SO LONG MY FRIENDS!

Elk City Scoreboard Area

I have accepted a position as golf professional in Elk City C.C., in the city of Elk City, Oklahoma, right between Amarillo, TX and Oklahoma City, OK.

Mona and I leave Gallup with many more good  memories than not so good ones, mainly due to those people that were always grounded in the good old manners of truth and kindness, some of whom we are privileged to be friends with, and of course, due to our dear family, starting with "Grandma" Lucero, my brother Armando and everyone in between. We enjoyed every moment of serving you, the tournaments, the rounds or trips together, the parties and lunches, everything.

After being in the golf business for over 35 years, and a short stunt in the photo business, it was only fitting that if a golf opportunity opened, I would take it, and I did.

Brandie in her element!

For me and Ramona, this was excellent timing. Everything was put together rather fast and we are truly excited. It is time to move on and start building memories and relationships elsewhere; there are many good, and smiley kids and willing golfers everywhere, and Elk City will be no different. We will feel at home from the start, particularly after the welcoming we have been given by all people... even Brandie, whose favorite thing is running on grass!

Elk City - View of #6 & 7

Elk City Practice Range
(target area highlighted in winter)

If any one of you is traveling I-40, stop and see us. Elk City is on exit #38 in I-40, just entering Oklahoma from the west. The course is short, but challenging, with narrow fairways lined with trees and small greens, many of which are well guarded by water or bunkers, and of course, THE DAILY WIND! The course is in great shape and there are over 200 avid member/golfers, several of whom are pretty good; I already met the man who has the course record, a nifty 59!! (I really need to hit the range - or  I'll get "smoked")

Perhaps one day we can have a "Challenge Match", or even a round of golf in Oklahoma. Sure, you will have to travel several hours more, but it'll be worth it. I guarantee it.

A special thanks to the many friends and relatives who, over the years, truly made our days nicer and shorter in Gallup and specially to, (in no particular order): My daughters (Mariana, Jan Michael Angela, Paola & Anya), Mona's sons (Leslie & Ryan), my brother Armando, Gary & Karen Leloff, Tommy Thompson (RIP), George Galanis, Tommy Noe, Eric Honeyfield, Manny & Julie Martinez from Grants' Coyote Del Malpais, Larry Binkley, David Ruiz, GMC Schools, Menapace Family, Joe Sherman (RIP), John Dowling, Big Brothers and Sisters, Kenny Bean, Special Olympics Staff, All Our Family (direct & extended), all the juniors that we had contact with (some of whom are now adults), Jackie McKinney, Joe DiGregorio, RMCH Staff, Shirley Wilson, Lidio Rainaldi, Paul McCollum, Melinda Sanchez and Roosevelt Elementary School Staff. You are all an asset to your community. If I forget anyone, please forgive me.


Again, thank you to all...

EVER WONDER IF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING Jr. HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH GOLF?

The vision of Dr. Martin Luther King is well known, and today, we celebrate 25 years since he was first (rightfully so) honored with a holiday.

In the early 70's, I was living in Guadalajara, Mexico, way before the name Lorena Ochoa was ever heard of. At the time, part of the Mexican PGA Tour included a series of tournaments called "The Raleigh Cup". I can't remember specifics, but I assure you, it was nothing like the Fed-Ex Cup now days! First prize in each event was around $4,000 U.S. Dls, and the winner of the series won another $10,000 or so, big money in Mexico at the time, but nothing you could retire with.

One of the events was played at Santa Anita CC in Guadalajara and I went to watch. Armed with a Tee Time sheet, I went to #1 to see who I would follow. Next on #1 was Steve Cain, a pro whom I knew since 1971, when we played in the Pro-Am of the 1971 Mexican Open. I decided to follow this group for a while. Paired with him was a black man by the of Charlie Sifford and a Mexican pro whom we used to call "Camaron" (I felt like a giant standing next to this 5' 4" man).  Sifford had this peaceful expression but seemed to act with a lot of confidence. When I saw him take a club out of his bag and make a few warm-up swings, I decided to watch his group.

