Interview With Mark Krause, Muskego Lakes GC

Below is an interview with Mark Krause, PGA Professional/Co-Owner Muskego Lakes GC. He has been in the golf business for 37 years, including being a past board member of Wisconsin PGA and Wisconsin Golf Course Owners Association. He also was a two time President of WGCOA. Today, he he is a board member of the WSGA.

Mark has an absolute love to teach the game with the goal of helping the students understand their swing problems and help show them how to curve the ball in either direction.

His golf accomplishments include playing in the GMO twice at Tuckaway, qualifying for the PGA club pro championship twice once at the age of 52. Winning the PGA senior championship and finally having 8 hole in ones.

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 at the age of 12 giving up baseball to play golf. My father, we had a front yard that was 90 yards long and we built a green at one end. My fondest memory, is practicing golf in the winter after painting my golf balls black so I could find them in the snow.

What is your current home course?
For 37 years, Muskego Lakes. I may be partial but our course has a very good diversification of shots needed due to all the dog legs.

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
Proudest golf accomplishment is shooting 63 on December3 starting with 4 pars on each nine and then birdieing 4 of the next 5.

In the business, it is the helping of so many people get a better understanding of the golf swing through my teaching. A second proud accomplishment is being involved in all three of the major golf organizations in Wisconsin.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
The way people drive their golf carts. To close to the greens, two wheels on the cart path and two wheels off, not paying attention to wet areas and driving through them instead of around them.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
The driver because it is fun to work the ball in different directions based upon the wind and terrain.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Any place with lots of hills/mountains. It is so pretty and the appreciation you should have to build a course in those surroundings.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
any place in Hawaii, Ireland and Scotland.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Wolf Creek, Mesquite, Nevada

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Slower greens. Meaning about 9 to 10 maximum on a stemp meter. Most people do not play that many rounds of golf in a year and when they hit a good shot on the green, they should not be afraid of 3 putting. Second the faster the green the harder is to chip too, making the game more difficult. Third it cost the course more money the shorter they cut the grass.

Second idea, two sets of pins on every green with the second cup being larger in diameter. Most golfers do not want or have a handicap, they only bet with who they are playing with. So, make it more fun and easier for the average guy buy letting them play to a cup that is larger.

Dream foursome (living)?
Jack Nicklaus, George Bush Jr, Bill Murray.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, my dad.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Sinking a long putt. Happens so seldom. Played in the GMO the second time and 3 putting 9 times, hit every green in regulation and shot 75, 72. A tour player would have been at least 6 under par, I was 3 over and missed the cut.

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
No question, round of my life. Hopefully this round would happen in some tournament beating Eddy Teresa who always has beaten me.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight, my body needs to losen up first.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power fade. Easier to keep in play

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage cart. The girls are always prettier on the beverage cart.

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Depends on what you have to do. Normally a bush.

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
How many golfers are healthy? Hot dog with ketchup and onions with a side of potato chips.

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Sand for sure. Much easier to stop the ball.

9) Walking OR riding?
Walking if you have a caddy because now you have a team.

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Three irons are now turned down to a 2 iron loft so definitely a hybrid. Also because easier to hit high and out of the rough.

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Long par 3, easier to win a bet because most people do not hit it straight enough to make a par.

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts because my legs seldom get tanned.

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Nicklaus, he was the bad guy in Palmers time and took lots of crap for being fat. He put his mind to it and lost weight and we all know how strong mentally he is on the course.

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Elvis, happier music.

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
It is only fun when playing for something. How can you concentrate to the fullest if you do not have something on the line. It also helps you get to know yourself.

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Flop shot. It is fun to open the face and hit it the proper distance.

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Good question. In the old days it was always gamble. Now I let my body and mind talk to me. If the swing is good and I have a good mental picture then it is time to go.

18) 18 holes OR 36?
36. Plenty of time to drink when it is dark.