Steve Cook stands on the hallowed turfgrass he manages at Oakland Hills' South and North courses.

After talking about it for a few hours and commenting on everything from its celebrated history to how fortunate he is to maintain its hallowed ground, Steve Cook announces that it's finally time to see the golf course he manages.

The certified golf course superintendent invites you to take a seat in his golf car for a driving tour of the classic course. Cook steers the golf car down a path behind the maintenance facility and onto the famed South Course at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. You're stirred by the South Course's splendor spilling around you. The 1918 Donald Ross design looks as gorgeous as Greta Garbo in a silk gown on Oscar night.

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Cook stops the golf car and lets you soak in the sight on this sun-splashed summer day. What's astonishing about Oakland Hills is that there's nothing overly opulent about its appearance. The club, much like baseball's Yankee Stadium, is simple in its grandeur. It doesn't need any glitter.

It's hard to tell who's more excited about this Kodak moment — you, because you're seeing the course for the first time; or Cook, Oakland Hills Country Club's golf course manager, because he gets to show it to you. It has been an exciting year at Oakland Hills, site of the recently held PGA Championship. It's also a thrilling time for Cook, who hosted the first Major tournament of his career with the PGA Championship, although he also hosted the prestigious Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills in 2004.

While Cook says hosting the PGA Championship was a career highlight, it's not the career highlight. That milestone has nothing to do with hosting any tournament. Cook's career highlight — which is actually a work in progress — is to be a great manager of the people who work for him. The 49-year-old strives to be someone who mentors others to help them succeed in their careers.

Benjamin McGargill (left) and Ron Bentley (right) say Cook (center) has taught them many things about being the best golf course superintendents they can be.

So when the PGA Championship occurred Aug. 7 through Aug. 10, Cook was proud to exhibit the South Course in front of millions of people. But he was more pleased to showcase his 50-member crew, which helped make the course what it is for the event.

"We have good people here of all ages and nationalities," says Cook, who's in his 12th season at Oakland Hills. "They are fun to be around. And it's a thrill for me to see them move on from here to be successful in other jobs."

One of the first things you notice about Cook's office at Oakland Hills is the large bookcase looming behind his desk. The left side of the book case is packed with writings on turf management, the right side with books on people management.

"You'd think that after reading all of those books that I'd be really good at what I do," Cook says with a laugh.

Jokes aside, Cook's past and present employees will tell you he is very good at what he does.