Masters 2015 Notebook: Familiar faces, places

(L to R) Griffith, Jorgensen, O’Leary and Kimball in Athens, Ga., enjoying the NCAA national championship game.

Scott also set me up to meet with Andrew Jorgensen, CGCS (On Top of the World Communities, Ocala, Fla.), Corey Kimball of Nu Green by Corey and Terry O’Leary, AKA Agronomist Prime, a do-it-all turf pro in the Atlanta area. Not only was that a fun group to watch the NCAA championship with (the Dukies won Jorgensen his NCAA pool) but that also scored me a demo of the Air2G2 aerator that I’ve heard a lot about in recent months. You can watch the demo of that video in this here newsletter.

Seth and Jim Campbell, superintendent at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, Kan.

From there, on to Augusta, where it’s always a privilege to be invited to the Jacobsen house. It was good to see Jacobsen guys Ric Stone, Garry Callahan and Josh Haggas again, but also to make new contacts like Jim Campbell, superintendent at Prairie Dunes GC, in Hutchinson, Kan.; Michael Miraglia, president of Fore Golf and his dad Lenny; and Kevin Smith, CGCS, Greensboro, N.C.

Then it was dinner with the Jersey boys: Tyler Otero (North Jersey CC, Wayne, N.J.); Jeremy Batz (Trump National GC, Colts Neck, N.J.); Mike Brunelle (Upper Montclair CC); Mike Weber (Ash Brook GC); Lance Rogers (CCGS, Colonia CC); Russ Harris (Galloping Hills GC); Rich Sweeney, CGCS (Plant Food Co.); Jim Rattigan (Plant Food Co.) and Mike the Pilot.

Seriously, flying to Augusta in a private jet? Well played, Jersey boys!

In just meandering around the grounds of Augusta National I saw Stephen Rabideau, CGCS at Winged Foot GC and his dad Steve; Chuck Calhoun, superintendent in Sebastian, Fla., Lester Lombard, superintendent at Grand Isle Club in Albany, Ga., and Andy Staples, ASGCA, Staples Golf.

Then there’s the Golf Writers Dinner, followed by the Landscapes Unlimited house, which is another great place to visit. I saw Bill Kubly only briefly, but was able to talk shop with Jim Flynn, director of marketing for Landscapes Unlimited (and fellow University of Kansas alumnus.)

(L to R) Jones, Haddock, Plotts and Staples at the Landscapes Unlimited house.

I also saw Golfdom editorial advisory board member Jeff Plotts, superintendent at TPC Scottsdale, and we caught up. One thing he turned me on to that I hope to learn more about is Advanced Scoreboards. It’s a tracking system for labor that was created by Gerald Flaherty, CGCS at the Valley Club in Hailey, Idaho.

Plotts says he uses the system regularly, and even has it on split-screens in his office, one screen for the Stadium Course, the other screen for the Champions Course.

How did he find out about it? Twitter.

“I learn about so many things just cruising around Twitter,” Plotts says. “Like all the different places you grabbed a beer at last night!”

I made a ton of new contacts, rekindled some old ones and obviously just had a good time at the Masters this year. And believe it or not, I only suffered one hangover and no sunburns this trip!

I look forward to seeing many of these turf pros again… hopefully at the 2015 Golfdom Summit! And next year, I hope to see even more of our readers at Augusta National.

Photos: Golfdom Staff