Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) member Eric Johnson reflects on his shepherd past as he prepares Chambers Bay for the U.S. Open
Lawrence, Kan. (June 16, 2015) – On the verge of perhaps his biggest professional moment, Eric Johnson fondly recalls two relatives who helped prepare him for it.
Johnson serves as director of agronomy at Chambers Bay, which is the center of the golf universe this week. The golf course, located in University Place, Wash., is hosting the 115th U.S. Open. Johnson, 52, certainly has an employment history that paved his journey to something so special.
The resume of the 22-year member of the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA) reads like a list of the West Coast’s famed courses: golf course superintendent at Old Macdonald in Bandon, Ore.; golf course superintendent at Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Ore.; and golf course superintendent at Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach, Calif.
You get the picture.
Now, picture this: When he was 20-something, long before Chambers Bay existed, Johnson gained a wealth of experience that came in handy – probably somewhere you never would have imagined.
He was a shepherd.
On his aunt and uncle’s farm in Oregon, Johnson was called to duty. Hal and Dolores Vrooman raised purebred North Cheviot sheep for show breeding. When Hal suffered a stroke, Johnson entered the picture to help care for the flock.
“I performed a lot of work on my own. It was a great experience,” says Johnson. “It helped develop the work ethic I have today.”
Johnson’s hard work will be showcased this week, along with Chambers Bay’s fine-fescue surfaces. It will be the first time in U.S. Open history that the tournament will be played on all fine-fescue turf. The fine fescue plays a key role in Chambers Bay’s sustainability efforts because the grass requires much less water and fewer inputs, such as fertilizers and pest control, than other grass types typically used in the region.
Both the long hours required to host a golf championship and the dedication to Mother Nature harken back to Johnson’s experience as a shepherd. Johnson compared it in many ways to hosting a golf tournament. This week, though, is no ordinary tournament.
“Sheep patterns reflect tournament prep. When you have 100 head of sheep that need to be fed every day, taken to pasture or have one that could give birth at 2 in the morning, you are married to the farm,” he says. “You also can’t take Saturdays and Sundays off.”
About GCSAA and the EIFG
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) is a leading golf organization in the United States. Its focus is on golf course management, and since 1926 GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the U.S. and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to nearly 18,000 members in more than 78 countries. The association’s mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. Its mission is to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit EIFG at www.eifg.org or find us on Facebook or Twitter.
Contact:
Craig Smith, Director, Communications and Media Relations
Phone: 800-472-7878, ext. 4431 or 785-691-9197 (cell)
csmith@gcsaa.org
