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Peninsula Native Becker Takes Over Pen Park Golf

On April 1, Peninsula State Park Golf Course welcomed Baileys Harbor native and former Assistant Superintendent of Horseshoe Bay Golf Course Mike Becker to their team as Superintendent. I sat down with Becker and asked him about his new job, his admiration of golfer Fred Couples’ style, and his favorite parts of working in the industry.

 

Zach Jaeger (ZJ): How did you get started in the golf industry?

Michael Becker (MB): I started at Maxwelton Braes when I was 14 years old watering greens at night. I ended up in the kitchen, then became bar manager. The opportunity at Horseshoe Bay [Golf Course] came about in 1999, and I was there until this year.

 

ZJ: What are the biggest differences between Horseshoe Bay and the Peninsula Park courses?

MB: Different properties. Horseshoe Bay’s all bentgrass, fairways, greens and tees; here it’s mostly bluegrass…so the maintaining process is a lot different from what I’m used to, even though I understand how it needs to be [taken care of]. It’s [the work] also a little more fast-paced here.

 

ZJ: What’s your favorite part of your job?

MB: It’s not a cookie cutter. Every day’s different. You get to change up what you’re doing on the fly. And at the end of the day people don’t know what happened – we do – all they know is that the golf course looks great.

 

ZJ: Does lawn treatment put water quality or golfers at risk?

MB: Maybe back in the day when copper sulfate [was widely used], but I don’t think that’s a major issue anymore…[Every chemical] we use here has to be passed by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the DNR (Department of Natural Resources).

 

ZJ: Who is your favorite golfer?

MB: Fred Couples. I like how he goes about the game. He’s always going directly at what he needs to…he’s just always calm and collected.

 

ZJ: When did you start playing golf?

MB: When I was seven, hitting golf balls in the backyard. [Eventually] I rode my bike up to Maxwelton Braes and played there.

 

ZJ: Can you sum up Peninsula State Park Golf Course?

MB: It’s a really unique course. I played golf here for many years…It’s a beautiful property with some amazing views and elevation change. Not every hole is the same, so you actually have to be creative when you play golf here.

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