Class A Golf Course Superintendent information
GCSAA Class A Golf Course Superintendent: Gary T. Snyder
Education: A.S., Golf Course Technology, Horry Georgetown Technical College, Conway, S.C., 1978
Years as a GCSAA member: 29
GCSAA affiliated chapter: Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Assosiation
Years at this course: 10
Previous positions: 1986-1998, Golf Course Superintendent, Haig Point Club, Hilton Head Island, S.C.; 1980-1986, Golf Course Superintendent, Moss Creek North & South Course, Bluffton, S.C. (Assistant Golf Course Superintendent, North Course); 1978-1980, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent, Bakersfield Country Club, Bakersfield, Calif.
Previous tournament preparation: 2006-2007 Verizon Heritage; 1998-2005 MCI Heritage; 2003 GCSAA Golf Championship; 1985 LPGA Women's Invitational; 1982 Southern Amateur Championship; 1981-1983 LPGA CPC Women's Invitational
Previous events hosted by facility: 1969-2007 Verizon Heritage (formerly MCI Heritage)
Availability to media: Contact Gary T. Snyder by phone 843-842-1463; fax 843-671-7772; email gsnyder@seapines.com
Course statistics
| |
Yardage |
Par |
Rating |
Slope |
|
Forward
|
5019
|
71
|
69.0
|
117
|
|
Regular
|
6119
|
71
|
70.0
|
126
|
|
Championship
|
6603
|
71
|
72.9
|
139
|
|
Tournament
|
6973
|
71
|
75.2
|
146
|
Course characteristics
| |
Primary Grasses |
Height of Cut |
| Tees |
TifSport bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass |
.375" |
| Fairways |
419 bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass |
.375" |
| Greens |
TifEagle bermudagrass; Poa trivialis |
.115-.120" |
| Rough |
419 bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass |
1" |
Average tee size: 2,400 sq. ft.
Average green size: 3,700 sq. ft.
Rounds per year: 38,000
Acres of fairway: 22
Acres of rough: 47
Sand bunkers: 45
Water hazards: 12
Tournament stimpmeter: 10.5-11 ft.
Soil conditions: Sandy loam and clay
Green construction soil mix: USGA
( 90% sand; 10% peat; )
Source of water: Effluent
Drainage: Good
Interesting and historical course-related facts
Although Harbour Town Lighthouse is one of the more recently built lighthouses, at the time of construction it was the only lighthouse that had been built on the Atlantic coast in over 150 years. It was erected as a navigational tool for the inland waterway of Calibogue Sound. However, it was also built as a symbol of Harbour Town and to commemorate The Heritage Golf Classic Tournament.
The Harbour Town lighthouse was designed by Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay Association Inc., and was built by Whaley Construction Company in 1969-1970. From the concrete base to the roof peak it stands 93 feet. The lighthouse design has a hexagonal motif which is apparent by looking from atop the structure. The foundation of the structure is an eight-foot deep hexagon which is supported by soil below. The mainframe of the structure is also hexagonal.
In February 1993, the lighthouse received a facelift in a very unique way. NewTech Inc. of Hilton Head worked with HEK platforms & Hoist Inc. of Acworth, Ga., using a new platform lift. The lift is made in Holland and used regularly in Europe, but the Harbour Town lighthouse was one of the first structures in the United States to use this innovation. The platform is a free standing, 70-foot high structure that can support 4,180 pounds. It can reach heights of 300 feet. The HEK platform provided a more safe and easy environment to repaint the famous lighthouse .
Harbour Town Golf Links is an Audubon Certified Sanctuary.
Wildlife on the course
Alligator; Deer; Hawk; Osprey; Raccoon; Several different species of birds
Course architect/date: Pete Dye, 1969
Most recent redesign/renovation: Pete Dye, 2000
Other key course personnel
Jon Wright, 1st Asst. Superintendent
Matt Wilson, 2nd Asst. Superintendent
Jack Nicklaus, Course Design Consultant
Steve Birdwell, General Manager
Cary Corbitt, Director of Sports
John Farrell, PGA Professional
Golf course management facts
Average tour green size (sq. ft.):
The average green size on the professional tours is approximately 6,000 square feet, ranging
from 3,500 sq.ft at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif. to 9,000 sq.ft. at The
Rail Golf Club, Springfield, Ill.
Land use percentage by 18-hole golf facility:
An average of 150-200 acres of total land; teeing areas 2%, putting greens 2%, fairways 23%,
rough/woods/water 70%, buildings and grounds 3%
Stimpmeter:
A Stimpmeter is a ramp that allows for consistent and fair measurement of green speed on
a particular course. The distance the ball rolls, in feet, is the speed or "stimp"
reading for the green. The instrument was invented by Mr. Edward S. Stimpson in 1936 and
later implemented for use by the USGA in 1978.
Warm season vs. cool season grasses:
Warm season grasses:
Among the best known are bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, bahiagrass,
carpetgrass and centipedegrass. Warm-season grasses grow at their optimal rate between
75 F and 95 F.
Cool season grasses:
Among the best known are colonial bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass,
perennial ryegrass, fine fescue and tall fescue. They grow best between 55 F and 85 F.
Course rating vs. slope:
The USGA Course Rating indicates the course's playing difficulty for scratch golfers. It
is expressed as strokes taken to one decimal place and is based on yardage and other
obstacles. The USGA Slope Rating reflects the difficulty of the course for the players
who are not scratch golfers. The greater the difference between these numbers, the higher
the USGA Slope Rating and the more strokes the golfer will receive.
Grain of grass:
Grain, particularly on putting surfaces, is a golfer's term referring to the tendency
of grass to grow in one or more directions relative to ball roll. Exposure to the sun
as it tracks across the sky is one factor that affects grain, but the predominant force
is water and the direction it flows relative to slope. Much has been written about grain
and how it impacts putting accuracy. Golf course superintendents alter mowing direction
and utilize other maintenance techniques to minimize grain. At professional competitions
on closely mown putting surfaces, grain is usually very subtle, but remains a part of the
putting challenge. Reading grain properly is an art form that adds to the mystique of what
it takes to be a true champion.
USGA green vs. push-up green:
Early golf courses were built from a mixture of soil, organic matter and sand from the
construction site. Often soil was pushed up and the greens were slightly rounded to
promote the runoff of water. While many courses still feature greens like this, others
have greens built to "USGA specifications." This method uses sand as the
principal component of the root zone mix to provide adequate drainage, resistance to
compaction and a perched water table with a reservoir of moisture for the turf. A cross
section would show stratified layers of soil, sand, gravel and organic matter over a
network of pipes to facilitate drainage.
For additional information please visit the GCSAA
association news
section or contact the Communications Department at 800-472-7878.
GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the
top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide.
From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to
more than 21,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their
profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at
www.gcsaa.org.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of GCSAA and is a collaborative effort
of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural
environment. The Institute concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and
outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. For
more on The Institute, visit www.eifg.org.