Kent and Jana Steele. Photo by Jack Clark
Kent and Jana Steele, parents of professional golfer Brendan Steele, were hosts to the New York Times on two days recently.

Writer Karen Crouse met the Steeles in Maui during the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. She became intrigued by the notion of a PGA touring pro who grew up in a town with no golf course and no driving range and took it from there.

A Times photographer came to the Steele’s “chalet” (as the Times named it) and took photos all over their property. “He must have taken 200 shots,” Kent said.

The following day, Crouse interviewed Idyllwild residents on topics ranging from Brendan’s great-great uncle’s professional baseball career, to his decision at age 13 to forego that sport for golf, to the putting green and practice area the Steeles had built in their back yard for him, to the old golf balls their neighbors still find in their garden.

Crouse’s story, which was published in the Sunday, Jan. 22, New York Times Sports Section, mentioned the Town Crier’s ongoing coverage of Brendan’s career and the fact that Creek House executive chef, Brandon Testi, has created a Brendan Steele signature dish consisting of chicken pasta with pine nuts and red chili flakes tossed lightly in olive oil.

My guess is that we’ll have a good number of New Yorkers coming our way to taste it.