As we get into major championship golf season, many golfers can develop grand ideas about what their home course should do to provide conditions like they see on TV. That means there is no better time than now to remind everyone about some key differences between the extremely well-conditioned golf courses we see during televised events and the courses that most golfers play on a regular basis.
Timing
Every part of the country has a time of year when course conditions will inherently improve – largely due to grass type and weather. This timing is different for all courses, and just like there are times when conditions usually improve, there are also times when conditions might not be as good. As you can imagine, most televised golf events are scheduled to be played when courses are in peak condition. The maintenance team also works for months – or longer – to help the course peak at that exact moment in time.
Infrastructure
The irrigation and drainage setup, maintenance facility, and even the age of putting greens, tees and fairways all have a tremendous impact on turf performance and course conditioning. These items don’t often get highlighted during a golf broadcast, but their impact cannot be overstated. If your course has an irrigation system that is 30 years old and isn’t being replaced any time soon, don’t expect the same conditions as courses that continuously reinvest in infrastructure.
Equipment
High-level conditioning requires quality equipment, and plenty of it. For example, during most professional golf events, all fine turf surfaces are mowed before the first group tees off. Mowing is completed every day, and sometimes twice a day. This is possible because the host facilities have plenty of equipment and they often receive additional equipment during the event. If your local course has only one or two fairway mowers, don’t expect the same quality and frequency of mowing.
Staffing Levels
There is no shortcut to providing great conditions. Details matter, and details take time and skilled staff to get done. During televised golf events, and especially major championships, courses are usually staffed with more volunteers and employees than you could imagine. Tasks like filling or plugging divots, cleaning all debris off the course, hand-raking every bunker, and precision hand watering throughout the course usually only happen when there is an abundance of workers ready to be deployed.
The agronomic plan is an important part of providing great conditions, but if one of the above factors is lacking then there will be a limit on what’s possible. When we see courses with truly exceptional conditioning, it should serve as a reminder that behind what meets the eye, there is a tremendous investment in infrastructure, equipment and staff to make it all come together.
Golf course superintendents and maintenance team members across the country work hard to provide the very best conditions with what they have. Instead of comparing what you see on TV with what you experience at the courses you play, find a way to appreciate your course for what it is and enjoy the thrill that comes with watching the pros play a beautifully manicured course. If conditions are less than perfect during your round, it’s probably not because the maintenance team didn’t work hard or have a great plan. They can only accomplish what the infrastructure, tools and staffing levels allow.
Central Region Agronomists:
Zach Nicoludis, regional director – znicoludis@usga.org
Paul Jacobs, agronomist – pjacobs@usga.org