The 19th Hole: Josh Lewis

By |  April 9, 2015 0 Comments

Superintendent // Chambers Bay Golf Course, University Place, Wash.

Josh-Lewis_300After 18 holes, what’s your drink of choice?

An iced tea.

What was the last road trip you took?

Victoria, B.C., was my last road trip/ferry trip.

What was the occasion?

Speaking at the Western Canada Turfgrass Association’s annual conference. Those guys are phenomenal. The guys in Canada have been so warm and welcoming and excited about the U.S. Open and it’s like going and visiting family almost. And Victoria is right up there with my favorite cities in the world that I’ve seen so far.

What’s it like?

It’s surrounded by mountains — the Olympics, and you can kind of see the Cascades. It’s coastal, so water everywhere. The city itself has a lot of history, British and French influence. I got to stay at the Empress Hotel — very old, very traditional. I’m a history guy, so very neat for me.

Who are your sports teams?

Oregon Ducks for college football, baseball and basketball. NFL, Chiefs; NBA, Trailblazers.

How did you become a Chiefs fan?

I just grew up that way, had some cousins who lived there and latched on to them. It helped that I was a Joe Montana fan.

Well, Chiefs nation appreciates you sticking with us, especially with the Seahawks right there!

It’s been rough, let me tell you, but I’m a loyal guy.

Tell me about your family.

My family is everything to me. My son learned a tough lesson recently when he took a spill and broke his collarbone at the park. But he’s on the mend. I’m blessed. My family has been willing to move around and support me through my career aspirations. Especially my wife, Andrea, she’s my best friend and my most valuable teammate.

What are your kids’ names and ages?

Jones is my son, he’s 8. Kate is my daughter, she’s 5.

Did you say Jones?

Yes, like your last name. That’s my wife, she thought it up and we liked it. So we call him “Jonesy.”

I like this kid! What movie is popular to watch with them right now?

“Big Hero 6.” They’re hooked on it. It’s got a good science backbone.

Sound travels pretty far at Chambers Bay… what’s the funniest thing you’ve overheard?

Usually things I can’t repeat, but from the walking trail. It’s always interesting when you’re on the other side of the golf course and you hear someone get a hole-in-one on No. 9. The sound that reverberates through the property is pretty incredible. I think it’s going to make for some really good theater in June.

Photo: As interviewed by Seth Jones, March 26, 2015.

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About the Author: Seth Jones

Seth Jones, a 25-year veteran of the golf industry media, is Editor-in-Chief of Golfdom magazine and Athletic Turf. A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Jones began working for Golf Course Management in 1999 as an intern. In his professional career he has won numerous awards, including a Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) first place general feature writing award for his profile of World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman and a TOCA first place photography award for his work covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In his career, Jones has accumulated an impressive list of interviews, including such names as George H.W. Bush, Samuel L. Jackson, Lance Armstrong and Charles Barkley. Jones has also done in-depth interviews with such golfing luminaries as Norman, Gary Player, Nick Price and Lorena Ochoa, to name only a few. Jones is a member of both the Golf Writers Association of America and the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association. Jones can be reached at sjones@northcoastmedia.net.


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