Friday, March 10, 2023

Thank You!

Hello and welcome to The Greenkeeper! Today is Friday, March 10, 2023 and much has transpired since my last post. Honestly, I don't even know where to begin. How did we get where we are today when weeks ago we were thankful to have the renovations and improvement projects in the rear-view and spring and the upcoming golf season on the horizon? 

I have always believed things happen for a reason and God works in mysterious ways, and after nearly 18 years the time has come for me to say goodbye to Carolina Golf Club. I have been witness to much change in that time, the least of which was the total transformation of the golf course in my first few years. Hopefully some of you have enjoyed a look back as I have been sharing old photos on Twitter recently. 

The other day I was reflecting with my superintendent peers at Charlotte CC, Quail Hollow, Myers Park, and Carmel only to realize I arrived in Charlotte before each of them. Sadly, two former superintendents at those clubs back when I arrived passed away in 2022, eighteen years is a long time.

It is long enough to watch your children grow up and leave for college. I've seen your swings get shorter and watched you move forward a set of tees, or even two. I've applauded your on course successes and grimaced with you when the putts didn't drop. I tried my best to help make the game more fun for all who played here.

These last few weeks I've been helping the team prepare the course for the coming season, and doing everything in my power to ensure their success. We wrapped up preemergent herbicide applications to all tees, fairways, and rough plus managed to cleanup some late arriving winter weeds with spot post emergent treatments. We started our annual mowing of the cool-season native areas and the team will follow up with preemergent herbicide treatments soon. 

The cart paths are being edged and soon fresh mulch will be installed in all landscape areas. And thankfully Mother Nature finally allowed the course to dry sufficiently to permit us to use the large 3-ton roller on Holes 2 and 8. I am thrilled we have those holes open for normal play once more. Thank you for your patience. 

In fact, thank you is all I can say. Thank you for taking a chance on a Virginia native with little knowledge of Donald Ross or golf course construction and grow-in prior to my arrival. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to learn on the job and to make mistakes. Thank you for your unwavering support during the good times and challenging ones. Thank you for preparing me for this next chapter in my life and career as a golf course superintendent.  

CGC will forever live inside my heart. I'm not the first person entrusted to care for Carolina Golf Club and I certainly will not be the last. But hopefully when folks look back on CGC's illustrious history they can point to my chapter and say he cared more.



Thank you,

Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG

* I composed this message prior to last night's emotional sendoff. I cannot thank you all enough for such an amazing farewell. 


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