I did not regret it. The whole group played well. Shrimp (one of the best putters I ever played with), shot the lowest round at 67. Cain and Sifford shot in the 60's also, and if I recall correctly, Sifford ended up winning the series. Afterwards, I had the chance to shake his hand and sit down to have a Coke with him and others, including "Camaron" and Ernesto Perez Acosta, a friend of mine who would win the 1976 World Cup and would be the first Mexican born professional to win the Mexican Open. Sifford fit well with everyone, and was the nicest of guys with a great sense of humor.

After that, I started looking for his name in the results of PGA Tour events, but never found it... the reason? By then, he was pretty much past his prime (he was born in 1922 and was past 50, his biggest win coming in the 1975 Sr. PGA Championship, which was not very publicized). However, even if I had looked a few years before, I wouldn't have found much, not because Siffiord couldn't play well, but because there were few tournaments that welcomed black players, as it had only been 12 years since the PGA Tour in America had lifted the "Caucasian Only" Rule. If you dig a little more in the history of the Civil Rights Movement, you will find that not everyone was happy with the rule change. As far as Siffiord, the timing for his skills, was just a little off, as he was 39, and though he could still play, he was a few years past his prime. On the positive side, by the time Dr. King delivered his famous "I Have  Dream" speech in 1963, several black golfers were already living their own dream.

When you read names like John Shippen (first black to play in the U.S. Open); Ted "Rags" Rhodes (with others, filed suit against the PGA Tour in 1948 for their "white only" policy); Ann Gregory (won 6 of 7 championships she entered and was the first black woman to qualify for the U.S. Women's Amateur): Pete Brown (first black to win on tour, 1964 Waco Open); Charlie Sifford,  who also won a few events, but not on the PGA Tour; Lee Elder (first black to qualify for The Masters - 1975); Calvin Peete (won 12 times in the PGA Tour, with the Players Championship -1985-, and the Tournament of Champions -1986-, being his biggest wins); Jim Dent (16 wins, including 12 senior titles); or Jim Thorpe (18 wins, including senior victories); you wonder how much more would they have won before Eldrick Tiger Woods was even born. Had it not been for these pioneers, and of course people like Dr. King, Tiger would not have been Tiger.

History is history, some of it is very ugly and sad, and you can't change what happened, nor understand it sometimes. Yes, while there is still a minority living the past (on both sides), to go forward, all we can do is live the present and learn from the past. I just can't imagine the internal fortitude these people had to have, the patience they had to build and the insults, humiliation and pain they faced (Charlie Sifford once retrieved a ball out of a cup filled with human excrement!) in order to play this great game that we proudly call "a Gentleman' Game". It seems that just like everything else, there was a time in which the definition of a "gentleman", was incomplete. 

In the end, during this Civil Rights Movement, 1961 was the greatest year ever for American Golf, as the PGA Tour's "Caucasian Only" rule was lifted, and as Dr. Martin Luther King also said, "The Time is Always Right to Do What is Right"

Jackie McKinney & Bryan Wall: Golfers' Front Runners for the Mayor's Office...

Among eight people who will challenge Mayor Mendoza in the mayor’s race, you'll have to faces familiar to golfers: Bryan Wall, sitting councilor, and Jackie McKinney (file photo on the left, with son Brian), a fresh face in politics who is the former general manager for A.C. Houston Lumber.

Last year, despite the heat and differences with Mayor Mendoza, Wall, recognizing the decaying conditions of our golf course, got involved and led an approach not known to city hall from 2007-2009: "don't just make promises, do something".

On the other hand, Jackie is well known among golfers, both as a golfer, and as host of the AC Houston Lumber Benefit Scramble. But he is best known by non golfers who have benefited from his volunteer work, his business practices and his ethics. Back to golf... For 20 straight years, he not only built trust and excellent reputation for reaching out and for organizational skills, but did so while hosting a great event that became a gathering of friends which helped raise close to $500,000 for various local non-profit organizations, from "Battered Families", to "Special Olympics" to the "Gallup Police League" and others. With time, it became the most anticipated invitation in Gallup’s golf. Golfers would ask, "when is the A.C. Houston Scramble?" or "When is Jackie's Tournament?". People from all over came to this event which was limited to 152 players, though he could have had 200 if he so chose to.

