GREENS SUPERINTENDENT
Having been brought up in the golf business, born in the clubhouse at Maple Lane Golf Club, where my father was Superintendent for 54 years, I was always told about the very prestigious Detroit Golf Club. My father said that if I wanted to become a Superintendent of a club, Detroit Golf Club should be my goal. Lo and behold... 27 years later after college at Michigan State University and a six year stint as Superintendent of Dearborn Country Club, my goal was reached. In 1962, I became the Superintendent of the Detroit Golf Club.
Detroit Golf Club was everything that I had ever hoped for. Two great Donald Ross courses; a membership of solid, dedicated people; a Board of Directors with integrity and direction. The maintenance staff was experienced and took great pride in their work... a joy to work with.
As an inner city club, DGC has had some real challenges to battle over the years. One of the real hurdles came in August of 1967 with unrest in the City of Detroit that resulted in a devastating riot. The area surrounding Detroit Golf Club was hard-hit, and as a result, many members left DGC for the more settled suburban clubs.
As a matter of fact, I was in the process of building a new home at the time, and was concerned about my future at DGC...and the future of the Club itself.
I was told by my Green Chairman at the time, Mr. Gordon Andrew, that there will always be a Detroit Gold Club, and that I should continue with my new home plans. How right he was. The Board of Directors that followed kept Detroit Golf Club in the forefront, membership became solid again, and became even stronger over the years.
Sure, there have been many changes over the years. Demands for better turf, for instance, are constant. That's as it should be. But to keep up with the many demands, leadership of DGC has always come up with the means to accomplish and fulfill these new demands and we always remain in the forefront of the industry.