Making the Rounds: Land Park course gets super treatment

Think you love the game?

Your passion is likely nowhere close to that of a golf course superintendent.

He has sore muscles and grubby fingernails to prove it.

Last Thursday at Land Park Golf Course, 16 of the area's top dogs volunteered a day's worth of sweat and expertise for the betterment of the game and the nonprofit nine holes that drive the First Tee of Greater Sacramento's youth development organization.

"It's an honor to step onto the golf course every day anyway," Teal Bend's John Farley said. "To put your efforts into something that's bigger than the game – to help it grow, to benefit kids – is a great honor."

Field Day VII was heartily supported by the Sierra Nevada Golf Course Superintendents Association, as it has been since the city of Sacramento turned over Land Park operations through a lease agreement to the First Tee in 2000. More than 30 volunteers including assistant superintendents and vendors fanned out over one of the area's oldest layouts to do what would take one person six weeks.

There wasn't a square foot of fairway, tee or green that didn't have an aerification punch by day's end.

North Ridge's Larry Johnson continued his perfect Field Day attendance. He drove a tractor. Haggin Oaks' Sam Samuelson manned a greens aerifier. Catta Verdera's Ram Sena punched tees. The bosses at their home courses were happy to be the labor on this day.

"It gets us back to our roots," Farley said. "We all traded in beer and steak for Kool-Aid and beans when we started doing this for a living. Now that we've worked our way up the ladder, it's good to get some dirt under our nails and the smell of diesel."

Bob Cline, the Land Park superintendent since the program's inception in 2000 and one of the course's three full-time maintenance employees, is grateful for the help. Better course conditions lead to more play, which leads to more revenue to improve and expand First Tee programs.

The superintendents who can't attend send high-end equipment, much of which is transported free by a local rental company. Thousands of pounds of fertilizer, sand and seed donated by local vendors are distributed.

The payoff for the work force, other than camaraderie and the knowledge they've given something back to the game? Hamburgers for lunch.

"It's just a bunch of good guys trying to do the right thing," Cline said. "They don't want anything else."

Expanded Expo

The annual Haggin Oaks Golf Expo is among the nation's largest. What did the complex do for its 33rd edition Friday through Sunday? Made it bigger.

More hitting stalls, more club-fitting options, more representation from courses around Northern California.

Both ends of Haggin's driving range will be utilized for the first time, expanding the number of hitting stalls from 50 to 100. Six PGA Tour vans representing TaylorMade, Mizuno, Titleist, Ping, Nike and Callaway will be on the far side offering complimentary fitting sessions similar to those undergone by touring pros.

"We want to make it a VIP experience," Haggin's Ken Morton Jr. said.

Fitting appointments lasting 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the manufacturer, can be made in advance by calling (916) 808-2531. Expo hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days.

In a departure from past philosophy regarding the presence of competing courses, a "golf course alley" has been created to feature regional layouts. The number of courses represented has grown from four to 30 as a result.

It's the same free admission and more convenient parking on eight concrete-covered acres while construction is halted on the two adjoining car dealerships.

In the mountains

Lake Tahoe Golf Course is opening Friday for its 2008 season. Edgewood Tahoe will open May 7 (the 16th American Century Golf Championship is July 11-13). Old Greenwood will open May 16 and Coyote Moon on May 23.

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Steve Pajak, (916) 326-5526.