How I Spent My Christmas Vacation

      First of all, let me say i hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.  My holidays were wonderful.  I saw friends, lots of family, and even made some new friends in the turf industry.  Jenni, Ella, and I came to NC on the 21st of December.  While in route here our car had some issues and is now being fixed in Mt. Airy NC, as i patiently wait.  It was not the most opportune time for a transmission to come out of a vehicle but all in all we managed.  Thank God for warranties. 

Sawgrass

     On the 27th of December i headed for Florida and warmer weather to see some golf courses and talk to some great superintendents.  My first stop was in Ponte Vedra Beach, where i got to meet Clay Breazeale, the superintendent of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.  The place was amazing.  Clay and his staff do a wonderful job and it was really an honor to see the place.  It was interesting to hear him talk about the shade issues and how they attacked that problem using an outside party that used several factors like GPS, sun tracking, and a recreation of trees using computer models that detailed shade percentages on greens.   The course was also putting in below ground heating units for their greens that day which was a cool process to see.  All in all it was amazing to see a piece of golf history and legend.  I completely enjoyed my time in Ponte Vedra.
     After i left Sawgrass i headed to the DEEP south where i got to meet Bob Randquist and tour another magnificent layout at Boca Rio Club in Boca Raton, Florida.  Bob was very accomodating to me and made a nervous college student feel very at ease.  This course is perhaps the best kept secret in the country.  I realize that the membership there does not want this well kept secret made public, but this place is immaculate.  The greens complex's are amazing and the native vegetation there was a something this southern boy had never really experienced.  I am happy to say that i will be interning with Bob this summer and i am extremely excited about learning from him and his staff.  Im also excited about volunteering with Clay and his staff as well for The Players Championship at Sawgrass. 

Boca Rio

     In closing i am posting some pictures i took while on my trip.  I love my wife and child and i thank them for allowing me to go on my little southern tour with no questions asked.  Im a blessed man to get to see and do the things i do.  I love the turfgrass profession and beauty and freedom it encompasses.