Wall also has experience in business (as former owner of a nursery) and politics (he is a former state representative, and a sitting council member). But, McKinney's lack of "political experience" doesn't mean that he is a stranger to direct service and contact with the public, as he is literally the guy who will take his shirt off to give to others, and if needed, work on hands and knees helping fellow citizens, not for personal recognition or gain, but for the good of all.  But we should not judge their (or others) qualifications by their "experience" (or lack of it) in politics, as we have seen that “experienced career politicians” aren’t necessarily the best choice all the time, and people are beginning to think that “no strings attached” politics are more likely to give measurable results to promises made.

As far as the golf course, among the candidates, one already expressed his desire to close it… not a good idea; another one, as a former city director, ran the course for a while, but his interest in politics was stronger than his desire to serve, and failed to help. And of course, we know how under Mendoza's administration there was no clear vision, nor knowledge of the real issues confronting the decaying conditions, all of which contributed to a 29% drop in fees revenue in the fiscal year 2009-2010, and it will be even worse in the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

Yes, we know that the golf course is not the only service entity that needs attention in our city, but it is a mirror of our community. We tried the approach of "mirror, mirror, tell me we are the fairest of all", and when the mirror told us the truth, city officials threw mud at it: they did not want anyone hearing what the mirror had to say. That is why golfers, and many non golfers, would like to see the new mayor publicly address the golf course as the asset to the community that it really is, both, socially and intrinsically, and not as a worthless expense and/or a political football. 

The new mayor must demand that the practice area re-opens. Closed since the end of 2007 "for repairs", it has been nothing short of an embarrassment!!; demand that junior and adult teaching programs are re-instated (has anyone in leadership stopped to think the social benefits, including our youth, that golf can contribute with?); he must ensure results and fiscal responsibility; he must connect with all sectors (hint, hint: and golfers in Gallup cover all socio-economic sectors); Gallup needs a mayor who doesn’t fall for expensive “junk science" projects such as “planting weeds”, “signature holes” or "band aids" over gaping wounds, like $300 trash cans "decorating" tee boxes full of weeds; a mayor who realizes that most golfers prefer putting on grass, than parking on new asphalt, and a mayor who puts people first (one who does not think city hall is the dog and the constituents are the tail, as one city councilor once said), and a mayor who demands public service from public employees, starting with those of "rank" who only deal ("serve")with "selected" public. If this approach is followed, there will be progress, and if it can be done at the golf course, then it can be achieved in every city department and the community will gain. 

That said, just like candidates like to say, golfers need to become one united voice: TOGETHER they can team up with the city and help do sensible and visible improvements. This is a good time for "Friends of Golf in Gallup" to step in again and give their "5 cents" worth to the candidates. Working together, a little elbow grease, a few rags, a little Windex, and lots of initiative, will help clean the mud out of that dirty mirror!

LOOKING FROM THE OUTSIDE; WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

For the first time since April of this year, I played a full 18 holes at the Gallup Municipal Golf Course. Despite my bad play, I enjoyed the company of five local golfers who chose to spare my wallet (thanks!). The service at the pro-shop was good, I think this young lady Evelyn, is an asset and I hope she learns as much about golf as possible, it can only help the operation.  She is trying, but the policies set forth that she has to follow, are not conductive to making a golfer feel welcome. Almost like saying, "pay up, go play and we'll see you next time". Big deal!

While I had fun and enjoyed the afternoon, I also realized why play is minimal. But try to say anything about service to those who make policies, and they'll say, "that's the rules!" Really? Chang the rules!

