Interview With Ben Biersner General Manager, Fox Ridge Golf Course

Below is an interview with Ben Biersner, the General Manager/Head Golf Professional at Fox Ridge Golf Course. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

Can you provide our readers a brief biography?
I started my career in golf at the age of 16, working at Fox Ridge in the outside services department. I played golf at Central College for my Freshman year and returned back home to finish school and worked at local golf courses. I have spent time in Springfield, IL; McKinney, TX; and St. Louis, MO working as an Assistant Golf Professional. I returned back to Fox Ridge and began managing the facility for the owners.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
I started playing golf when I was 13 or 14 just before Fox Ridge was built and opened in 1999. My uncle Bob Biersner is the one who taught me golf and Greg Mason is the one who has encouraged me to get involved in the PGA. Greg and Bob have been the most influential people in my career and have helped shape me into the professional I am today. My mom gets all the credit for the type of person I am.

What is your current home course?
My home course is Fox Ridge currently. My favorite golf course that I have worked at is Des Moines Golf and Country Club. My favorite golf course that I have played is Bandon Dunes. I have been really fortunate to play that golf course twice and both times there was no wind so I played pretty well. I like it the most because it is very well kept and views are just amazing. It is also very player friendly.

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
My proudest golf accomplishment is attaining "Class A" status in 2011. My wife really pushed me to get that completed before we got married.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
Pet peeve on the golf course are ball marks on the green. I find myself fixing at least 4 or 5 ball marks on each green when I play golf. Off the golf course would be the cost of merchandise and greens fees.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
My divot tool! It's not a club but it means that I am helping the course whenever I have that in my hand.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is the place that I would consider my favorite that I have been to. Whistling Straights would be right up there too. Nothing but golf when you head out to those areas.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Kiawah Island - Ocean Course. I had an interview out there a couple of years ago and just love that resort and would enjoy the challenge.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Bandon Dunes would be that course. I would really like to play Bandon Trails but I have only rode in a cart on that one, never played it.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Fewer holes so that it wouldn't take so much time for people to play. I think it would help to get more people involved if they knew that it would only be one or two hours to play golf opposed to four to five hours depending on where you are.

Dream foursome (living)?
Phil Mickelson, Grant Hill, Ryan Sandberg. These are all my favorite athletes growing up as a kid.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
John Biersner (My Dad), Bob Biersner, Earl Biersner. I can't imagine what kind of stories and smack talk I would hear between the four of us. My father passed away before I started playing golf and heard he was one heck of a golfer.

Favorite 19th hole drink?
Can't go wrong with a vodka and lemonade or a nice cold beer.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Long Putt - Never make any

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Hole In One - I don't have one

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Crack of Dawn - still have the twilight to do what ever else I want

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power Draw

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Halfway house

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bathroom (A little golf course etiquette)

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Wrap

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Sand

9) Walking OR riding?
Riding

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
3 iron

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Par 5

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Ppants - thanks Matt Ruehling

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Palmer

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Beatles

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Fun

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and Run

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble

18) 18 holes OR 36?
36