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Maintenance: The story
at 2007 Masters
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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els — especially Els — were stressing out at beautiful Augusta National.
The difficult conditions that were producing that stress took center stage at the 2007 Masters. A journalist covering the turf industry suddenly had an easier life, because it didn’t matter what media outlet was asking the question — the question was always the same: How are the conditions out there?
“Washington Road is softer than the No. 1 green,” a flabbergasted Fuzzy Zoeller said after his round on Thursday. “That’s the hardest green I think I’ve ever seen.”
“The greens are firm. They have been firm before, but not like this,” Nick O’Hern sighed.
“This place has turned out to be one of the three toughest places in the world,” Gary Player said.
About the only group not stressing out was the crew at Augusta National.
“We’re prepared for this pretty far out in advance,” a cool, calm and collected Brad Owen, superintendent at Augusta National, said at the maintenance facility during Wednesday’s par three contest. “That way things aren’t totally crazy starting Monday.”
Frigid, windy temperatures combined with dry conditions led to the slew of over-par scores through Saturday. For the first time since 1966, no player managed to break 70 on Saturday. In the end, this would be statistically the fifth-toughest Masters, with a cumulative scoring average of 75.8, flirting with 4 over par.
Talk about the course conditions taking center stage — at one point, the maintenance staff even elicited a cheer from a fan. As 13 Toro Reelmasters rumbled by late Wednesday afternoon, a few fans stopped to take photos while even more looked on at the spectacle of a mowing crew cutting a fairway in one giant sweep. One man showed his support by shouting a “Whoo!” to the crew. The only thing missing was a “You the man!” and an autograph request.
And it wasn’t just the spectacle of something as large as 13 pieces of heavy equipment that could make a golf fan suddenly a maintenance fan. While Augusta National staff hosed down a bunker, fans stopped to gawk. While the crew would walk-mow greens, fans lifted their binoculars to see how it was performed. On the putting green, while cups were being changed, a father leaned over to his son and said, “Watch this, that’s how they change where the cups are.”
Meanwhile, Ben Crenshaw quietly putted nearby. Had the two-time Masters champ ever been bested by a kid with a cup cutter before?
“The course is going to get you somewhere,” Crenshaw said after shooting a 76 on Thursday.
Or, more specifically, the course and its crew.
A publication to aid in golf course master planning is now available from the American Society of Golf Course Architects. “Master Planning for Golf Courses: Questions and Answers” is geared toward the master planning process and course component life cycles. ASGCA recommends the publication for golf courses conducting remodeling for ways to mitigate costs and eliminate unnecessary hassles. Great Lakes Golf Course Products has officially changed its name to The Prestwick Golf Group. The change is part of the company’s re-branding initiative. Matt Morse, the company’s president, said the name change also reflects its growth beyond the Great Lakes region of the United States. The company today serves golf courses in all 50 states and several countries. |
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