the course are like walking on carpets; the greens are fast and smooth.

Longtime players also will notice the gradual improvements Washtenaw has made over the last couple of years, opening the course by removing trees, trimming branches and installing new tee boxes.

Following architect Ray Hearn’s master plan for Washtenaw, the crew has made consistent progress in restoring Washtenaw to its 1930s glory (with allowances for the modern game). Squared greens now are in place on many holes along with wide collection areas. Tree removal has restored fairway and original lines of play. It is glorious.

I’ll also give a shout-out to Bill at Green Oaks in Ypsilanti (course link). The Ypsilanti Township muni experienced a deliberate sabotage of its irrigation system last year, requiring an entire season of repair and restoration.

Thanks to the hard work of the crew, Green Oaks once again is green and playable. They also have done a lot of work removing unnecessary trees and trimming branches. I was there for an outing this past weekend, and it looked as good as I have seen it in the last thirty years.

If you see your course superintendent today, thank them for their hard work. They are up before dawn and working hard throughout the day to ensure your golf experience is the best it can possibly be.

If you’d like to do something on social media, the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association has some suggested options.