Charles Joachim and I first met over ten years ago when a local golf contractor asked me to GPS map their bunker work at Champions Golf Club. Charles was the superintendent for 28 years over both courses, Cypress Creek and Jack Rabbit. During his tenure he was responsible for a USGA Amateur Championship and five PGA Tour Championships. He oversaw the complete remodel to Jack Rabbit, and improved the Cypress Creek course in countless ways, including resurfacing all the greens - which includes floating out and shaping the huge historic putting surfaces - they average over 10,000 square feet.
Charles office has been a breeding ground for highly successful superintendents. One very proud accomplishment of his was how he mentored several assistants who have gone on to manage other highly regarded clubs. He spent so much time teaching and still answers their questions when they could use great advice.
Charles gave me countless tours of Cypress Creek and Jack Rabbit. We would talk about all the details we could improve and what was the next priority. I acted part architect and part stenographer when compiling all of our notes over the years.
I am lucky to have had his help away from Champions over the years too, always adding great practical suggestions and lessons learned. Fortunately we will continue to work together, as he is helping Don Mahaffey and myself on a current Greens renovation project south of Houston.
Pictured above is Charles, myself and Mr. Jackie Burke Jr., owner of Champions and the 1956 Masters Champion. It was hard to tell where Charles ended and Mr. Burke began as they are both full of so much history, golf and business knowledge.
Charles will always be a dear friend. Thank you.
You can find Charles here on LinkedIn if you'd like some help too:
