"Doing one thing well" has been the motto of Formost Construction Co. since it was founded by Kenneth R. Cloud and incorporated in 1966. Under the direction of the "Chairman of the Board," Formost has grown from a small company focusing on the golf industry to an international contractor expanding its sphere of influence from the United States to several locations abroad.

In 1993, "Kenny" Cloud semi-retired and his son, Chuck, took over the reigns of the company, based in Temecula, California. The firm has built over 400 golf courses in England, South Africa, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Saipan, the Philippines and the U.S.

(Pictured left) Formost Construction excavating at the Oak Quarry Golf Course in Riverside, California.

"Over the years, we've probably been involved in the construction or reconstruction of about 150 courses in California alone," according to Scott Cloud, grandson of Formost's founder. "He holds a patent on one machine that we call "the spider. It's a machine he built himself on a metal frame with an auger attached. Originally, it had jumping jacks for compacting our trenches on existing golf courses when we were replacing irrigation systems while courses remained open. That machine has since been modified and we actually put a Vermeer compaction wheel on it."

Cloud proudly points out that his grandfather's invention is a good machine. "Instead of having to backfill everything with a little uniloader and have men in the ditch with jumping jacks, you have one man sitting on top of this machine that straddles a trench and does the work of about three or four men."

Formost is currently using "the spider"â along with the Vermeer compaction wheel on an irrigation reconstruction job at Silverado Country Club in Napa. About 30 Formost personnel are involved in renovating the two, 18-hole courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

(Above left to right) Scott Cloud, Vice President of Construction, K.P. Cloud, Vice President and Larry Hickey, Estimator, Formost Construction, Inc. (Above right) Kenneth Cloud, Founder of Foremost Construction Co.

Cloud reports that just across the California border in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Formost is installing an irrigation system at The Refuge-a master-planned community featuring a "world class" 18-hole golf course being constructed by Sienna Corporation and Palmer Design Company, founded by golf legend Arnold Palmer. Formost is utilizing Vermeer T-555 Commander's on the par-71 course that features miniature lakes, steep cliffs, sand dunes and only natural vegetation.

"The biggest job I've ever done with Vermeer equipment," Cloud said, "was one at Promontory Golf Course in Park City, Utah. We encountered solid rock and had to rent a Vermeer T-855 Commander from Vermeer-Great Basin in Salt Lake City. It was great. It's a little bit larger than we normally use because it's too heavy to bring on most renovation jobs. While Formost was only responsible for the irrigation work the entire project cost in excess of $13 million."

Legendary golf course architect Pete Dye said, "Promontory is a very defined golf course, and yet, you have the feeling that you are standing on top of Mount Everest looking down for miles. The topography out here is great for golf. It's very unusual to have a golf course like this."

Formost had a project two years ago at the PGA of Southern California course in Calimesa that Cloud feels is a prime example of why Formost is consistently called upon for irrigation jobs. "We completed 36-holes of irrigation just one week shy of four months. Most irrigation contractors will do 18-holes in five months. And that's why we get a lot of our jobs and our bread and butter stuff." Cloud continued. "But when someone needs a job done fast, if they're in solid rock or are faced with extreme conditions-those are the projects that separate Formost from the rest."

(Above left) Foremost Construction uses customized machinery for pulling in the pipe at the Oak Quarry Golf Course, Riverside, CA. (Above Right) Excavation of the main line at Oak Quarry Golf Course in Riverside, California.

"Our biggest challenge over the years has been staying competitive," Cloud explained. "Every year there are new companies trying to break into the golf course irrigation market, they have neither the equipment nor the experience that allow them to succeed. Formost has been in the golf course industry for more than 40 years offering quality and assurance of Ôdoing one thing well'."

Cloud noted that Formost takes on 12-15 irrigation jobs a year and would like to stay at that level. "We're a family business and aren't looking to become as large as some companies. We feel that the size that we are enables us to maintain the highest quality possible. And quality and our sterling reputation are important to us. We pride ourselves on the completion of every job on or before schedule."

(Above left) Foremost Construction Co.'s equipment fleet. (Above right) Preparing for installation of the lateral piping at Oak Quarry.

He did explain that during the peak season, Formost's staff swells to about 100-120 employees and that many employees have been part of the family for many years. "Most of our employees stay with us for long periods of time and we currently have over 20 with 15 or more years seniority."

The current Formost management team is headed by President Chuck Cloud who has been working full-time with the firm since February 1966. Over the years, he worked in various capacities ranging from laborer to equipment operator to foreman, and finally to company officer. Kent Cloud, or KP as he is known in the industry, began full-time work at Formost in 1973 starting as a laborer, an electrician, equipment operator, and a foreman and as office manager. In 1988, KP was appointed Corporate Secretary and as a Director. When Jean Cloud retired he added the title of Treasurer and in 1993 became a Vice President.

(Above left) Foremost Construction Co. was the first to pull pipe on golf course projects. (Above right) Formost Construction Co.'s customized machine known as the "Spider".

Bruce Pettingill, Formost's Operations Manager, started with the company in 1974. He started as a laborer and quickly became an equipment operator and foreman. In 1995, he was named operations manager overseeing all domestic projects. Formost has two estimators as part of the management team-Larry Hickey and Scott Cloud. Hickey has been affiliated with Formost since 1966 and Scott Cloud since 1995. Like his father, uncle, and grandfather before him, Scott Cloud has gained experience in all aspects of the company including international experience. Formost Construction, Inc. currently has offices and projects in the Philippines, Kuwait and Kazakhstan.