Nothing like a drastic change in the weather to tickle the dimples on golf course owners and operators.
View full sizeFormer Kent Roosevelt standout Mandi Morrow earned a spot in the upcoming U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links tournament to be played in Oregon.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Nothing like a drastic change in the weather to tickle the dimples on golf course owners and operators.
The dry and hot weather was refreshing, just in time for the Memorial Day weekend. Not only did it help owners at the cash register, but also in the maintenance department. Many courses were able to get tractors out to mow for the first time in weeks. Still, many wisely stuck to "cart path only" rules for players.
"The cart path only rule really hurt us," said Aurora Golf Club assistant pro Mike Jenoir. "Still, we were happy to see our customers. We had between 140 and 150 rounds on Sunday and more than that on Saturday."
Dante D'Andrea, general manager at Good Park Golf Course in Akron, said 201 players were on the course on Monday and called it a better Memorial Day than in recent years.
"We were booked solid from 6:25 a.m. until 11 a.m.," said D'Andrea, who stuck to the cart path only policy. "It slowed in the afternoon because people have things to do, but we still got some 9-holers."
Mike Mucciarone, general manager at Fowler's Mill in Chesterland, said his course hosted about 650 rounds for the three days but less humidity and some wind would help ease the pain of the past three months.
"That's about where we expect to be," he said of the surge in weekend play. "But, it is taking some time for the course to dry out."
Lost revenues cannot be made up in one beautiful weekend.
"What's lost is lost and there is no getting it back," said Joe Flogge, who owns Barberton Brookside. "We did very well over the weekend, though. We were probably busier than a normal holiday. Our customers have been very patient. Our rough is very high and it's hard to play under those conditions."
Going Public, Part I: Kent State juniors Mandi Morrow and Shamira Marshall have qualified for the 35th U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, to be held June 27-July 2 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon, Ore.
Morrow, daughter of KSU coach Mike Morrow, was the medalist at the qualifying tournament at Grey Hawk last month with a 1-under 71. Marshall, from Nordonia, joined her teammate with a 73.
Going Public, Part II: A field of 20 will compete for one spot on the men's side of the Public Links Championship during a 36-hole qualifier at Pine Hills on Monday. Defending champion John Hahn, who recently graduated from Kent State, will not return, but runner-up Justin Lower, from Canal Fulton, has entered. The field size is the lowest in years and tournament officials feel the dip can be attributed to the weather.
"Guys have told us that because of the poor weather we've had they have not been able to get their games in shape in order to compete, so they declined to enter," said tournament director Marty Ginley, who estimated a 25 percent decrease in entries. "Plus, the dates for the championship have been moved up about two weeks. So, players in the Midwest, where they weather has been the worst, have been hurt the most."
Former Public Links champions include Tim Clark, Brandt Snedeker, Ryan Moore and Jodie Mudd.
Signing in: Organizers of the Cleveland Junior Open (Red Tail Golf Club in Avon, June 21-23) are calling the 96-player field -- 69 boys, 27 girls -- the strongest in the event's four years. It includes 14 Ohioans currently in the national Polo Golf Rankings, including locals Beau Titsworth (78), Matt Gerard (137), John Chaney (282), Nicki Henry (323), Alex Andrews (603), Andrew Bieber (694) and Ian Holt (840). Also entered is Hally Leadbetter, daughter of renowned instructor David Leadbetter.
Search is on: The University of Akron is conducting initial interviews for its men's coaching position following the recent retirement of Nick Goetz. In his four seasons, the Zips won three tournaments, including a 10-stroke victory at the Illini Spring Classic in April. The victory over such programs as Illinois and Ohio State boosted the team into national rankings for the first time since 2006-07. Firestone Country Club is the Zips' home course.
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