Ted Bishop spent 17 years as a golf course superintendent
Lawrence, Kan. (Aug. 1, 2014) – As Ted Bishop nears the end of his run as president of the PGA of America and prepares to hand the Wanamaker Trophy to the winner of the 2014 PGA Championship on Aug. 10, he recalls a time when he almost walked away from the golf business before he ever got started in it.
Bishop was fresh out of Purdue University, having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agronomy, when he turned down the chance to become the superintendent at Phil Harris Golf Course in Linton, Ind., a modest 18-hole municipal facility. He didn’t like the idea of having to serve as the head golf professional as well as the superintendent.
“You need to rethink that,” a friend told him. And he did. Luckily the job was still available when he called back.
“I spent the first 17 years in the business as a pro and a superintendent,” said Bishop. “I would spend half my day working outside and half my day working inside. Even today, I think that more than anything, I understand that the perception of the product we deliver is based on golf course conditions. And that probably stems from my background as a golf course superintendent.”
Today, the 60-year-old Bishop is the full-time general manager of The Legends Golf Club in Franklin, Ind., a facility he was intimately involved in building and developing in 1991. He became a volunteer officer for the PGA of America in 2008, and he has seen first-hand the increased cooperation between head pros and superintendents over the last decade.
“That relationship has really changed for the positive,” said Bishop, who still retains his membership in the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). “The head pro and the superintendent are the most valuable people at a club. They can’t exist without each other.
“If something is wrong on the golf course, the pro is going to be the first to take the hits. But a pro has to support and communicate why things are the way they are on the golf course. There has to be cooperation; the same cooperation that exists at the top with the PGA and the GCSAA.”
“He knows first-hand the challenges that we have in our profession,” said Keith Ihms, president of GCSAA and a certified golf course superintendent. “As the president of the PGA, he always keeps in mind how the two organizations can work together to be more successful.”
Bishop still oversees the maintenance department at his home course. He is keenly interested in the setup provided by superintendent Roger Meier for the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., as well.
The 36-year-old Meier, who is a Class A GCSAA member, is overseeing his first major championship, but he has already earned high praise from the PGA.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been around anyone as good as Roger,” offered Bishop. “We are fortunate to have him at Valhalla, and I hope we can keep him for a long, long time.”
It has been a steady and successful road for Bishop in the golf business, starting from his small-town beginning in Logansport, Ind., in the 1970s, when he worked for five summers at an 18-hole par 3 course.
He has served in a leadership capacity for the PGA since 1989, and he recently was inducted into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame. He will, however, fulfill his most visible roll in early August when he crowns the winner of this year’s last major championship. Additionally, he will have responsibilities at the Ryder Cup Matches in September at Gleneagles in Scotland.
But, Bishop will not stop there.
“We need to continue to solve our issues in golf,” Bishop said. “Water usage is an important issue, but we also need to understand that playability is also important. We need to set up courses so players can get around; so that they can have success and fun and they want to come back. We can’t make courses so hard that players don’t come back.”
Clearly, Bishop still has a lot he wants to accomplish in the game. But he will never forget his roots.
About GCSAA and the EIFG
GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 18,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Find GCSAA on Facebook, follow GCSAA on Twitter and visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org. The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, and has as its mission to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit www.eifg.org.
About the PGA of America
Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. Visit www.pga.com.
Contact:
Craig Smith
Director, Communications and Media Relations
800-472-7878
csmith@gcsaa.org
