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It's Deja Vu All Over Again For Paul B. Latshaw 2003 PGA Championship host superintendent anything but a "rookie" Contact Jeff Bollig (August 7, 2003) - Paul B. Latshaw's resume says the 2003 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club will be his first major championship as the host certified golf course superintendent. In reality, the 37-year-old Latshaw has been conditioning major championship venues since he was 12 years old as he was drawn to the same craft as his father. Twenty-five years ago at the 1978 PGA Championship young Paul B. Latshaw began shadowing his father, Paul R. Latshaw in preparing Oakmont Country Club for the best golfers in the world. Next week the relationship comes full circle as the elder Latshaw will be a volunteer member of his son's staff at Oak Hill Country Club. Paul R. Latshaw retired from the golf course superintendent profession a few years ago after compiling an impressive record that included stints at Shaker Heights Country Club, Oakmont Country Club, Augusta National Golf Club, Congressional Country Club and Wilmington Country Club. He has hosted four Masters, two PGA Championships, one U.S. Open and two U.S. Senior Opens. Beside him at each stop was his son, who will now have the spotlight on him and his golf course. "Although this is the first major where I'm in charge, without a doubt I've had some valuable experience," said the younger Latshaw. "There are always things that come up and you have to figure out the best way to handle them. I've seen the need for organizational skills and flexibility. I've also made it a point to go to as many majors as I could over the years to observe setup and maintenance. I've seen and experienced a lot." According to Golf Digest, Oak Hill's East Course is one of only 29 courses included in the magazine's list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses each of the past 38 years. In the 2003 ratings, Oak Hill was 10th in the nation, a move of 13 spots up from 2001 and surpassing its previous best of 15th in 1993. The reason for the ratings increase came largely because of its conditioning, finishing just .04 points behind the highest score in that category. When Latshaw arrived at Oak Hill in January of 1999, the club began an extensive $4.7 million facelift. Included were new irrigation systems and widespread drainage work for the East and West courses, tree removal and maintenance to benefit both agronomics and aesthetics, and miscellaneous infrastructure work. The project also included an agenda for the 2003 PGA Championship. Under the direction of architect Tom Fazio, nine new tees were built to stretch the East Course an additional 230 yards, and 78 bunkers were rebuilt to achieve improved strategic placement and harsher consequences. The fairways were re-contoured and narrowed. For the championship, the layout will play to a par-70 at 7,132 yards. (NOTE: access the following link to the GCSAA Tournament Fact Sheet for Oak Hill C.C: http://www.gcsaa.org/media/factsheets/2003/pgaofa/pgachamp.asp). Oak Hill's greens, tees and fairways are bentgrass/Poa annua and the rough is bluegrass/ryegrass/Poa. The course was hit by 140 inches of snow and two ice storms this past winter, but that proved to be just another test for Latshaw and his crew. "It was one of those things that took two and a half to three weeks out of the spring to all the work outside the ropes," he says. "It set us back a little bit, but we recovered." After a cool, wet spring that kept Oak Hill's turf recovery in a slow-motion mode, Latshaw was pleased with how the layout had come around. That meant he was able to pay more attention to detail grooming and conditioning, and wrapping up myriad construction projects on the playing area's perimeter. "One of the most amazing things about these events is that you build a small community right on the golf course," he says. Latshaw's knowledge of past majors has taught him that planning for different weather scenarios is good championship thinking -- especially for the PGA, which is traditionally held in August during the searing heat of summer. Rochester, located by Lake Ontario and not that far from Lake Erie, offers the contrasting possibility of rainstorms spawned by the two huge bodies of water. "The PGA is probably the most difficult major to prepare for as far as timing goes with the turf," Latshaw says. "Obviously, in August your grass is in its weakest state -- you've really got to watch your p's and q's. Yet, the main thing is, you want to put your best foot forward and have great green speeds and everything, but you also have to make sure your membership has a golf course to play afterwards." The superintendent's point is well taken. Few of today's country club settings are as robust as Oak Hill. About 60 percent of its 900-plus members are golfers. The two courses bustle with play and events throughout a relatively short season. In fact, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, members play 24,000 to 26,000 rounds at each layout. In some ways, this month's major is just a bit bigger blip on the screen. "That's one of the things that's good about the PGA of America -- Latshaw said, "they want everything to be right, but they know it's a tough time for the grass and they work with you to make it right for everyone." Since 1926, GCSAA has been the leading professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 22,000 individual members in more than 65 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.GCSAA.org, www.GolfSuper.com or www.GCSA2.com. |