John Niemiec, Equipment Technician, Extraordinaire

John Niemiec, pictured here, pointing out a faulty actuator in the irrigation pump control panel has been our Head Equipment Technician for the past 17 years. John, if not the best, is certainly one of the best Golf Course Equipment Technicians in the state and here is why; he is naturally curious, extremely patient, persistent, can visualize solutions and thinks outside the box. Besides all that, he is good natured and goes out of his way to help all. Pictured also is Macario Rameriz, John's assistant, who possesses many of John's attributes, one being, an ever present smile.

Unusual But Effective

After DryJecting our Practice Putting green we had some unevenness in the surface so we rented out a 1 ton vibrating asphalt roller and vibrated ourselves back to smoothness. Sometimes you have to think outside the box to get the results you desire.

Annual Flower Planting Kicks off the Summer Season

For the last 20 years, Jerry Nelson, pictured in the badger red shirt, owner of Classic Gardens, Master Gardener, Instructor of Gardening and Radio Gardening Talk Show Expert has been designing and growing our annual flowers. Basically, he wows us every year with his unique selection of annuals and how he groups them for effect. Jerry's only down fall is that he is a Minnesota Golden Gopher Alum.

Short-cut Pathways, Protection Mounding

Earlier this spring, Mrs.Deborah Frederick toured the golf course with me as a walking golfer and a representative of the Woman's Board of Directors, we identified areas, that if mowed down, would provide walking, shortcut paths through our native long grass areas. We would create mowed walking pathways from 7 green to the forward tee on 8 and from 11 green to the forward tee on 12. We also selected areas that if mounded, could provide a natural protection barrier from errant golf shots hit by playing partners that tee it up from the back tees while the rest of the group remains at the forward tee. Forward tees that are being considered for protection mounding are #2, #6, #15, #16 and #17. Mrs Frederick, pointed out, that protection mounds must fit in and not look awkward or out of place, they must fit into the landscape naturally. With this in mind, we contacted our Golf Course Architect, Todd Quitno. Todd will review the sites and see what can be done to provide aesthetically pleasing protection.

Welcome Zac Houfek, new 2nd Asst. Superintendent

Zac Houfek is our new 2nd Assistant Superintendent. Zac graduated this May with a degree in Horticulture Sports Turf Management from Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL. where he studied under Peter Leuzinger past president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Zac interned with us last year and impressed us with his turf knowledge an excellent work ethic. Prior to his college study in turf, Zac was in the Landscape business where he learned about time management, quality control and crew commitment. Because of Zac's background and character he is well ahead of most college graduates, we are very happy to have Zac on our team

Spirit of William Langford Rekindled on Hole 5

William Langford, one of great early American golf course architects, designed hole #5 at the tail end of his career in 1958. One of his renditions, had a bent grass roll off area on the back left of the green, but at the time, due to funding, this unique feature was not added but Todd Quitno, of Lohmann Golf Design, immediately saw what Langford saw, "strategy and beauty all rolled in one", so Todd added the feature to his, "Spirit of Langford Design" and today, May 18, we completed the feature and you could feel Langford looking over our shoulder with a smile on this face.
The first person to have her ball roll-off the green and roll into history was Mrs. Judy Kestly, she is pictured here with her playing partner Mrs. Ginny McBride. How apropos, two of Westmoor's outstanding, long term members, feel the Spirit of Langford as they enjoy a beautiful day in May.

Perennial Prep for Seasonal Show

Jim Hicks, Horticultural Manager, on the bottom of the page and Epitacio Perez his hard working assistant above, have done an outstanding job with perennials on the clubhouse grounds over the course of the last few years. You see Jim dividing one of the perennial grasses near the tennis courts he will use this, and some of his other magic, to create another outstanding bed behind the 10th tee. Epitacio is standing on the far left side of the perennial bed that's on the hill-side between the middle and the lower parking lots, Jim created this bed two years ago from plants he salvaged from beds on the course prior to the course renovation. Outstanding job Jim, Epitacio, what a great photo area when the blooming season starts!