![]() It was during this time that I really tried to get into the business in some way, and at some point hopefully, in an office during the summer. So, I searched schools across the country that had schools of Landscape Architecture, and settled on the University of Arkansas. ![]() Bob told him to tell me to study Landscape Architecture. Since the course I learned the game (West Bend CC) was working with Chicago-based golf architect Bob Lohman, my dad made a call to him to see what his son should study in college if he wanted to be a golf architect. From that point on, I knew what I wanted to do for a living.ĪG: How did you become a golf course designer?ĪS: Around the time I started high school, I began researching how one might become a golf architect. In any event, one day, my dad came to me and asked me if I knew that people design golf courses for a living, and they’re called golf course architects. I can only remember playing in the Staples Pro-Am on a fairly regular basis. Funny thing is, I never named the course. I even transplanted trees and built retaining walls. I found great passion in making sure my course was as well-kept as possible, watering the green, and tamping it down. They all could be played with a sand wedge. These sand shots were aimed at random targets, which turned into playing to a stick in the ground, which turned to me flattening out an area for a green, then finding 9 tees playing to one green, then 18 (very small) holes carved around the sandy hills, pines and lake water. I can remember getting into practicing my sand shots on a sandy beach lake house in northern Wisconsin (near Rome WI, as a matter of fact) that our family frequented often when I was a kid. I’m guessing it was the personal competition and being outdoors.ĪG: Why did you choose a career in golf course design?ĪS: I became very interested in golf while I was in elementary school, and I practiced all the time. ![]() I’m not sure it was the best way to learn the game, but it sure got me hooked. I just remember thinking, “Man, I have got to get better at this game! I stink!” I soon progressed to 5 holes, then 9. This feature was so deep that all I could do was hit my 9 iron over and over until I finally was able to ricochet the ball out sideways. Interestingly, the front nine at WBCC was designed by Langford and Moreau, and consisted of some fairly aggressive features, deep bunkers and sharp green fall offs - Incredibly difficult for a 7 year old! I can still remember hitting a tee shot on the 3rd hole into a large grassy bunker about 75-100 yards off the tee on the right every single time I played the hole. My dad enrolled my brother and me into the 3-holer beginner golf program, and took lessons from the pro at the time, Don Hill. I’m from suburban Milwaukee, and we were members of West Bend Country Club, a mid-tier blue collar club about 45 minutes from my house. It was your classic 5, 7, 9, driver and putter in a canvas carry bag. 7 at Rockwind Community Links in Hobbs, N.M.Īmerican Golfer: When did you start playing golf?Īndy Staples: I believe I was 7 or 8 years old when my dad brought home a set of clubs for me and my younger brother Tim.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |