Ryder Cup - Quality of Course Cancel The title field is required!

1. Ryan Burton

   

   0 posts
   
   10/4/2016 8:10 AM

   Yesterday morning I was watching the closing ceremonies of the Ryder Cup and they replayed the press conference of the Europeans following Sunday's final round. Although some questions asked by the media do get ridiculous, one question that was asked to Justin Rose was on the quality of the course and how he thought the course played and held up to the competition. Now watching probably 95% of the Ryder Cup on TV, I thought the course looked amazing and played very fair to all competitors. Well, Justin and a few others on the panel made comments about the height of rough and how it was extremely short, and Justin went on to say the Pin Placements for the final day were ridiculously easy, and all were put in the middle of the greens etc. He commented how course set up didn't challenge the high level of golf being played.
   
   I have a couple of issues with these statements and have bothered me since I heard them yesterday. I understand that a majority of the PGA Tour golfers are a bit spoiled in that the golf courses they get to play on a weekly basis are phenomenal so quality and conditions are at the highest level a large majority of the time. The issue that I have and had is that I don't know why it is so difficult for these guys to just appreciate the golf courses they are playing and maybe give the Superintendents, staff and the Golf Courses some credit instead of finding all the negatives, (which I believe are very few), in the course for the week. I understand that course set up has little to do with the Superintendents and staff and is overseen by either the PGA of America or some other acting entity, but at some point I would love to hear one of the golfers say "Wow that course was amazing and the conditions were perfect." We as Golf Course Maintenance Staff all understand how hard everyone worked for the last 2 years leading up to the event and the last week during the event and again although I wasn't able to see the course in person I thought it looked about as perfect as a course can get!! To me a course playing almost 7800 yards and a course rating of 78.1 probably doesn't need 5" rough and pins tucked in corners or behind bunkers on every green, otherwise they would have complained about how conditions were too difficult!
   
   Congratulations to everyone who had a hand in the maintenance of Hazeltine National Golf Club, whom I thought presented a beautiful product for the world to see and looked to have played very fair to all players, all week. Again I just wish PGA player could say that and I could have been a part of it.

   
   
   
   
2. Stephen Ravenkamp

   

   1 posts
   
   10/4/2016 9:10 AM

   The TV commentators, on more than one occasion, commented on the "perfect" conditions of the course. I believe I heard someone say this was the best conditioned course they played on all year. So the recognition was there. As you mentioned, Rose wasn't complaining about the conditioning, just the set up.

   
   
   
   
3. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   10/4/2016 5:10 PM

   Ditto what Steve wrote. Rose took issue with the setup. Not the conditions. I think you're creating an issue that doesn't exist.

   
   
   
   
4. Charles Lafferty

   

   0 posts
   
   10/5/2016 7:10 AM

   The course and set-up were perfect! just look at the final outcome!! The captain of the home team has a great deal of influence on the overall setup and is part of the whole event! A smart captain would promote conditions favorable to his team, the other team just has to adjust. The Europeans do this to the US every-time over there by slow playing the greens. This time around it was super fast smooth surfaces and zero rough. Loved every minute of it and the staff at Hazletine should be proud!! One of the best events I have ever watched!! Events like this are tremendous for the game!!

   
   
   
   
5. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   10/5/2016 8:10 AM

   Charles Lafferty said: The course and set-up were perfect! just look at the final outcome!! The captain of the home team has a great deal of influence on the overall setup and is part of the whole event! A smart captain would promote conditions favorable to his team, the other team just has to adjust. The Europeans do this to the US every-time over there by slow playing the greens. This time around it was super fast smooth surfaces and zero rough. Loved every minute of it and the staff at Hazletine should be proud!! One of the best events I have ever watched!! Events like this are tremendous for the game!!

   
   
   
   You are dead on. DL3 wanted a birdies and scoring to occur. Yes, he indicated what he wanted, but from what Chris Tritabaugh has indicated a few times on Twitter, course setup was pretty much left up to him. I was up the week prior and walked a few holes with Chris, I can tell you I wouldn't want to be in the rough. Even at 3" it looked like it would be tough to get out of. On the other hand, how many rough shots actually occurred during the week? Was rough height even an issue for these guys?
   
   The Americans are used to playing on this type of course - green, lush and PERFECT! Europeans are used to playing on dried out, firm and fast playing surfaces. The course was setup for the Americans to win. And win they did.
   
   If you guys don't follow Chris on Twitter( @ct_turf) , you really should. He has been very open and candid about everything they did leading up to the Ryder Cup the past few years and everything they did last week. Something we all wish more Superintendents would do for major events...
   
   I was told a long time ago that firm and fast conditions are no fun for golf. Players want to score. They want to feel good. They want to be rewarded for a good shot. We want them to have a good time so they come back.

   
   
   
   
6. Ronald Conard

   

   4 posts
   
   10/5/2016 8:10 AM

   It's better just to realize that in the eyes of 90+% of the golfing world we are the greasy, blue collar, yard monkeys that occasionally over do it and impact a guys round. I'm good with that.
   
   All the platitudes in the world are just words in the end. They mean nothing. In fact, I sometimes think we look desperate for kudos.

   
   
   
   
7. Ryan Burton

   

   0 posts
   
   10/5/2016 3:10 PM

   I agree he was commenting on the set-up of the course and not conditions but that was not the question that was asked. Again I just don't understand how difficult it is at times for these players to say "That course was in great shape" or something along those lines instead of finding the negatives in the tournament that in my eyes didn't have any. (Well maybe a few drunk fans!)

   
   
   
   
8. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   10/5/2016 9:10 PM

   Ronald Conard, CGCS said:
   
   All the platitudes in the world are just words in the end. They mean nothing. In fact, I sometimes think we look desperate for kudos.

   
   
   Slow clap...

   
   
   
   
9. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   10/6/2016 10:10 AM

   Ryan Burton said: Again I just don't understand how difficult it is at times for these players to say "That course was in great shape" or something along those lines instead of finding the negatives...

   
   I use to complain about this a lot until I turned it around on myself.
   How often do I tell my guys "great job".
   How often do I thank a vendor for getting the product here (and not only in an emergency).
   Etc., etc.
   I expect performance/perfection without saying too much about it.
   But boy...I sure am quick to point out when I don't get it.
   Since I've redirected and focused more on that I tend not to worry too much about the other.
   But, as was well stated, I am just a "yard monkey"