Golfdom, June 2011

6 Golfdom June 2011 Im Pro Passion Anti Apathy Jones welcomes your e mail sjones@ questex com Reading Greens Editors CommEntary A fter four years Parker and I are on a first name basis Parker a Jehovahs Witness visits me about once a month always on a Saturday Hes always in a black suit Bible in hand He always brings a different friend along with him My neighbors might think Im weird for giving him the time to talk to me about his beliefs But I like Parker even though Im not really into his message I like that hes so passionate about his beliefs that he feels compelled to knock on a strangers door Im intrigued by passionate people even when they interrupt my golf watching I think somehow Parker knows not to knock during any of golfs majors thankfully It doesnt matter if the topic is religion politics or bentgrass greens when a person is passionate about a topic it draws me in When I first read this months cover story written by superintendent Chris Sorrell I knew what I was reading was written with passion In my mind Sorrell was furiously pounding the keys to his computer as he wrote the piece The first draft of his story was titled Come Out Swinging if that gives you an idea of the fury Im talking about By the end of the story I was ready to fight someone or at least angrily jaywalk I didnt necessarily agree with everything he was writing but its not about agreement I was drawn in by his passion for defending his industry against the close minded Sorrell argues that superintendents need to be proactive and aggressive when it comes to close minded environmentalists His piece which I hope you enjoy or at least agree is written with passion begins on page 23 Im sure some Golfdom readers will disagree with a few of the ideas Chris is espousing But thats good Thats also passion Its apathy thats the enemy Dont get me wrong I understand that misplaced passion has caused wars deaths and destruction But properly directed passion is what changes the world for the better Chris is a hard working superintendent at Eagles Ridge Golf Club in Curwensville Pa Ive only met him in person once at the 2011 GIS in Orlando Since he sent me this story Ive also published a few of his writings on the Golfdom Daily blog at www golfdom blogspot com One was titled The Sharp Park Drama Makes My Head Want to Explode Yeah Chris always seems to write with a little anger I like that What are you passionate about Im passionate most of all about my family My wife and I are expecting our second child in October Im also passionate about Kansas basketball live music and recently this magazine When people have passion it gives them zest That makes me want to listen like to my religious friend Parker If you are passionate about something in our industry and want to write about it send me an email sjones@ questex com and tell me your idea It doesnt have to be a fully formed story yet It might be something we could eventually publish in the pages of Golfdom I want to promote a diverse audience of superintendents and their voices although please keep in mind that pages are limited and we cant publish everything But no one knows the industry better than you and I always enjoy hearing what a passionate superintendent has to say about his or her industry Im also interested in creative ways superintendents are solving problems Odds are if it interests you it interests me and I want to hear about it And just like when my Jehovahs Witness pal Parker stops by Im all ears Lets talk about your passion It doesnt matter If the topIc Is relIgIon polItIcs or bentgrass greens when a person Is passIonate about a topIc It draws me In E mail Jones at sjones@ questex com BY S E TH JONE S