Below is an interview with Jim Engh, President of Jim Engh Design, Castle Rock, CO. His passion for golf started when he was young. His father and friends built the local golf course in his home town of Dickinson, North Dakota. Later, Engh went to Colorado State University where shortly thereafter worked for Bill Kubly at Landscapes Unlimited. He briefly worked at the Nugent and Killian offices in Chicago. Before he started his own firm in 1992, he work overseas for Cotton Pennick and then for Mark McCormick's European design.
The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.
When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game? I started golfing when I was a young kid growing up in North Dakota and it was my parents who influenced my enjoyment of golf. My dad was one of the top golfers in the state of North Dakota.
What is your current home course? I split my time between Colorado and The Club at Pradera and Coeur D'Alene, Idaho and the Golf Club at black Rock.
To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment? Having been inducted into the North Dakota Golf Hall of Fame alongside my dad.
What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course? Too many people play from a tee that is too difficult for them
What is your favorite golf destination? Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, not just for the golf course but the beauty of the area and everything it has to offer. There is so much to enjoy with the lake and town. Belmullet, County Mayo, Ireland....Carne Golf Links
What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet? Any of the sand green courses that are still in existence.
If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play? Carne, Inniscrone on the same day.
If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why? Have the golf world more concerned about the fun of the game rather than how good the pros are and the obsession with protecting par.
Dream foursome (living)? My wife, son and daughter
Dream foursome (living or dead)? My dad, son and daughter
18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions
1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt? Both, sinking a long drive
2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One? Round of Life
3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight? Twilight
4) Hit a power fade OR power draw? Power Draw
5) Beverage cart OR halfway house? Halfway House
6) Bathroom OR bushes? Bushes
7) Hot dog OR wrap? Hot Dog
8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough? Sand
9) Walking OR riding? Walking
10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid? Both
11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5? Long par 5
12) Pants OR Shorts? Shorts
13) Palmer OR Nicklaus? Palmer, he made the game fun
14) Beatles OR Elvis? Neither Van Morrison, he plays jazz, blues, and funk. How do you beat that?
15) Play for fun OR play for money? Fun
16) Bump and run OR flop shot? Bump and Run
17) Lay up OR gamble? Gamble
18) 18 holes OR 36? 18 Holes - need to be able to properly digest a new course.
