If you were not a golf professional, what do you think you’d be doing?
I would be doing one of two things -- stockbroker or lawyer. I went to school to become a lawyer. Once I realized that I didn’t wish to wear a coat and tie at all times, I started to look for alternatives. As far as being a stockbroker, what greater pressure is there than advising others what to do with their money?

How much did you learn about golf course design during the recent remodel at Salishan?
I learned it was a lot more involved than “The green would look good over here.” All the little decisions and determinations that are made apply to the big picture and how the course will present itself once the grass, tee markers and flagsticks are in place. The most important thing I learned is that when you go through a large scale renovation, you have to be open to all ideas and not be afraid to march through the deep grass to see what a new tee shot might offer.

Did any of your suggestions get taken seriously, or laughed at completely?
I know that some of my ideas were taken seriously, I managed to save a couple of trees that made sense from a strategic point of view, had a lower tee placed on the 18th hole, and rescued the forward tee on the 16th hole. It was a very open process where even nonsense ideas were taken into consideration, and it was pleasure to work with the Jacobsen/Hardy design team.

What is your favorite aspect of the remodel now that everything is done?
There are many ways to answer this question. The greens and the bunkers were the major thrust of this project, and so not having to defend the slope and speed of the greens on a day-to-day basis anymore has been the highlight of this project. The entire golf facility was upgraded so much, with an eye to quality in every detail, it is hard to pick my favorite aspect, but the overall experience at Salishan has been improved, and that is the most rewarding aspect.

The remodel took almost a year to complete, what did you do with your time when the course was shut down?
I learned a heck of a lot about the operations of a hotel/destination resort. Every day was something different, inspecting rooms, helping in the restaurants, taking members on golf outings all while still planning for the 2004 summer, which as luck would have it, involved starting from square one with the entire golf operation.

What are some of the more enjoyable aspects of being at a resort compared to a daily-fee or private club?
Being at a resort offers me the opportunity to meet many different people throughout the year, and then they leave to go back home. In the private club, you may get the opportunity to develop deeper relationships with the membership, but for me, and my personality, I enjoy the transient nature of our guests, and we know they are here for one reason, to have a good time.

What’s something interesting about yourself that most of your regular guests don’t know about you?
I am a course collector. I have been lucky enough to play some of the world’s top golf courses, and I do it without much fanfare or celebration. This fall I intend to visit Merion, where Bobby Jones completed his Grand Slam and Ben Hogan hit the famous 1-iron. And I am not going to jinx my trip by mentioning the other course I am hoping to get a game on, but those of you familiar with that area, know what I am talking about.