The Chefs Gotta Eat

“A Greenkeeper that doesn’t play their course, is like a chef that doesn’t taste their food.” - James Bledge Royal Liverpool

I love this quote. And when I first heard it I felt like someone had stabbed me in the gut. I had the notion of a golf club aimed at greenkeeprs in my mind for a few years. When I decided to finally do something with this idea I began taking a deep dive into all things golf course maintenance, particularly in the media. So began listening to more and more podcasts that had some connection to the industry and people in it. I was looking for my lane, for my opportunities in the space. I wanted to create something original and not compete with what was already out there and established.

I had (and still use) a running note on my phone with all sorts of random ideas and sayings related to my vision for the Greenkeepers Golf Club. I just keep adding to it, usually while I’m working, and sometimes it is fun to go back a couple years and see where my head was at. I will occasionally find something useful or funny or really f’n dumb. But since the beginning my notion was always to better celebrate and connect the game of golf to the work of the greenkeeper. This idea was never about creating a social media page and getting likes. It was about creating events, connections, community and championing the culture and people that are responsible for delivering the most essential ingredient to the game. The socials were just a way to share the message, make connections and have a little fun.

I was a lacrosse coach for a good stint and I love memorable little one liners and rhymes. Being a self deprecating idiot I love idioms and catchy one-liners. Just a a small sample from the heap:

More golf for greenkeepers - (I really thought this would be the one to stick)

Digging ditches and fixing pitches

Deep tines & good times

Working Early and Playing Late

Cut ‘em early and Putt ‘em late

Less inputs more one putts

No Tension Know Tempo

Kicking Ass and Cutting Grass

Work Dirty and Play Clean

Work Hard and Swing Easy

Playing Golf > Played Golf

Trust me there are plenty more, and some better ones coming down the line. But I had one line I really liked. I thought it really summed up my vision;

A greenkeeper that doesn’t golf, is like a vegan preparing your steak.

I kept playing with a word here and there and tweaking it. And while my busy brain was constantly spinning on this silly stuff I would have the earbuds in listening to books, pods, music, etc. Well, it just so happened that while the vegan line was front of mind I hear James Bledge say to Joe Gulotti via his The Talking Greenkeeper Pod; “A Greenkeeper that doesn’t play their course, is like a chef who doesn’t taste their food.”

I was changing the cup on the eighth green. I let out a pretty good FUCK ME and dropped my hands to my knees. I thought I had a little bit of gold only to hear a much more notable, respected and successful individual say what I was trying to convey in a better way. Bledge, I believe had just hosted The Open. I was genuinely fucking bummed and a bit pissed. For a while it was game over. Put it to bed. The Greenkeepers Golf Club is over before it starts. I am no longer original.

Lucky for me, I came to my senses. A few months later I reached out to Joe to just get a little feedback on my idea for the GK GC. Late in the conversation I asked if ‘you think Bledge would mind if I ever used his quote?’ . I assume Joe, nor Bledge had any notion I or the Greenkeepers Golf Club would amount to anything (still working on this part), but Joe graciously asked on my behalf and and followed up with a “he is fine with it”.

I love Bledge’s quote. I literally cannot say it any better myself. But I have tried and shortened it and you may have seen me say via a comment or hashtag Chefs Gotta Eat. So as summer is approaching and the stress of our work and to our courses is ever increasing try to stay cool, keep some perspective and maybe most importantly: stay hungry. Because the Chef’s gotta eat sometime and I personally would not trust a chef that doesn’t on occasion taste their food.

Check out Bledge and his team deliver the goods for the 151st Open Championship and find some time to sample the goods in the process.