"No bills larger than $20" (really? at a golf course?); the sign on #1 reads,  "RANGE CLOSED, CLOSED, CLOSED". We know, actually since 2007. Maybe each "closed" is intended for each year closed, if so, it is missing 2 big "CLOSED" words (2010,2011)!; Q: "can you tell me who is playing?" A: "no, we cannot disclose who is playing"; Q: "is it busy?" A: "come and find out, we cannot say"; Q: "can you loan me a cart to go see if that group is going to play the back nine?" A: "no, you need to pay"; Q: "Can I host a tournament here?", A: "sure, it'll cost you $38.00 per person. It includes $15.00 for gift certificates that you need to redeem within a year in practically nothing that we have in he pro-shop"; Q: "who will handle the tournament for me?" A: "Uh? We have some golfers that might want to do it. Otherwise, it's your responsibility to put it together"; Q: "Who gives lessons?" A: "We have a couple of school teachers that can help you when they are around."; Q: "Are they good teachers?" A: "Don't know" Q: "Do you patrol the course?", A: "uh?"; Q: "Have they mowed the greens?" A: "I don't know, we are not told".... get the picture?

Add the above to the conditions (someone needs to say: "LET'S GET RID OF THE WEEDS AND START MOWING REGULARLY" and stop listening to those who make silly rules because you might be afraid of your job), and you can see that golfers are a lot more faithful here than in other parts of the country. Losing only 30% revenue in the last fiscal year might have been much better than elsewhere. But you won't see that printed in the paper any time soon.

Realistically, the golf course will never be able to pay for itself in Gallup (in small cities, it seldom does), but we can minimize the cost. Gallup needs a golf course. It is a quality of life issue. No one has an idea of the benefits, particularly to our youth. The course needs to be "cleaned up" and maintained as it has not been properly maintained since early 2007 when the main goal was to beautify everything but the fairways and greens. At least before 2007, Vince Alonzo (back again in "the saddle"), Richard Gomez, Preston Tom, Dennis Nieto and Co. tried their best with very little, to maintain what we had. ENCOURAGE THEM and give them some resources (I assure you, the monies will be better spent than before!!

THE THRILL OF VICTORY & THE AGONY OF DEFEAT

ABC's Jim McCay "The Thrill of Victory & The Agony of Defeat" are a good title for this year's Ryder Cup that ended up this morning with a tough victory by Europe and an almost great comeback by the United States. It could also be titled "The Birth of 2 Men" (Rory McIlroy & Rickie Fowler).

There is no question that this was the best Ryder Cup final day since 1991 when the matches were not decided until the last pair's match. There were similar comebacks both times. In 1991, hosted by the United States, none other than Mark Calcaveccia was "dormie 5" against Colin Montgomery (Mark was 5 up with 5 to go), and Colin came back to tie the match... with help of Mark who played those 5 holes in 6 over par. This time it was Rickie Fowler who was 4 down with 4 to go and birdied the last 4 holes and got a half point while Edoardo Mollinari played steady with pars. Fowler, who had not done much in the team competition, looked nervous and even cost a victory in a match for not knowing the Rules of Golf, came alive in his last four holes abroad, lost his fear and became a mature man possessed with the will to win and ended up scraping a valuable 1/2 point that could have given the USA the victory

McIlroy made a huge mistake on the last hole of his match against Stewart Cink; tied and with Stewart on the green in three shots, McIlroy faced a relatively easy bunker shot for his own third shot... that he left in the bunker! Now, he had a 4th shot that he needed to get close just to have a chance for a tie in case Cink missed his birdie, which he did. McIlroy blasted to about 4 feet and made the nervous putt to get 1/2 point as well, which halved the match.

It all came down to Hunter Mahan, who at one point I am sure he thought his match would not count as the USA looked like they would lose badly. Hunter had a very tough match with US Open champion Graeme McDowell in the last pairing of the day. With both teams were tied at 13 1/2 points, Graeme was 1 up after 15, and then made a fantastic birdie on #16 to go "dormie 2".

Hole #17 showed that the Ryder Cup is more than a major when it concerns the pressure on a player. Hunter mishit his tee shot on the par 3 hole, but had a relatively easy chip to a front pin that at worst, he needed to get close in case McDowell, who had also missed the green, could not get it up and down. What proceeded was one of the most embarrassing moments an professional golfer can have, a "chili dip". His shot from 30 feet, went only 15 feet and did not even reach the green. At the moment, he smiled in agony and embarrassment, and after he could not make a 3, conceded the match and the cup went back to Europe.

