It all started with an email exchange with photographer Evan Schiller. I asked him for photos for my U.S. Open Venues Bucket List post, and he generously sent them to me. I then asked him a question about photography. He patiently answered. I then asked him another question, and he politely suggested that I compile all of my questions into an interview. What a concept!
After posting the interview with Evan, my curiosity was piqued. Would others be willing to indulge me similarly. Based on the index below, the answer has been a resounding YES. Given the passion and generosity of people in and around this great game, it is not entirely surprising that they would be willing to share. I am still grateful for their time, perspectives, and in some case, friendships.
My intent with the interviews is to get off the beaten path and get to know the people who are making our game and its playing fields great. Although this started by accident, it’s rolling forward with purpose. Enjoy!
MOST RECENT INTERVIEW
LIVES IN BALANCE – SCOTT VINCENT OF ONWENTSIA CLUB
The past two years have seen a healthy discussion arise among golf course superintendents about the interrelation between career success and life balance. The path of singular focus and dedication can lead to greatness, but it can also end in burnout. These professionals, who care deeply about their work, are wrestling with conceiving of a practical answer to a nagging question: How can we deliver results of which we can be proud, and still have healthy and vibrant lives off the course? Read more…
MORE GEEKEDONGOLF INTERVIEWS
IAN ANDREW – THE PAST BROUGHT FORWARD
From his design blog, to his articles on GolfClubAtlas.com, to his Twitter posts, it is easy for a golf geek to lose oneself in the writings of Ian Andrew. With his depth of knowledge, respect for tradition and pure love of the game of golf, wandering through Ian’s thoughts is like a trip around the greatest golf course you can imagine – interesting, challenging and fun. Read more…
MIKE BENKUSKY – CREATIVE RANGE
In 2015, when I heard about the innovative planned changes to the Arlington Lakes community golf course, my interest was piqued. When I found out that the architect responsible was also involved in the creation of one of the highest end private courses in the midwest, I was downright intrigued. Read more…
JUSTIN CARLTON – PITCHING IN
Justin’s interests range from building traditional golf courses all the way to applying proven design principles to disc golf courses. Our conversation eventually turned to pitch & putts, and it was evident that we had touched on something near and dear to Justin’s heart. His enthusiasm was palpable, and I wanted to know more. Read more…
MICHAEL CLAYTON – CLAYTS SPEAKS
If you are a golf nut, and you are not following Michael Clayton on Twitter (@MichaelClayto15) and/or listening to the State of the Game podcast, you really should be. His perspectives are always informative and entertaining, and sometimes a little surly. Read more…
ROB COLLINS – THE SWEETENS COVE STORY
Sweetens Cove – the course and the story behind its creation – has fascinated me for some time. Golf geeks who make the trip to play this modern 9-holer return with the same two points of feedback. That course bold, beautiful, and great fun. And its creator and owner, Rob Collins, is a good dude. Read more…
MIKE DEVRIES – HOME COURSE HERO
Anyone who has played golf in Northern Michigan knows how truly special it is. Not only is it home to one of the greatest golf courses in the world – Crystal Downs – it is also home to some of the best golf course architects working today. Mike DeVries is one of those GCAs. Read more…
THE CONNECTOR – MANISH GOEL OF THOUSAND GREENS
How do you get to play all of those great courses? That is a question that gets asked all the time in golf circles. Our answer is, wait to be invited. When invited, go. When there, be polite and enthusiastic. Afterward, send a thank you note or gift. More important, always be on the lookout for ways to pay your good fortune forward. In our experience, golfers are extraordinarily generous people. They are proud of their courses, and enjoy showing them off to kindred spirits. Read more on TheFriedEgg.com…
SUPERINTENDENT KYLE HEGLAND – THE MAN, THE MYTH
Sand Hills Golf Club was more a myth than a real place for me. Located in Nebraska, Coore & Crenshaw’s modern masterpiece sparked a golf architecture renaissance that has fueled my passion for the subject, and the game itself. I had heard stories that one could write a polite letter to Sand Hills’s owner, Mr. Youngscap, that might result in a once-per-life invite to visit. Not sure whether or not that was true, I hadn’t mustered up the courage to give it a shot. Read more…
BRETT HOCHSTEIN – MULTIMEDIA, MULTITALENTD
Pasatiempo. It doesn’t get much better than a trip around Dr. Mac’s home course. That is, unless you receive an invite to visit another course later that same day where talented architects, shapers and supers are working their magic. A golf geek’s dream day come true. Read more…
PETER IMBER & QUOGUE FIELD CLUB – FIELD OF DREAMS
Our host was Peter Imber, who also happens to be a principal player in Quogue’s restoration. We connected after my visit, and hit it off over our respective efforts to revitalize our golf courses. Not only did he give me guidance on how to approach my efforts at Canal Shores, but he also graciously agreed to do an interview. Read more…
DAVID MCLAY KIDD – THE EVOLVING ARTIST
Like many GCA geeks, I have followed the stories about the evolution of David’s career with interest, particularly those that have been written since the opening of Gamble Sands and his triumph in the Sand Valley bake-off. Word out of Nekoosa, WI is that the DMK crew is creating something truly special and my recent visit to Sand Valley provided confirmation. Read more…
