Superintendent of one of the most controversial golf courses of our times, TPC Sawgrass, is retiring.

Fred Klauk, superintendent of the TPC Sawgrass for a quarter of a century, will retire after the 2008 Players Championship, according to Gary Smits of the Florida Times Union.

The Stadium course, if you will remember, was blasted by nearly every pro who played in the tournament the first year. Jack Nicklaus said putting on the Pete Dye-designed greens was like trying to stop the ball on the hood of a Volkswagon, and I don’t think he meant to criticize VWs.

“I took some time to think about this decision,” Klauk told the newspaper. “But, now that I’ve made it, I’m going to stick to it, and I’m looking forward to more quality time than I’ve been able to give my family than in the past.”

Klauk told the paper he planned to stay in the Ponte Vedra area, and said he might caddie for his son Jeff, who plays on the Nationwide Tour.