Gardner Award for Special Projects – Publishing Special Event 

 “2017 US Open Tournament Preparation Coverage” by EPIC Creative

Gardner Award Winner for Special Projects – Publishing Special Event 
by Dawn Rigby

We asked Tim Merath, Chief Operations Officer at EPIC Creative, the following questions about the “2017 US Open Tournament Preparation Coverage.”

What were your main objectives in developing this project?

(Left to right) Miles Cooksy – EPIC Creative, Bryan Pechacek – EPIC Creative, Zach Reineking – Superintendent of Erin Hills Golf Club

When we were covering the 2017 US Open at Erin Hills, we wanted to feature and promote the intense and often unheralded work that the golf course maintenance crew undertakes in order to pull off a world-class athletic event. We went where the television cameras were not and captured the real-life stories behind the turf. By shedding light on the crew and their efforts, the audience at home, consisting of superintendents, assistants mechanics, students, and other industry professionals, could learn from the lessons executed at the highest level.

What influenced your approach?

The approach we took was to not only capture the obvious beauty shots on the course

but to also tie the drama in the rolling landscape at Erin Hills into the ups and downs taking place before play had begun. We took time to get to know the crew, dig into stories that developed while we were there, and kept our eyes and ears open to the happenings around us. At the heart of our work is the desire to show the real and tangible personalities behind the course.

Please tell us what you think stood out in your winning entry.

Our storytelling is what set our work apart for the 2017 US Open coverage. The work that went into finding and capturing the stories with honesty and respect sets us apart within the industry for not only this project but for all the work we do at GCSAA TV.