Superintendent Has No Doubt Pinehurst Will Be Ready


By David Shefter, USGA

Far Hills, N.J. -- The calendar might say it's the middle of December - a time of year that brings a chill to most of the country and golf takes its annual hiatus - but in the Sand Hills of North Carolina the only thing that is dormant is the Bermuda grass.

At Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, there's plenty of activity taking place, especially on the famed No. 2 course, which in 23 short weeks will host its second U.S. Open (June 16-19) in six years.

Seven months away from the U.S. Open, Pinehurst No. 2 is getting into championship shape. (USGA Photo Archives)

Unlike many of the U.S. Open courses, especially those in the northeast, Pinehurst can stay open during the winter months, creating a different challenge for the maintenance staff. In the winter of 2003, Shinneock Hills, the site for this past year's Open, had snow on the course, making it unplayable. The club also shuts down in the winter.

Pinehurst is also a resort, so guests can play the course up until two weeks prior to the championship, although it currently isn't up to Open conditions. Green speeds are at 10½ on the Stimpmeter as compared to 11½ to 12 for the Open, and the rough is non-existent with the dormant Bermuda.

But superintendent Paul Jett and his staff have plenty of preparations left before the world's best players descend on the 7,214-yard, par-70 Donald Ross layout. While they can't do anything with the grass until the spring when the Bermuda comes back to life, work is being done to other areas of the course.

The native wire grass, which exists throughout the property, is being replenished on four holes (three, eight, 11 and 12).

"It still gives some of the old Pinehurst look to the golf course because that's what the rough used to be," said Jett of the clumpy-type of grass.

Edging is also taking place where the Bermuda meets the pine straw. Jett, who has been at the No. 2 course for the past decade, said the staff is pulling the straw back to create a clean line. Some low-hanging branches are also being trimmed.

In lengthening the course by some 39 yards from the 1999 U.S. Open, several new tees - holes two, four, seven, 11, 12 and 14 - were constructed. Jett and his staff continuously top-dresses these areas to get them smoothed out and firm. Fairway widths have already been established, so it's a matter of waiting until early spring when the Bermuda returns to begin the final touches.

"The yardage that we did add brought some of the fairway bunkers back into play," said Jett. "What little bit of yardage we got, we made the most of."

The bunkers required little work other than their usual maintenance. "Everything with the bunkers is set," said Jett, "other than periodically going through and continually checking the sand depth."

To make room for the corporate village that has become a fixture at U.S. Opens, a road is being constructed in front of the 15th tee and behind the 16th tee to allow the tractor trailers to get into the driving range.

Yet while the maintenance crew can draw on the experience of 1999, no amount of expertise can control the weather. Jett can't magically wave a wand and get the ideal amount of warm weather and sunshine to get optimal growing conditions for the Bermuda rough. Six years ago, a cool and wet spring created challenges for Jett, but they were able to get the rough to the USGA's recommended height.

So far this winter, temperatures have been quite mild, yet Jett can't make forecasts for the coming months.

"I haven't looked at a Farmer's Almanac in years," said Jett. "And even if I did know, there isn't anything I can do about it. We'll figure it out as we get closer to [the championship]."

Ideally, the course will begin to green up come March. By the end of the Masters in mid-April, the rough should start to grow.

"We have to have some warm weather in the spring," said Jett. "That's really the only issue we have. In 1999 . we had to push the Bermuda pretty hard to get it where it needed to be. We can obviously do that, but if Mother Nature would help a little, that would be nice."

If that happens, the golfers who compete in June will discover the same course they played in 1999. That means rough at around 3 inches, green speeds in the 11½ to 12 range and a challenging golf course that will test all aspects of their game.

Six years ago, that's what the public saw and it turned out to be one of the most memorable moments in U.S. Open history with Payne Stewart holing a 15-foot par putt at the 72nd hole to edge Phil Mickelson by a stroke.

"I can't see any reason why the players won't love it this time," said Jett. "They will pretty much find the exact same course that they left in '99."