CHRIS LANG ( 2 ) |
There ’ s a real complexity to it , and he does a lot that most people don ’ t even see , filling out schedules , writing the reports , organizing the volunteers . And a lot of driving .”
His friend , Bruce Nordstrom , a fellow Springfield member , was playing with Caggiano in a retired men ’ s league match at the Country Club of Fairfax one afternoon more than a dozen years ago . Caggiano told him he wasn ’ t available to play the following day because he ’ d be on the road rating a golf course .
“ I remember asking him ‘ what ’ s that ?’” Nordstrom said , adding that when Caggiano explained the system to him , he asked if he might be interested in trying it himself . “ I ’ ve been rating courses with Tony for more than a decade . And when it comes down to it , he is as close to being indispensable as you can get .
“ He has a phenomenal understanding of all the procedures . That knowledge , and the ability to go by the book to get it just right really sets him apart . He ’ s very steady , with an even temperament . This truly is a team effort . And we ’ re always bringing new people in . He ’ s great about helping educate them in understanding the process , and at the same time , keeping it moving along so we can get the work done . He ’ s got all the right skills .”
And what goes into the rating system ? All manner of measurements , calculations and observations involving topography , fairway width , green targets , recoverability from the rough , bunker depth , crossing obstacles like creeks , ponds or ravines , lateral obstacles like trees and putting surfaces . Are greens flat , moderately contoured or multi-level ? And of course , green speed is measured with that ever-present stimpmeter .
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Measurements are taken from at least three sets of tees — championship , member and ladies / seniors , for example . His home course , Springfield , has a 124-slope rating from the member tees . The average course is about 113 and the most difficult is 155 .
I ’ ve been rating courses with Tony for more than a decade . And when it comes down to it , he is as close to being indispensable as you can get .”
— Fellow Springfield member Bruce Nordstrom
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville , where PGA Tour and Presidents Cup tournaments have been played , and Creighton Farms in Aldie , a challenging Jack Nicklaus design , both have 150 slope ratings . Ballyhack in Roanoke , with dramatic changes in elevation and many greens in the humongous 20,000 square foot range , has the highest rating in the state at 155 . And Ingleside Resort in Staunton has the lowest , at 89 .
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“ Sometimes people think we ’ ve rated them too high ,” Caggiano said . “ We ’ ll take them out there and go hole by hole to show them the basis for that rating . The majority of times , it will stay the same . We encourage club members and staff to come out with us when we do the rating . It takes two to three hours , and we ’ re in carts . We go anywhere the course workers can go .”
One of the perks for the raters is a chance to play the golf course afterward “ to evaluate our own findings ,” Caggiano said , adding that Creighton Farms is probably his favorite course in Virginia . “ We might make some changes , especially on the greens . You may think it ’ s flat until you play it yourself and see that it ’ s not .”
Courses generally get rated every eight to ten years , though if there is a major design change , it can happen sooner . Caggiano , the team leader , is usually accompanied by a half dozen other men and women volunteers . Last year , at age 89 , he rated 39 courses from one end of the state to the other , and in years past , has done as many as 50-60 a year .
“ He ’ ll drive a long way down south and rate a course , stay overnight , wake up and go somewhere to rate another one , then drive back up to Springfield and rate a Northern Virginia course the third day ,” Walder said . “ At 89 , he ’ s still got that energy . He does it because he loves it , and he ’ ll be missed .
“ Tony is so deserving of recognition for what he ’ s done . He ’ s not one who wants to be in the spotlight . But what he ’ s done in his second career is truly amazing .”
You might even rate it as 155 amazing .
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