No one can blame Hunter for this defeat. Remember, this is a team effort, and the day before, the USA could only make 1/2 point out of 6!! So, if there is someone to "blame", is 12 players who could only get 1/2 point out of 6 played! But there is no one to blame. This is the nature of sports, there is always someone who wins, and someone who loses. There is agony and there is thrill. 2008 was thrill for the USA, this year they lost a close one and there was pain and agony, of 12 men, not one.

We should all be proud that despite a poor start and all odds against, the team fought back and made it for a very exciting, thrilling and great exhibition of courage and the will to win never giving up. I am sure there were tears, perhaps by Mahan who may have not only felt responsible for the loss, but embarrassed by his bad chip shot. But there is not need to, in fact, we appreciate the tears, it shows they really care.

Congratulatioons to both teams, to Europe for having a great victory and to the U.S.A. for showing character under pressure.

TEAM U.S.A., we are proud of you!!.

FAREWELL TO DON MARZILLI

Like with many, I found about Don's passing by reading The Independent several days after his passing; and like many, I was shocked to hear more about the circumstances surrounding his passing.

Don had to be one of the most enthusiastic golfers in Gallup and a frequent sponsor of local events. Because he was a high handicapper, he loved scrambles, but meeting new people was something of a hobby for him, often signing up for a tournament as a single to join an incomplete team. No matter what kind of tournament he played, he always promised he would be the best putter on the team... and more often than not, kept his promise, he couldn't hit the ball far or straight, but he could sure use the "flat blade".

As the local PGA professional, I always appreciated his willingness to help in any way he could and of course, his permanent smile, good sense of humor and demeanor on the course. I haven't played much the last year, nor do I help with many of the local events, but I had the pleasure of shaking hands with him once more during the recent Cheerleaders tournament in August, where as usual, was a sponsor, and where as usual, his smile was contagious. Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go to all his family, extended family and friends. We will miss him as well.

NOTHING CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT THE RULING AT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP...

After watching the exciting finish of the PGA Championship, the first thing I read in MSN is: KAYMER WINS AFTER CONTROVERSIAL RULING"... Excuse me??? That is why I like golf: if you are good friends with Jim Remy (PGA President), G. Kohler (Club President and owner Kohler products, including odorless pee traps), or Bob Ryan (Mayor of Sheboygan, WI, the city where Whistling Straits G.C. is located); THE RULES APPLY THE SAME!. You can have dinner with them later... after you sign your correct scorecard and add the strokes.

I received three phone calls within 10 minutes, before, during and after the ruling was made. Once they mentioned that he may have grounded his club in a hazard (sand bunker), the first words out of my mouth were: all of it had to be in the "Notice to Competitors" information sheet, and it turns it was.

Rule 6-1 is very clear:  The player and his caddy are responsible for knowing The Rules..., and so is Rule 6-6b: After completion of a round, the competitor should check his score for each hole and settle any doubtful points with the committee. He must ensure that the marker or markers have signed the scorecard, sign the scorecard himself and return to the committee as soon as possible.

I've seen enough tournaments, organized enough and know the rules enough to realize that the only person who is at fault for what happened to Dustin Johnson is Dustin himself. The notice to competitors BEFORE the tournament started clearly said that all sand was to be considered a sand bunker, in other words: a hazard.

I am sure the rules official with Dustin's group was more concerned to give Dustin a line of play among the fans, than whether or not Dustin was in a hazard, which the official thought Dustin knew. It's not like the official should have said to a professional... "Hey Dustin, don't forget you are in a hazard!" It's like, "hey dummie, did you read the rules?" And if he tried, it was too late, there he is trying to move gallery while Dustin is assessing his lie, and bam!!! he touches the hazard!!! And that is the end of that.

Someone mentioned Roberto De Vicenzo (1968 Masters). It was almost the same. Then, he signed a wrong scorecard, but because he signed for a score higher than he actually shot on #17, the score stood (Rule 6d). In this case, it would have been "meaner" to allow Dustin to to sign the scorecard with a 5 on #18 and then proceed to disqualify him.

Had he signed for a score lower than he had on a hole, he would have been disqualified. And that is what the official was trying to do when he approached Dustin after the round: AVOID A DISQUALIFICATION ONCE HE WAS AWARE THAT DUSTIN MAY HAVE GROUNDED THE CLUB IN THE HAZARD.

