b'GOLF MONTANAThe grass can be greener on your side of the fenceby Peter Grass, CGCSY ouve heard the term heads up. Not in the commonlyThe second example is from 1998 when we had an outside used sense (such as golfs version of Fore!), but in the literalcontractor install an entirely new irrigation systemheads, meaning of keeping your head up.piping, controls and wiring. At the exact same time, the same One of the most common ways I have heard otherscontractor did the same at another nearby facility. The following evaluate a golf course relates to that term, in the sense ofsummer, I had one of my members stop and ask me if I was head up or head down. It refers to where you are lookinghappy with the new irrigation system. My reply was yes, it is during a round of golf and if you are familiar with that facilitywonderful, so much better than the previous outdated and or not. At your home course, for example, or where you playat times non-functional system we had been band-aiding and multiple times, you tend to look down and find flaws suchcussing for many years. He then clarified the reason for his as wet/dry spots, weeds, unlevel tee boxes, non-perfectquestion, he said he recently played at the other facility that had bunkers, a full garbage bin, a dry ball washer, the list goesalso replaced their old irrigation system and did not see wet and on. In other words, you find many faults with what you aredry spots like he observed while playing at Hilands. I told him familiar with.I had not visited that other course so I could not comment on When you go on vacation, a golf trip, play at a new or attheir conditions. A few weeks later I was having a conversation least new-to-you course in an event, you tend to look up andwith the superintendent at that facility and shared that story enjoy the new sights, the surrounding mountains, prairie, lakes,with him. His reply was, You are kidding me, all I hear from ocean or whatever scenery is, and overlook many of the detailsmy members is how perfect your course is and why does our (both positive and negative) you would observe where you playcourse have wet/dry spots still when we both have new irrigation the most. The next time you play somewhere you have playedsystems. Again, I contend it goes back to head up/head down many times, act like it is your first time there and I bet you willand what we see every day vs. something new or different. have a different perspective of that facility.Try to look through that filter as you play somewhere you From my career I have two examples that stand out in myare very familiar with or a brand new-to-you course. I contend memory of how golfers evaluate their course vs. others. Theyou will find both perfection and flaws in both situations and first is a comment from a member about our bunker sand andyou should be concentrating on just having fun, enjoying the how the sand is so much better at some other course. My replyoutdoors and the people you are with, not looking up or down was how that is an interesting comment, since we literally sharebut ahead to your next shot. I can assure you that no golf course the exact same loads of sand, delivered by semi loads fromsuperintendent or their staff start their day thinking what can we Idaho, dumping 1/3 at Hilands and 2/3 at the other course, anddo to not provide the best course conditions we can today, based that has been the case for many years. on the weather and budget constraints we are given. 8 GOLF MONTANA| SEPT 2025'