A review of 2019

Seth Jones

It’s been a hectic few weeks for the Joneses, as we recently moved. After 10 years of living in a small town of 6,000, we upped and moved the family to the country. Today a neighbor literally rode his horse from the prairieland across the road into my driveway to introduce himself and welcome me to “the neighborhood.”

It was surreal speaking to someone up so high on his horse (now I know where the saying comes from) but also very cool. And good news: everyone is so nice out here. The neighbor invited me to bring our two kids over to see his horses whenever convenient.

But I do think the move, and 2019 in general, has aged me. On Sunday, I spent time working on the yard — raking leaves, picking up branches, burning the pile — and I sat there and smoked a cigar while I watched it burn. I came inside, smelling terrible, and looked in the mirror. I was shocked at how old and disheveled I looked. I’ve only been living in the country for a little over a month and I already look like Ted Kaczynski?

I complained out loud and my wife said the sweetest thing: “Maybe it’s the mirror.”

I can promise you it is not the mirror. But it is the end of 2019, and it’s a good time to reflect on the year that was. Our State of the Industry report, detailing what superintendents experienced in 2019 and are forecasting for 2020, is included in this issue. Also, a 13-month calendar celebrating 2020 with dozens of golf course dogs is packaged with this issue.

I’d like to thank our sponsors of these two bonus items for making them possible — Nufarm, John Deere and Rain Bird — and I’d also like to play along with the same questions we asked various chapter leaders for the State of the Industry report …

How was the golf season in your area? Beautiful. The best golf I played was with my son Boyd on the new land. We created a four-hole track that loops around the house. I guess the Some Guy’s Backyard team featured in the October issue made an impression on me.

How was the weather for your area? No spring, no fall. My two favorite seasons. I want a refund.

What was the disease pressure like? If I keep smoking cigars by a burning pile of yard waste on the weekends, it is increasing.

What was the biggest challenge you faced this year? I had to deal with a lot of first-world problems. For example, the distance from the media center to the first tee at Pebble Beach Golf Links? That was a heck of a walk. Also, generally speaking, there’s so much to do and so little time to do it. Why does time keep moving faster?

Were there any notable success stories this year? We had a lot of great news at Golfdom. We welcomed a new addition to the family (Senior Editor Abby Hart and her husband, Chris, welcomed baby Leo in August), and two staffers, Jake Goodman and Clara McHugh (née Richter), married Katie and Joe, respectively. We hired a talented new editor in Christina Herrick. The magazine had a successful year, thanks to our loyal readers and advertising partners. The Golfdom Summit, in its ninth year, celebrated its biggest year ever — 20 partners and 45 superintendent attendees. And it’s hard to believe I’m entering my ninth year with the magazine, which is a real honor.

What are your expectations for 2020? I’m optimistic, for multiple reasons. I have a great team in place. Readers trust us. And I’m looking forward to overusing 20/20 puns next year.

Reflecting on 2019, it really was a good year … even if the reflection in the mirror doesn’t look so good.