Golf Course Superintendent information
GCSAA Golf Course Superintendent: Ryan Stewart
Education: A.S., Turf Certificate, Elmwood College, Cupar, Scotland, 2000.
Years as a GCSAA member: 4
GCSAA affiliated chapter: Florida West Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association
Years at this course: 4
Previous positions: 2005-2006, Golf Course Superintendent, Eagles Golf Club, Odessa, Fla.; 2002-2005, Assistant Superintendent, Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Palm Harbor, Fla.; 2001-2002, Intern, Shadow Wood Country Club, Estero, Fla.
Previous tournament preparation: 2007 PODS Championship, Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Palm Harbor, Fla.; 2004-2006 Chrysler Championship, Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Palm Harbor, Fla.
Previous events hosted by facility: 2007 PODS Championship; 2000-2006 Chrysler Championship (2001 event cancelled due to September 11th tragedy); 1999 JCPenney Classic
Availability to media: Contact Ryan Stewart by phone 727-638-3898; email rardoryan@hotmail.com
Course statistics
| |
Yardage |
Par |
Rating |
Slope |
|
Red
|
5578
|
72
|
|
|
|
White
|
6166
|
72
|
|
|
|
Green
|
6654
|
72
|
|
|
|
Black
|
7063
|
72
|
|
|
Course characteristics
| |
Primary Grasses |
Height of Cut |
| Tees |
Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass |
0.450" |
| Fairways |
Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass; Poa annua |
0.450" |
| Greens |
Bermudagrass; Poa trivialis |
0.130" |
| Rough |
Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass |
3.5" |
Average tee size: 2,000 sq. ft.
Average green size: 8,024 sq. ft.
Rounds per year: 40,000
Acres of fairway: 30
Acres of rough: 60
Sand bunkers: 75
Water hazards: 9
Tournament stimpmeter: 10.5 ft.
Soil conditions:
Green construction soil mix: Straight sand
( 100% sand; )
Source of water: Lake, effluent water
Drainage: Fair
Interesting and historical course-related facts
The Copperhead course is part of a 72-hole complex with natural elevation changes that range up to 80 feet. This elevation change is very unusual for Southwest Florida, especially along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Copperhead course opened in 1974 and was restored in 1999, two years after it was purchased by Westin, Inc. The goal of the restoration project was to regain the shot values and still challenge today's longer-hitting PGA Tour players when Innisbrook hosts TOUR events. The plan involved refurbishing all 18 greens, restructuring many of the bunkers, removing some trees around the greens to improve air movement and sunlight, and clearing out undergrowth between fairways. The length of the golf course is the most visible change from 7,087 to 7,280 yards by the addition of tournament tees on five holes. A reported $500,000 was spent, and the course re-opened just in time for the 1999 JCPenney Classic.
With its unusual elevation changes, the natural setting of the Copperhead course will probably remind you of a Carolina layout rather than Florida's West Coast. The Copperhead is ranked in the Top 100, and among "America's Top Resort Courses" by Golf Digest.
Wildlife on the course
Alligator; Armadillo; Blue heron; Coyote; Eagle; Fish; Hawk; Osprey; Rabbit; Raccoon; Snakes; Squirrel; Turtle; Woodpecker
Course architect/date: Larry Packard, 1971
Other key course personnel
Andriy Maksymiv, Assistant Superintendent
Garry Riggs, Equipment Manager
Salamander Resorts, Club Owner
Jay Overton, Director of Golf
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.