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78 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, August 6, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 24, 2004 Doug Mohler was hired as the Rogue Valley Country Club�s golf course superintendent on March 1. He oversees 28 employees and maintains 27 holes. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Keeping the green side up By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune His dresser drawers were three suitcases. His dining options were room service, maybe the Denny’s next door. His commute could be anywhere in the country. Doug Mohler was in the business of building golf courses, and his job was to put down roots for others, wherever and whenever. Now, he’s put down roots for himself. The 41-year-old became the Rogue Valley Country Club golf course superintendent on March 1, the latest step in a master plan designed to make him as well-rounded in his profession as possible. Advertisement A dozen years as a superintendent. Eight more in construction and renovation. Now it’s back to maintenance. "I needed to know what to do and how to do it," says Mohler, who hails from Michigan and has a degree in turfgrass management from Michigan State University. "I left as a superintendent and got on a crew and was essentially a laborer for four years. "I learned all parts of the construction phase and was actually doing it. I’m a very hands-on person." His goal always was to spend no more than 10 years in construction, then return to maintenance. "Any longer," he says, "and you’re out of the loop." The loop brought him here, and by all accounts, it was a fortuitous move for him and the club, whose former superintendent, Ken Johnson, resigned in October. Many have noticed the fine condition the 27-hole facility is in, from members who play it regularly to Larry Gilhuly, Northwest director of the United States Golf Association Green Section. Gilhuly made an advisory service visit the first of June and, in a follow-up letter to RVCC general manager Hugh Graham, praised the course as being in the best shape he’s seen it since he started in 1983. Mohler’s background in construction and renovation, he added, was evident. Mohler is quick to give due credit: mild weather (until this week) and the reinvigoration that typically occurs when a new boss steps in. But his attention to detail and diligence with additional watering — eight crew members hand watering — can’t be ignored. "I don’t change the schedule for watering, ever," says Mohler. "Every day, we apply guys to that, and it’s the same guys on it. They know the areas they have to really take care of and others they don’t." The watering habits will change in the coming year, however, thanks to a new irrigation system and other components set for winter installation. The club membership on Wednesday approved the $3 million project. Mohler says the vote raised the morale of his 28-man crew, which will also get a new or refurbished maintenance facility. "They see that the members want a better golf course and are willing to do what it takes," he says. Mohler can appreciate that. He did what it took to better himself professionally. He worked around golf courses as a kid and became an assistant superintendent at age 21, followed soon by a dozen years as the head man. He worked for eight years at Moon Brook Country Club in Jamestown, N.Y., and two-year stints at courses in Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio. From there it was into course construction, first doing the dirty work, then moving into a managerial position with Heritage Links, a Houston company that builds and renovates courses. A couple of the crown jewels Mohler was involved in: Champions Golf Club, across the street from the company’s offices and site of the 1967 Ryder Cup and 1969 U.S. Open; and The Bridges Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., site of the Battle at the Bridges in August. His final project was construction of an Arnold Palmer course, Gillette Ridge, in Bloomfield, Conn. Heritage Links, which consulted on the RVCC project, always had more than one project going. Often, Mohler would leave in the midst of one to go to another. Have dresser drawers, will travel. Finally, it became too much. He took a few months off to collect himself and spend time with family before job hunting last November for a superintendent’s position. "Stress in golf course construction is off the charts," he says. Further, he and his fiancee, Cameron, who lived in Tucson, Ariz., had long since tired of their long-distance relationship. "I had wonderful experiences," says Mohler, who worked directly with Tom Fazio and Steve Elkington and with Palmer’s design team, to name a few. "But that life, that pace isn’t what I truly wanted. I knew when I was ready to get out of it, back up and slow down." When he learned of RVCC’s opening, Mohler contacted a friend in the area and learned of the course, the climate and the pace of life. Soon, his was one of 125 applications Graham and Co. sifted through. With an 80-year-old course and a major project looming, Graham sought "someone with a construction background as well as one of maintaining courses. We couldn’t be more pleased that Mr. Mohler is a part of our team." It was not without much research. Graham and Mohler talked for hours on the phone, then the latter was put through 10 hours of interviews: six with six different committee members and four more with Graham. "They asked a ton of questions," says Mohler. "I’ve never been through an interview process like that. They were very thorough." He liked that and they liked him. Cameron joined him here in April, and they are to marry Nov. 5. Mohler wants to develop a course the members can be proud of, he says, year-round. It’s a simple notion, really, and it’s reflected in his pet saying: Keep the green side up. "I don’t like peaks and valleys in the setup of a golf course," he says. "Like when a tournament comes and you shine the place up and put a wax coat on it and really buff it out. I like to keep it at that level all the time." And he’s glad to be in one place long enough to see it through. Have a local golf story idea? Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times