The Loss of a Friend and Mentor

Friday, August 31, 2012

If you are a consistent reader of this blog, the name Stanley Zontek should ring a bell.  Stan has been our USGA Green Section Agronomist for the past 4 years.  Stan has been a friend, mentor, and overall support system for our team over the years and specifically last year.  Stan has made countless visits, scheduled and unscheduled to consult, advise and just generally check on things.  On Tuesday morning, Stan passed away after a massive heart attack.  He will be sorely missed and I for one feel fortunate to have learned a lot from him.  Stan was always just an email or phone call away if you ever needed a second opinion or had a question.  He was a true ambassador for the game and his service to the game of golf will be greatly missed.  Stan's last visit was two weeks ago.  I received Stan's last Turf Advisory Service report on Tuesday morning, the day he died.  I believe this is fitting and a reminder that his legacy will be represented through the people in our industry for years to come. 

This is a link to the communication from the U.S.G.A.