Finding inspiration

This month’s issue has been about inspiring others or inspiring performances. I think many readers recall a piece I wrote four years ago about Augusta National and how rather than view the Masters as a syndrome, we can look to their attention to detail as inspiration. Now, what inspires me may or may not inspire you, but I wanted to share a few things I recently found inspiring.

Obviously, my recent job change has been inspiring. I have written about that enough, so I won’t continue to bore you here. If you would like to hear more about how the change came about and my experiences since relocating to Kentucky, feel free to reach out and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Although it is now June and the world has turned its attention to the U.S. Open at The Los Angeles Country Club, I found the PGA Championship won by Brooks Koepka at Oak Hill Country Club to be inspiring. The East Course at Oak Hill Country Club was a visually stunning masterpiece of golf course architecture and presentation. The 2019 renovation of the Donald Ross-designed course was led by my fellow Virginia Tech alum Andrew Green. And the presentation of the golf course was led by my fellow 2015 Syngenta Business Institute alum Jeff Corcoran.

It’s no secret I enjoy major championship golf, but this year’s PGA Championship was extra special as I was truly happy for both friends. They deserve all the accolades and credit they deflected. And that too is inspiring. In an industry where many think highly of themselves, their humility is refreshing and hopefully a lesson for those coming up the ranks.

In the lead-up to the event, as photos were being shared across social media, I was blown away with the effort required to maintain those intimidating bunkers. Those bunkers were as deep and steep as I have seen this side of The Pond, requiring some improvisation on the part of Jeff and his team.

Yet they found a way and the golf course provided a great test for the best players in the world. The leaderboard was full of former major champions and great players trying to become major champions. Then there was PGA Professional Michael Block’s top-15 finish. If his performance wasn’t inspiring, then I’m afraid there is no hope for humanity.

A good friend recently stated on a podcast that you walk through the World Golf Hall of Fame and you will see countless photos of the world’s greatest players and their accomplishments. Victories achieved on some of the greatest golf courses in the world maintained and prepared by great superintendents you have never heard of.

You may even hear the term, “the stage is set” on the evening before a professional tournament or major championship. Until recently, the “stage manager” and his or her team have been hiding backstage. I know when I started in this business 35 years ago, I thought it would be cool just to have Johnny Miller read my name aloud on air the final day of the U.S. Open. I never dreamed I would see the golf course architect and the director of agronomy interviewed on live television in the lead-up to contesting a championship.

It’s also inspiring to see the enthusiasm of the volunteers and everyone else involved in the industry. The posts on social media showcasing the craftsmanship on display, as well as the “whatever it takes” and “can-do” attitudes of the agronomy teams, are inspiring.

Hopefully you found your inspiration and it translates to better course conditions, a better member-guest or club championship. Maybe you seek better employee morale and better team chemistry. Whatever your inspiration I sincerely hope you found it and utilized it to make things better around you, at work and at home.

And if you haven’t found it yet, keep searching because there is inspiration happening around you every day. Just keep your eyes and mind open to the possibilities. You never know when something you see, read or hear will spark an idea or innovation.

And like Mark LaFleur of Syngenta suggests in his Twitter handle — create positive change. Because despite how much has improved in our industry, there is still room for more. Hopefully you’re inspired to go out and make that happen.