The 19th Hole: Keith Wood
Keith Wood // Superintendent // Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte, N.C.
What can I get you? Tito’s with a splash of tonic.
How did your daughter Grace (two-years-old) like it when your son Alex (two-months-old) came home? In about three weeks, it’s been a series of different emotions. First she was the proud sister, then she was the jealous sister and now she’s the sweet sister. She’s gone full circle.
A new season of TV shows are around the corner. Looking forward to anything in particular? Unfortunately, all the TV at my house is Nick Jr. So nothing, unless you like Bubble Guppies.
I know you and the crew are looking forward to hosting the 2017 PGA Championship. Who will you be pulling for? A great story would be if Johnson Wagner or Webb Simpson could pull it off because they’re both members.
What are your sports teams? I pull for the Gamecocks in college sports. And you can’t help but be a (Carolina) Panthers fan living here.
What’s your favorite fast food place? Price’s Chicken Coop. It’s a local fast food joint. There are no seats in it, you walk up to the counter and say white or dark, and they give you fried chicken. And everyday there’s a line out the door.
You guys did a major renovation over 89 days at Quail Hollow. Any moments stand out? When we were in the earth-moving phase, walking the golf course with Mr. (Tom) Fazio, (Club President) Mr. (Johnny) Harris and also Kerry Haig of the PGA of America, and listening to these guys talk about bunker placements, yardages, green placements… and how the finished hole would be. And then it turned out exactly as they described.
You’ve been working with Champion bermudagrass for five years. What’s one thing you can guarantee about it? You mow it as low as you can go, because it just loves it.
How did you get into the business? I was 21, I was a golfer and I enjoyed working outdoors. I’m from a small farming community. My college roommate was a bag boy at the local country club, the superintendent was hiring…
Got any maintenance tips you want to tell me about? One thing that opens a lot of eyes on my staff is when I jump on the topdresser. If you’re topdressing in second gear full-throttle, it’s the same speed as reverse in full-throttle. To get into tight areas — like approaches or around bunkers — I’ll sling it in reverse.
What do you think you’d be doing if you didn’t find this industry? …I’d probably be searching for something to do.
main photo by: Seth Jones