“ If you get one group behind by five minutes, the whole damn thing just gets worse.”
— William Knox Stacy, M. D. the cart, walk up, offer a friendly greeting but be firm. I had a spreadsheet for both 90-degree and cart-path-only play based on departure time. By sharing the data I’ d say‘ this is our expectation and where you need to be.’ That meant we didn’ t have to get into an argument.”
Playing through?“ We generally resisted it unless there was visible room ahead.”
One immutable truth Stacy learned early on was that“ women golfers do not play slowly.” In fact, he says,“ Most of them play fast.”
THE STARTER AS PROBLEM SOLVER When a foursome had a 10 a. m. tee time and only three out of four appeared, Stacy would announce,“ You bought the 10 a. m. tee time. In about four minutes it will be gone. Start now and we’ ll bring your player out to you.” If you get one group behind by five minutes,” he observes,“ the whole damn thing just gets worse.
“ We got a lot of walkups. And we accommodated them because invariably they’ d return and ultimately bring somebody with them. You just needed to be careful where you put them.” As a rule, Independence did not, as many private clubs do, maintain starter times— purposely reserved open spaces— that may provide flexibility, accommodate slow play or special circumstances.
“ With an alert starter and good marshal we could get almost any walkup paired and on the course. I’ d write the color of the shirt and hat of the walkup, give him some balls and then walk the tee line assessing who might be a good complement. Then I’ d make introductions. Nine times out of 10 they’ d shake hands and go.” Frost delay solution? Shotgun start.“ The groundskeeper usually knows how long it will take to make the course playable. If we’ d be four holes short we’ d take the first group, place them on the fourth
Starters and marshals were also often required to be jacks of all trades. Stacy can recount tales of insufficient water in the ladies’ restroom, inoperative carts on the course, improper driving, tree ramming by a 9-year-old, on-course cart malfunction, dog-walkers and even occasional non-paying trespassers.
A good marshal works with the starter to keep a four-hour round from creeping towards five.
hole and start all four groups simultaneously. You might have some crunch time when they came around but we could always deal with that,” he says. Big outings? Be prepared.“ Big ones are very profitable, but you have to have a first-class operation if you are going to ask people to pay a lot of money. Normally we’ d have four starters / marshals working sometimes before dawn, i. e.: getting carts ready with signage, placing ad signs, preparing shag bags, assignment sheets, cart numbers, helping lost souls, etc.”
Starters and marshals were also often required to be jacks of all trades. Stacy can recount tales of insufficient water in the ladies’ restroom, inoperative carts on the course, improper driving, tree ramming by a 9-year-old, on-course cart malfunction, dog-walkers and even occasional non-paying trespassers. Once he even received a homeowner complaint regarding a golfer urinating on her bushes.
Stacy is retired now, but of his days in the kingdom, he says,“ I had a good time. I played a lot of golf and made a whole new group of friends.”
What’ s not to like?
vsga. org J ULY / A UGUST 2018 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 25