NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION VISITS GALLUP

On April 27, the National Golf Foundation team of professionals made it to Gallup: Forrest Richardson, Golf Course Architect from Phoenix, AZ., whom I actually had the pleasure of meeting the day before at the course in his pre-screening visit; Bud White (U.S.G.A. Agronomic Dept. better known as the "Green Section"); & Ed Getherall, Senior Project Director from the National Golf Foundation, and ultimately the person who will gather information from the other two professionals to draft the feasibility report that Bob Weekes requested and had approved by our city leaders.

All three, not only visited the course, but also took a very thorough tour of the city, including old proposed sites for new venues, went over our records of play, agronomic practices, saw our needs, and we all expect that they will make very sound recommendations and give us some choices.

In the words of Mr. Richardson, some of the questions will be: "would you like to improve the course a little?", "More than a little?" or "Put Gallup on the Map (with a very nice new course)?" and "What can your golf base afford?" During the meeting in City Hall, Mr. White mentioned, something that we have all experienced before: "a golfer's pleasure, day in and day out, simply comes from playing a shot out of good turf and putting on nice surfaces. Not everyone needs a championship course. These are difficult and expensive to maintain. Good turf is the main ingredient". I am anxious to see their recommendations and what city leadership will do with those. I'll keep you updated.