KUDOS TO THE PGA OF AMERICA AND THE OFFICIALS!! IT WAS A TOUGH ON DUSTIN, BUT THE RULING WASN'T TOUGH. EVERYONE KNOWS THESE SIMPLE PRINCIPLES.

AND OF COURSE, CONGRATULATIONS TO MARTIN KAYMER!!!

THE EVOLUTION OF GOLF IN GANADO, AZ....

Recently, the Navajo Times published an article about "The Wagon Trail to Lonesome Pine" Golf Course just outside Ganado, AZ. Nine miles to be exact. When I overheard about it a few days ago, I didn't pay attention and thought they were speaking about a practice area adjacent to Ganado H.S. that Bob and Madge Becker opened in the late 90's. Let's start there (*):

Madge was the principal at Ganado High School, and Bob was a math teacher there. Madge didn't play golf, but Bob did as often as he could, which he usually did in weekday afternoons, while Madge either went shopping or stayed reading a book around the pro-shop. It was not the "I have to stay and wait for him to finish" type wait, or the usual "golf widow", it was something much different. Let's just say that Madge enjoyed Bob having some fun. This all evolved into talks about a golf team, then to actually having a team followed by instruction at the Gallup Municipal G.C., then, Madge, a great force to get things done for kids, secured a grant from the USGA worth several thousand dollars with which she bought some equipment, paid for some lessons but more importantly, opened a practice facility adjacent to Ganado H.S., which I had the honor to be invited as "co-host" for a grand opening that featured Notah Begay III as the guest of honor. However, Madge and Robert retired and moved to Colorado, and without their driving force and vision, the program soon died.

Enter Freddie Yazzie. Freddie was the usual bus driver that drove the kids to play and practice in Gallup. Since Freddie helped with the kids, he also began hitting some balls, and in time, he began playing golf as well. After the program ended, he also came a few times to play some golf himself, and we considered him sort of like "an assistant coach": HE WAS HOOKED!

There is more: Freddie happens to be cousin to Joe and Donald Benally, who own the land where "Wagon Trail" (for short) is located in the Navajo Reservation, which is the source of the Navajo Times article. After the article appeared in the Navajo Times, Freddie contacted Madge Becker, sent her a link to the article and finished his email by saying: "Madge, I know you had a dream like this". Yes she did Freddie, and now you and your family can help revive it as you expressed in our conversation.

Freddie expressed that he'd like to make this available to kids and maybe have some clinics. The start will be a remake of the tournament that was originally scheduled for two weeks ago and which will be rescheduled to August 28th (apparently The Navajo Times was published only a day or two before the original event and there was not a lot of advance notice).

This shows you what desire and dreams can put together. Yes, this is a dirt golf course, where you tee off from artificial grassed mats. It takes us back to the 1400's when the Scotts first played golf: some grass, some sand, some bushes, a hole and a lot of fun. This is the kind of project that deserves been given a chance to some funding to make conditions improve. Guaranteed, these people would make a few dollars go a long way!!!

Congratulations and thank you in the name of golf.

(DON'T FORGET!! AUGUST 28th - YOU CAN CALL FREDDIE AT 928-675-1733; JOE BENALLY AT 928-550-3390 OR DONALD BENALLY AT 505-809-8760

(*) This is not, in any way, meant to be a complete history, these are only some of the things I know first hand. I am sure that there were many other people who helped Madge and Robert Becker, and others who helped the Benally's and Freddie, so, if there is anything else that anyone knows, please feel free to contact me to add or correct anything written here. Thanks.

COMING SOON: CHEERLEADERS SCRAMBLE 2010

Reserve the date... Augsut 8, 2010. Sunday!

The Cheerleaders Scramble will be hosted at Fox Run G.C.

Format: 4-Man Scramble. Pick your own team.

Enrty Fee per Person; $65.00

For more information, call Lucy Montoya at 505-862-3090. 

The Cheeleaders Scramble is the longest running fundrasier in Gallup, dating back to the late 80's!! And one that all golfers truly enjoy, partly because they get to play their favorite game and partly because they get to take their picture with very pretty young ladies!!


