Posted: July 12, 2015 3:14 pm

 

Todd Bidlespacher’s handiwork has been in the spotlight this past week.

As director of golf course operations at the Lancaster Country Club, Bidlespacher is responsible for the course that has now been by millions on television and scrutinized in person by the world’s top women golfers.

“I am very excited to show just how exceptional our classic golf course is … and let everyone see what a special place we have here in Central Pennsylvania,” he said.

This is Bidlespacher’s 12th year at the country club, where he oversees everything on the grounds outside the clubhouse.

Preparing the course for the tournament — and caring for it throughout the event — has been the responsibility of Bidlespacher’s crew, which has been under the direction of the United States Golf Association

Bidlespacher typically manages a full-time staff of 43, oversees budgets and maintains equipment. For the tournament, his crew has nearly doubled, as greenskeepers from around the country traveled to Lancaster to help out for the week.

Family: Wife Kelly; daughters Julia, 16, and Alea, 14.

Age: 47.

Hometown: Hershey.

Growing up, I wanted to be: A professional baseball player.

First Job: Bagging groceries and stocking shelves at Pronio’s, a grocery store in Hershey.

Worst Job: Doing research by walking in cornfields for a summer, studying different varieties of corn, bagging the tassels, and collecting pollen.

Three common questions/comments I’ve gotten about the tournament: “What does the USGA want you to do for the Open?”

“I bet you’re really busy right now.”

“Do you have any tickets available?”

As far as watching the tournament: I’m able to see it in several smaller intervals and, hopefully, I’ll get to see quite a bit of the final round.

My golf handicap: 18.

Pet peeve: Weeds.

Pet: Ben, a 3-year-old border collie. He spends all day with me on the course.

Favorite movie: “Caddyshack,” but I’ve have probably watched “Goodfellas” more.

Favorite TV show: I spend the most time each week watching “The Kelly File” — when it isn’t football season, at least.

Famous person I’d like to have dinner with: Howard Stern.

Favorite singer: Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.

Favorite meal: Anything Italian.

Favorite restaurant: Piazza Sorrento in Hershey.

Always in my fridge: Swiss Premium Tea Cooler.

What I usually eat for breakfast: A bowl of Shredded Wheat.

Hobbies: Sports and music.

My popularity in high school, on a scale of 1-10: 8.

How important that seems now, on a scale of 1-10: 3. But my best friends are still those I grew up with in Hershey.

Best gift ever: A surprise party with friends from home when I was living in Cleveland.

Favorite vacation spot: Southern Florida.

Dream vacation: Italy or Australia/New Zealand.

Best advice I’ve ever gotten: You can’t please everyone.

Worst advice I’ve gotten: I was advised to leave a job that I liked for another that paid slightly more. But I ultimately disliked the new job and left.

Advice I’d give a 20-year-old old: Pursue a career that you will enjoy, and start to set yourself up now to eventually attain it.

Advice I’d give a 30-year-old: Balance your work/family, and make sure you make spending time with your children the top priority.

Advice I’d give a 40-year-old: Exercise and put more focus on living a healthy lifestyle.