Super superintendents

Two of this country’s most prestigious and historic golf courses are located in Pennsylvania – Oakmont Country Club, near Pittsburgh, which has hosted a record 18 USGA and the historic Merion Golf Club of Philadelphia, which has hosted 17 national championships of its own.

It is amazing to know that the men in charge of maintaining these two prestigious courses are both from right here in Blair County.

Mike Shaffer, a native of Martinsburg, has been the golf superintendent at Merion Golf Club for the past nine years. The 58-year-old Shaffer is one of the most respected golf course superintendents in the country.

He and his staff have already begun preparation for the 2013 U.S. Open, which will be held at Merion.

The same can be said of John Zimmers, a Tyrone native who has held the same position at Oakmont for the last 11 years.

Zimmers, 40, was at the helm when his club hosted the 2007 U.S. Open and received widespread praise at that time for the condition of the course. (Oakmont was recently named to host the U.S. Open again in 2016).