Class A Golf Course Superintendent information
GCSAA Class A Golf Course Superintendent: Robert Hertzing
Education: B.S., Ornamental Horticulture - Turfgrass, California Polytechnical School, Pomona, Calif., 1999
Years as a GCSAA member: 12
GCSAA affiliated chapter: Golf Course Superintendents Association of Southern California
Years at this course: 7
Previous positions: 1999-2001, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent, Marbella Country Club, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Previous tournament preparation: 2002-2007 SBC Classic, Valencia Country Club, Valencia, Calif.; 1998 Nissan Los Angeles Open, Valencia Country Club; 1998 PGA Championship, Sahalee Country Club, Seattle, Wash.
Previous events hosted by facility: 2001-2008 AT&T Champions Classic (formerly the SBC Classic), 1998 Nissan Los Angeles Open
Availability to media: Contact Robert Hertzing by phone 661-254-6204, cell 714-272-4639; fax 661-254-8813; email rhertzing@heritagegolfgroup.com
Course statistics
| |
Yardage |
Par |
Rating |
Slope |
|
Red
|
5702
|
72
|
74.1
|
133
|
|
White
|
6305
|
72
|
71.1
|
129
|
|
Blue
|
6723
|
72
|
73.0
|
134
|
|
Gold
|
7076
|
72
|
74.7
|
138
|
Course characteristics
| |
Primary Grasses |
Height of Cut |
| Tees |
Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass |
.425" |
| Fairways |
Bermudagrass; perennial ryegrass |
.450" |
| Greens |
Creeping bentgrass; Poa annua |
.140" |
| Rough |
Perennial ryegrass |
2.5" |
Average tee size: 6,042 sq. ft.
Average green size: 6,379 sq. ft.
Rounds per year: 39,000
Acres of fairway: 26
Acres of rough: 98
Sand bunkers: 104
Water hazards: 5
Tournament stimpmeter: 11 ft.
Soil conditions:
Green construction soil mix: Washed plaster sand
Source of water: Well
Drainage: Good
Interesting and historical course-related facts
Located in the northern Los Angeles suburb of Valencia, Calif., Valencia Country Club is recognized among the most prestigious country clubs in the United States. Built in 1965, the 18-hole golf course plays to a par of 72 and measures 7,076 yards. In 1995 the course was named by Golf Digest as one of the top 25 golf courses in the state of California.
Heritage Golf Group, a San Diego-based owner and operator of premier private and daily fee golf facilities, acquired Valencia Country Club from Uniden Valencia, Inc., in March 2002. Shortly thereafter, Valencia Country Club began facility improvements to enhance the experience of its members and guests. The Clubs multi-million dollar renovation project has resulted in significant improvements, including major upgrades to its 45,000 square-foot clubhouse, the refurbishment of all golf course amenities, the addition and improvement of landscaping and more.
Wildlife on the course
Blue heron; Bobcat; Canada goose; Coyote; Fish; Hawk; Rabbit; Raccoon; Several different species of birds; Snakes; Squirrel; Turtle; Woodpecker
Course architect/date: Robert Trent Jones Sr., 1965
Other key course personnel
Jesus Reyes, Assistant Superintendent
Aaron Morris, Assistant Superintendent
Victor Reyes, Equipment Manager
Jim Fitzsimmons, Club Manager
Craig Cliver, PGA Professional
Heritage Golf Group, Club Owner
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.