Back in the summer of 2006, Mark Woodward walked the Black Course of Bethpage State Park and was struck by the condition of New York's famous public golf course.
In Bethpage Black, Woodward, the city of San Diego's golf manager, saw a state-owned course that successfully hosted the U.S. Open in 2002 and will host again in 2009. With the U.S. Open due at the city owned-Torrey Pines South Course in 2008, Woodward was struck by the top condition that Bethpage Superintendent Craig Currier and course manager Dave Catalano had the Black Course in at the time.
Woodward came up with a catch phrase that he uses often these days. It was time to “raise the bar” at Torrey Pines, where having the course ready for public play is as important as having it be a test for Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
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