J Drew Rogers

USGA

My Time with Jackie Burke, Jr.

Each year, the American Society of Golf Course Architects conducts our annual meetings – always at a different venue.  In April, we held our event at The Woodlands in Houston.  Each day is a mixture of business meetings, continuing education, formal dinners and….golf. Golf is always a welcomed activity by our members – imagine that!  Some are very […]

MacKenzie Meets Augusta One Last Time (The Big Finish)

Having nearly completed the back nine tour, MacKenzie was regaining his humor, at least somewhat, and seemed to be tiring a bit as they finished at #16. To #17 now, where MacKenzie spouted, “That wonderfully formed pine is gone, I assume you had it removed at some point, Mr. Payne?” “Absolutely not, sir.  That tree […]

MacKenzie Meets Augusta One Last Time (Front Nine Tour)

I had a dream last night. Well, I’m pretty sure it was a dream… Here’s the gist: Alister MacKenzie is not dead. He’s been hiding away in a Tibetan monastery since 1934, the date of what we had presumed to be his death. So deep and powerful has been his inward reflection all these years, […]

MacKenzie Meets Augusta One Last Time (Back Nine Tour)

When we last paused, Dr. MacKenzie was on his way to the 10th tee.  The spirit amongst the group was strained at best as the architect’s criticisms continued to mount. As the group shuffled down the hill from the tee, MacKenzie referred to the relocated green and uttered, “Now this looks more like Maxwell!” Indeed, […]

Girding for the Aftermath of Winter’s Wrath

If you’re living most anywhere in the Eastern US, chances are good the winter of 2014 has been a long, cold and entirely forgettable stretch.  The Mid-South has also endured more than it’s share of snow, ice and record-cold temps.  The Upper Midwest and much of the Northeast have been nothing less than arctic, hence […]

Golf Courses and Machu Pichu; A Connection?

Several weeks ago, I found myself channel surfing (a common, last ditch effort before going to bed).  I happened to stumble upon a documentary program on PBS on Machu Pichu.  I have always had a strong curiosity and desire to visit this Incan ruin someday, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World…so I […]

Why is Golf Fun?

  I’m not attempting to be trite here!  The subject of “fun” has become a trendy topic of late and, in all seriousness, FUN is something that has frankly been overlooked in our fine game for some time. Not because of lack of interest, but because the game became perhaps a bit too serious on […]

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