By REED DESALVO

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Greg Brooking stared out of his hotel window Wednesday afternoon in sunny San Diego, awed by the sight set in front of him.

The Natchez native peered down at the 18th green of the renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course, still equipped with bleacher seats that accommodated spectators who took in last week’s PGA Tour event, the Farmer’s Insurance Open.

Brooking will get an even closer look today when he takes to the course to compete in the championship flight of the Golf Course Superintendents National Championship.

“The course is a true championship course,” said Brooking, who has played the course in years past. “It’s one of the hardest courses I’ve played … I don’t think I’ve ever broke 80.”

Brooking is the superintendent of the Duncan Park Golf Course, and the lone representative from Mississippi partaking in the four-day tournament.

“Anytime you can play in the national championship, that’s something that you revel in,” Brooking said.

 

This week’s tournament won’t be the first for Brooking. He has competed on the national scene for a number of years. The 58-year old, however, said he senses this week’s national event could serve as one of his last.

 

“They always have this event at really great golf courses around the county,” Brooking explained. “But it’s just coming down to age and not being able to hit the ball very far, because the courses are long.”

While Brooking thoroughly enjoys the challenges presented on the course, the superintendent of 32 years also relishes the opportunity to converse with peers in attempt to further boost his knowledge of maintaining a top-of-the-line golf course.

 

“I always get to interact with other (superintendents) at other good courses, plus we play at really good courses,” Brooking said. “We get to see the maintenance done — types of grass, how they manage the grass, how they manage the workers, and the superintendents of the courses always talk to us.”

 

But for now, Brooking is all too excited to take to Torrey Pines in attacking the difficult course.

“I’ve played golf all my life,” he said. “I love the game … I always expect good things. Golf is a finicky game, and you have to take what it gives you. You have to prepare to play well, but you have to take what it gives you. Torrey Pines demands repeated quality shots, because the course never lets up.”