18 Holes With ...
...PGA Professional Bob O'Brian, Tournament Director and Director of Instruction at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y., site of this week's PGA Professional National Championship.
By T.J. Auclair, Junior Editor
This is a very special week for the PGA of America, as the Association's PGA Professional National Championship tees off Thursday at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y.
A field of 312 PGA Professionals, highlighted by defending champion Mike Small, will hope to bring their best respective game to the Atunyote and Shenendoah Golf Clubs for the first two rounds. After 36 holes, the field will be reduced to the top 70 and ties to compete exclusively at the Tom Fazio designed Atunyote on the weekend.
What else is up for grabs? The prestigious Walter Hagen Cup, named after the legend who won five PGA Championships and was one of the 35 original founders of the PGA of America. On top of that, the champion receives exemptions for the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah, the 2007 PGA Cup Matches and entry into a whopping six PGA Tour events over a 12-month period.
Before the tournament gets under way, Turning Stone Tournament Director and Director of Instruction Bob O'Brian, was kind enough to take us along for 18 holes of Q&A.
O'Brian, who has been a PGA Professional for over 20 years, explained how special it is to play host to his peers at his phenomenal resort. He also talked about how the job of a PGA Professional has evolved drastically over the years from teaching and running a pro shop to holding those same duties while also providing input on the layout and design of the course. Finally, O'Brian told us a little about the Oneida Indian Nation, whose reservation the breathtaking resort lives on.
The PGA Professional National Championship can be seen on the Golf Channel Thursday from 4-6 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 3-6 p.m.
No. 1 -- You've been a PGA member since 1985. With the growth of the game, can you talk a little about how your job has evolved over the years?
O'Brian: It's really changed. Roles change from location to location. My first job was at a resort in Maine, the Samoset Resort. I was there for 14 years. It had been bankrupt before I got there and with the help of my staff, we turned it into a resort that Golf Digest ranked No. 26 in the country in 1989. We rebuilt the course and facilities at Samoset. So, the job isn't just about teaching.
No. 2 -- How long have you been at Turning Stone and how did that come about?
O'Brian: In 1999, I came here. The job became available, so I came here and it was like starting over again. The first course opened in 1999, which was the par 3 course. Shenendoah, our Rick Smith course, opened in 2000. It was exciting because Turning Stone was in the developmental stages when I came here.
No. 3 -- A lot of people up north are telling me it's just finally warmed up. How is it that the courses are in such great condition with the cold and rain you've experienced throughout the spring?
O'Brian: Our courses are always in great condition. The grounds crew does an outstanding job. We pride ourselves in offering tour conditions every day. In a way I think we were almost fortunate to have the snow for so long, because it kept the course out of the wind and things. As soon as the snow was gone, the grass was growing and it's been in great shape since. That's a credit to our superintendent.
No. 4 -- What has been your most rewarding moment as a PGA Professional?
O'Brian: I guess I would have to say that the pinnacle of my career is this week -- being able to have the PGA Professional National Championship here at Turning Stone. This is something we've worked toward for several years. I'm very excited because it gives us a chance to do something on the national level with our peers. I'm thrilled by it. As far as being a player and a teacher I've had successes, but in terms of recent memory, this is it.
No. 5 -- What do you enjoy most about your position?
O'Brian: The variety. Not only am I able to teach, but I'm also able to be involved in the design and construction process. I take pride this week in being able to show what we've done. I love the diversity of the job, helping to grow the game and helping people play better.
No. 6 -- Like you've said, you spent 14 years at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine. Right on the ocean, that's got to be one of the nicest spots in the world.
O'Brian: Samoset had a strong membership when I left there. You're right about the location. Great location. We turned it around and when I left there were 275-plus members. Along with that was the hotel. It's not a huge hotel, but through the golfing season it was totally booked. It gets hot in the Northeast during the summer. Over at Samoset, you could have a nice, comfortable spot to play golf in the summer. We didn't care about the quantity of rounds being played, it was about the quality.
No. 7 -- Looking at your bio, it seems you haven't always worked at resort courses. Can you talk about the difference between working at a resort and a country club, if there are any?
O'Brian: There is difference. You don't get a chance to build a strong relationship with a guest, because they're in and out. But, they do come back. At country clubs you can build a relationship to the point where you can almost anticipate what their needs are, or what would best impact their experience. I very much enjoyed private clubs, but resorts tend to have more of a fast pace.
At private clubs and resorts, I've always taken great pride in our membership. The resort gave you action, but the membership was the driving force. That was a top priority in my mind, to have the members involved. I was at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach for a while and had a membership there as well. You have to make sure you have all the amenities that the members are looking for.
So, at resorts I like the activity. You know you're doing things right because the guests come back on consistent basis.
No. 8 -- You're a four-time recipient of the Central New York PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award for Resort Facilities. What is it that has made you so successful in that regard?
O'Brian: It's caring about what you do and having a good, strong staff. When you have good people working with you and people who take pride in what they're doing it's hard to go wrong. There is a lot of communication. I let them know what's expected and trust them to do the right thing. I'll come in sometimes and be surprised by something they did. You urge them to do the right thing. The way I look at it, yeah, I'm the one who gets that award, but there are a lot of people you have to thank because they're the ones who got it for you.
No. 9 -- Driving up Interstate-90 you pass farm after farm and gaze at some beautiful mountains. Then, out of nowhere, the Turning Stone Resort and Casino appears like a mirage. Can you talk about what went into the idea of building a casino here and how it's been so successful?