JEFF MINGAY – UPHOLDING GOLF’S IDEALS
Thinker, traveler, student, writer, historian, enthusiast, commentator, and most of all builder – each of these descriptors apply to Jeff, which is why he is so interesting. He is a must follow on Twitter (@jeff_mingay) for golf geeks, especially those who want to better understand the game’s fields of play. Read more…
JEFF MINGAY & GEORGE WATERS – TRANSFORMING THE DERRICK
I made a point of following up with Jeff regarding his renovation of the Derrick Club. He graciously agreed to give me even more time to discuss the project. If that weren’t enough, we also managed to wrangle George Waters to participate in the discussion. George pitched in on the shaping of the Derrick Club, and by all accounts, their collaboration was a smash hit with the membership. Read more…
JIM NAGLE & BRIAN BOSSERT – POLISHING HIDDEN GEMS
Conversation about Chicago golf often focuses on the big names – Chicago Golf Club, Olympia Fields, Medinah – and fairly so. But Chicago is also home to quite a few classic courses that qualify as hidden gems. I am fortunate to have access to regularly play one of those gems, the Langford & Moreau designed Bryn Mawr Country Club. Read more…
BRIAN PALMER – GROWING GRASS
“I’ve had enough of winter already. Looking forward to growing grass again.” This text message, sent to me by Shoreacres Superintendent Brian Palmer, sums up what I love and respect about Supers. It is rare indeed to find a profession that consistently produces such passionate and dedicated individuals. Read more…
SCOTT PAVALKO & JIM URBINA – THE NEXT 99
This post was a long time in the making. Like Bob O’Link’s architectural history – first with Ross, then with Alison, and now with Urbina – it involves intertwined threads. Growing up on the North Shore and caddying at Old Elm Club, I was aware of Bob O’Link, but had never seen or played it. Read more…
KEITH RHEBB – IN THE SEAT
At the drafting table, on a plane, or behind the controls of a bulldozer, Keith Rhebb is always right in the thick of the creative process of golf course design and construction. As a member of the Coore & Crenshaw team, Keith is working on the highest profile and most highly anticipated projects around the world. He and his colleagues continue to deliver mind-blowing results that are setting the standards for modern architectural greatness. Read more…
DREW ROGERS – SOUL MAN
The call was supposed to just be a quick “hello” and “thank you” for some photos. An hour later, I realized that I had found a kindred spirit in realm of golf geekdom. Beyond sharing similar perspectives on the game, Drew and I are also fortunate to have spent significant time at the Old Elm Club – me as a caddie, and Drew as the architect who has recently worked to restore the course to the original design intent of Harry Colt. Read more…
DREW ROGERS – TO HEATH & LINKS
Drew Rogers is a generous man. I have learned this first hand in my work on GeekedOnGolf and Canal Shores. He shares his experience and expertise freely. So it is no surprise that he was kind enough to bring us along on his recent trip to England by sharing his experiences in daily journal posts online. Drew and I talked upon his return and he agreed to provide a recap of the tour with us here. Read more…
EVAN SCHILLER – GOLF SHOTS
In addition to being one of my favorite photographers, Evan is also a gracious and generous man. After patiently responding to my ongoing inquiries about his work, he wisely suggested that we conduct a virtual interview. Shared here with some of his photos are insights about the practice of his craft. Read more…
SHAWN SMITH & TODD FYFFE – GOLDEN AGE REDUX
On the way from my house to the highway sits Westmoreland Country Club. For years, I drove by and peeked through the fence at the course, with its gorgeous clubhouse overlooking the perfect green fairways. When I finally had the good fortune to play Westmoreland, it was a treat to spend an afternoon experiencing first-hand what I had so long seen only from the road. Read more…
ANDY STAPLES – COMMUNITY LINKS CHAMPION
Hobbs, NM is on my bucket list for golf adventure. I’ll explain. That is where Andy Staples created a source of inspiration for anyone associated with the Community Golf Revival in America at a course called Rockwind Community Links. I became aware of Andy’s work while doing research for Canal Shores. On a brief phone conversation last year, it was clear that we have the same paradigm about the spirit of the game. Read more…
ANDY STAPLES – A MODERN THROWBACK
The past decade has seen a number of wonderful renovations of classic golf courses – Philadelphia Cricket Club, Moraine CC, Cal Club, Orchard Lake CC and others are exciting for golf geeks at several levels. One in particular has risen to the top of my radar as I have watched it unfold from a distance. Read more…
DAVE ZINKAND – SCULPTING THE EARTH
“Remote” is a good word to describe the location of Apache Stronghold. Why did I make the trek through the mountains of the Tonto National Forest, past small mining towns, to an Indian Casino golf course in the middle of nowhere? As always, I was in search of golf adventure and great architecture. In this case, I was also lucky enough to have a chance to tee it up with architect Dave Zinkand. Read more…
Still want more interviews? If you really want to go down the rabbit hole of GCA, I highly recommend combing through the archives of Ran Morrissett’s wonderful GolfClubAtlas interviews. And if you are more inclined toward audio, Andy Johnson is producing terrific interviews on his Fried Egg Podcast.
Copyright 2017 – Jason Way, GeekedOnGolf
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