You can't beat that!

GOOD NEWS FOR FOX RUN!

It seems that for a long time no one got it: "Plans" without action, are as valuable as the paper these are written on. Furthermore, bad plans done right, are more damaging than good plans done wrong. In other words, doing the wrong thing right takes a lot longer to fix than doing the right thing wrong, and golf courses or operations of golf courses, are not immune to this statement, and specifically, Gallup.

In early 2009, after four straight years (2005-2008) with season long problems that negatively affected the course conditions and playability, our former golf course superintendent, acting on an idea of a fellow city employee and friend (the grant writer for the City of Gallup), came up with a "6-Year Plan" (written by both) that was later called, by both of them, "a Wish-List dependant on funding" (????!!)

When the superintendent was asked what could he do with the resources he had, instead of what he could promise with what he didn't have, he declined to answer... and in fact, nothing was done... OK almost nothing: there was the "Signature Hole" project with which 70,000 sq ft of perfectly usable grass on #14 and #17 were destroyed with the excuse that the area was full of weeds and Bermuda grass, none of which was true. Now, after 5 months of "fiinishing" these areas for seeding, they are full of weeds, and the new "weather station" is useless because the soil was not prepared right to begin with (note: the grass taken out was not used to sod any of the problem areas of the course and was destroyed by spraying with chemicals the day before it was turned inside out with a tractor on September of 2009). The result is that over $120,000 of your tax payer dollars, were wasted! (and that is just one project!). So, 18 months after releasing the "6-Year Plan", the golf course was all but gone. Sure, there will be a "spin" of "he was not allowed to finish", which many might thnk of as a positive. Many say "good, just look at what he left", and some say, "he was a scapegoat". You decide. OK, that is past.

The good news for Fox Run is that the "3-Year" plan of 2007 (which was never implemented), and the "6-Year" plan of 2009 (ditto), have been replaced by a 90 Day Plan that starts Monday, July 19, 2010 and which will be carried on mainly by Tommy Noe (see pictures) and some by city councilor Bryan Wall. The plan could be called "A 90 Day, Take Action Now, There Are Things That Can Be Done Now" plan. Obviously, there is little that can be done in 90 days except perhaps show that with some action, our golf course, which regressed 20 years or so in rounds and revenue, can be salvaged instead of trying to build a new course that would cost upwards to $12,000,000 that we don't have.  In addition to the operation, the addition of Vince Alonzo, who spent well over 25 years with the city in golf course and parks,  gives our course something we lacked for a while: personality to deal with the public. Alonzo -who is acting as a foreman who is well liked and respected by public and crew-, and Richard Gomez, who has been at the golf course for close to 20 years and knows pretty much how to run the maintenance, make a good team with Noe, who knows the construction end. People have already noticed some positive changes in the daily procedures and are hopeful. With time, they will notice the construction part.

This 90 Day plan calls for redoing greens #'s 7, 8 and 10, plus seeding the driving range (the sprinklers had been capped off for no known reason since the end of 2007, which not only caused the cancellation of Junior program in 2008 and 2009, but also caused losing the fairway on #18, when the winds blew the sand of a bare driving range to the adjacent fairway). There is a lot to be done, but these three greens and the driving range is a great start. There is another positive: the public, thank God, if given something positive and some hope, usually has short memory. Show some progress instead of broken promises, and the previous 6 years will be forgotten, almsot overnight!

Two questions remain:  1) What do we do with the $150,000 "signature hole" and the destruction of #14 that yielded nothing but weeds? (the whole thing will have to be redone in order to regrow the wasted grass; and 2) Who approved this nonsense by the superintendent, particularly after strong warnings?

PICTURES:
Top Left: Vince Alonzo praising the "top dogs" (top right) of the golf course crew: Preston Tom, Richard Gomez (Asst. Superintendent) and Dennis Nieto.

Bottom: Left, Tommy Noe (operating the "BobCat") beginning work on #7 green; and on right, #7 green totally "rotto-tilled" before the soiuld is mixed with sand and peat-moss, and then reshaped and ready for sod.