Today was a special day for me at HCC...
I started working on a golf course at the age of 14. It was the only job I ever had. By the age of 15, I knew it was I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I loved it. I loved everything about being on a golf course all day...and I still do! I played competitive golf in high school and working on a golf course was the only way I was going to get free golfing privileges to practice and get better. When I dropped the news to my mom and dad, they were suspect because they didn't think it was a real job. My Dad, and Electrical Engineer wanted to see me pursue a more traditional career like engineering or business.
I was fortunate to have several mentors along the way who taught me and showed me the career it was and is. As I went through High School, my Dad (who overtime became my biggest supporter of the idea and still is) would allow me to travel to a few conferences with him. They were held at nice resorts. The only stipulation...I had to set up an appointment with the superintendent at the resort and talk to him for an hour about the business and what I had to do to prepare myself to reach the pinnacle of this profession. I did that each time. In 1995, we traveled to Barton Creek, a resort in Austin, TX. Dale Miller was the Director of Golf Maintenance of their 3 courses at that time. Dale and I spoke for an hour and he really made an impression on me that I never forgot.
Today, at HCC, I had the opportunity to meet with Dale Miller who is now leading a fertilizer company. It was the first time I had seen him since that meeting when I was a high school student! I love this business for reasons like this and I am so proud of HCC and all we have done here in the past 14 years! I am proud to show it off...especially to someone who had such a great impact on me a long time ago!
In 2000, Sports Illustrated did an article on my journey to that point....check it out by clicking on the link below:
http://www.si.com/vault/2000/07/17/284696/brian-stiehler-after-internships-at-the-old-course-and-augusta-national-hes-primed-to-protect-his-own-turf