O'Brian: It was Mr. Ray Halbritter [Oneida Nation Representative and CEO of the Oneida Nation Enterprises, which operates the Turning Stone Resort and Casino] who put the resort in this location on the Oneida Reservation. It started as a small casino with a small hotel.
Then we opened the first golf course in 1999. Because of Mr. Halbritter, it's exploded. Now we have five courses. In 2001, he came to me when we started construction on Atunyote course to talk about his vision and who we would pick to design it. We were able to get Tom Fazio. It was exciting and fast paced.
It's not just about golf here either. We have a beautiful spa, a lodge and a tower, and an event center for big-name entertainment. This is a real destination to go to.
With the support we have financially, it allows you to do things you couldn't do at other properties. Of course you still have to justify everything you spend money on. But, if something new comes out we can look into getting it. We built our indoor golf training center that way. It took a year or so, but we opened it in November and it was a huge success. The traffic was outstanding.
No. 10 -- It's not every week that you have to oversee and prepare a tournament featuring a field of 312 players over two courses. What has the experience been like for you and what was involved in the process?
O'Brian: The course selection was decided by the PGA staff. We held the Eastern Regionals here in 2001 and 2004. It was a huge undertaking by the resort. There were a bunch of committees. But, to answer your question, the PGA of America does all the prep work. They give the direction and we follow.
No. 11 -- You touched upon it a little bit earlier, but as a PGA Professional, what does it mean to be playing host to your association's national championship?
O'Brian: We're very proud of this facility. Old friends had come in and now people from all over the country are here. The PGA is a small community. It's surprising how small it really is, because you go places and everyone knows everyone. To have the host event is outstanding. It's not a hard job and I think I get a lot more credit than I probably should. I'm very proud of this place and having my fellow professional friends here to see the facility, gets me pumped up.
No. 12 -- For this week's PGA Professional National Championship competitors will be playing at two courses the first two days -- Atunyote and Shenendoah -- before moving to Atunyote for the weekend. Can you talk about the differences between the two courses?
O'Brian: At Shenendoah the fairways are fairly wide, but if you hit the rough it's very difficult to get it out. You may even need to pitch out sideways. Also, at Shenendoah the greens are more contoured and severe. The greens will be challenging and they'll really be penalized for mistakes.
At Atunyote the greens have softer contours. Atunyote is a parkland golf course. The rough starts at three inches. It's a Fazio design, so you have to hit the ball in certain positions of the fairways and greens. It's longer than Shenendoah, but not as penalizing. The greens are going to be fast and firm. It'll be a real test of golf. I think the best player will win. Somebody might go low one of the days, but when it's over the cream will rise to the top.
No. 13 -- I was able to take a quick glance at both courses and they look stunning. Is there one course you prefer to play over the other?
O'Brian: All the courses are fabulous. Believe it or not, Kaluhyat [one of the courses not being used for the National Championship] is probably my favorite. Atunyote is our best though. It has more of a country club atmosphere than the others. Shenendoah is great too. I think they're all special. Obviously they're all special, because they've all been recognized by national magazines and given awards.
No. 14 -- Which course do you think players will have to do most of their scoring on?
O'Brian: They'd better play Atunyote well since they'll be there all weekend, but I think the scores will be similar on both courses. The winner will probably be between 10- to 15- under. These guys are great. They'll get real hot. You know, 312 players are going to get cut down to the top 70 and ties, which means 75 percent of the field will be cut. They'd better shoot under par.
No. 15 -- Which holes are your favorites on each of the two courses and why?
O'Brian: At Atunyote No. 15 is my favorite. It's a 442-yard par 4 and it's the first hole we seeded. We were in the shaping stage and one day, out of the dust, Tom Fazio showed up out of nowhere and surprised us. It was an eerie feeling, so 15 will always be my favorite. At Shenendoah, I'd say it's the first hole. It's probably the best starting hole I've ever seen and it truly sets the stage for the rest of the day.
No. 16 -- What's the best shot you've seen hit on either of the two courses and what were the circumstances?
O'Brian: At the Eastern Regional Club Professional Championship here in 2004, Craig Thomas hit the 18th green in two shots at Atunyote two out of four times -- the last time was in a playoff, which he won. That's a 600-yard hole. He hits it a ton. That's some good golf.
Maybe it's not the greatest shot I've ever seen, because I've seen a lot of very good shots. But under the conditions and pressure, as far as shots being played, I'd have to go with Craig hitting the green in two at 18.
No. 17 -- Turning Stone is a phenomenal resort. Can you tell us what else people can do here aside from golf?
O'Brian: I've been saying all along that the resort as a whole added to the PGA bringing the National Championship here. Turning Stone has quality hotel rooms, a lodge and a lot of variety. It's all outstanding. The restaurants are fabulous, the events center has live, big-name acts multiple times a week. With the casino you never have to leave the property to be entertained. There's always something going on. Whatever interest you have is here. A lot of people don't know this, but some of finest fishing in country is up this way. We have a lot to offer, and will also have growth in the future. One big push coming up is our golf academy. It will be recognized nationally as the place to go to. It will be a top choice in quality instruction.
No. 18 -- Finally, if people are looking to make some money, what game do you suggest they play in the casino?
O'Brian: Well, employees aren't allowed to gamble. I think people have to pick their own competition and have their own choices. It's all fun and entertaining. If you get lucky you'll win, but that's why they call it gambling. You do it for entertainment, not for a living.