Golfdom, April 2010

Family Matters Continued on page 44 The view of 7 Springs first hole from outside the clubhouse Eddie Rack purchased the course in 1955 Continued from page 40 the club because they knew he owned 7 Springs and was an experienced operator of a public course to which they wanted to convert Colony West But the family couldnt get the deal done without putting 7 Springs up as collateral to purchase Colony West Alas the deal stalled Thats when Mark Kuehner the Racks grandson entered the picture At the time the deal was being discussed Marks brother Dale was attending Penn State University and studying agronomy The family business plan called for Dale to be golf course superintendent at 7 Springs But Mark Dales younger brother who was leaving the Navy soon had no firm plans for his future While Mark longed to return to the family business where he had worked as a teenager there wasnt a spot for him or enough money to pay him so he could make a decent living Realizing this Gen began to rethink her position on the Colony West deal She wanted badly for Mark to work in the family business She also realized the acquisition would give future family members the chance to work and grow in an expanded family business Gen decided that putting 7 Springs up as collateral to make the deal was worth it if it meant opportunities for 42 Golfdom A p r i l 2 0 1 0 Mark and others The deal was made shortly thereafter It was decided Dale would move to Florida to become director of golf maintenance at Colony West and Mark would become superintendent of 7 Springs upon his departure from the Navy I cant describe how appreciative I was to have grandparents like that who were willing to make that sacrifice says Mark now in his 23rd year as superintendent of 7 Springs They couldve told me We cant do it Youll have to get a job elsewhere It was not lost upon Mark at the time that his aging grandparents had little to fall back on if Colony West wouldve continued to flounder and sunk the family business The kids working in the business were young enough to move onto to other things but my grandparents were too old to learn a new trade he says They took a huge risk on a recent sun splashed day Mark Dale and their mother Janice Sherman visit a memory plaque located in a garden near the 7 Springs clubhouse The plaque is in memory of Gen who died Jan 12 2009 at 93 It reads Loving and caring in all her ways Generous to the end of her days Sincere and true in heart and mind A beautiful memory she leaves behind The brothers and their mother will never forget Gen and the legacy she left behind Gen knew little if anything about turfgrass maintenance but she knew a lot about family maintenance She was the familys calming force Family first was Gens motto The business was an extension of the family Janice says The business was never going to shatter the family if she had anything to do with it If there were disagreements between family members Gen made sure they were smoothed out says Janice who called her mother the gentle authority