Jack,
Hope this is appropiate for this forum. Thought fellow golfers might enjoy this.
I was in attendance for the first round on Thursday. Yes, I did get a good drenching and dodged a few lightning bolts trying to leave this marvelous venue.
Since I daylight in the turf management profession, I would like to share a few tidbits on course preparation for the grand daddy of American golf.
Golf Course Superintendent John Szkinski has done a superlative job in preparing this course for the 101st US Open Championship. He's endured the the destruction of several greens due to vandalism, a maintenance facility destroyed by fire, substantial winter kill on his fairways from the brutal winter(requiring much re sodding), and all the logistics of TV..tents..crowd control..you name it.
John's turfcare crew is numerous and very professional. He has a supplemental crew of highly trained volunteers this week, from all over the world. His support group also includes equipment manufactures supplying everything he needs, including back ups, for every possible scenario.
His equipment includes 14 fairway mowers - one for each fairway, excluding the 4 par three's. Two walking greensmowers per green. An arsenal of mowing units for the rest of the course.
Each mower is lined up and tagged for the area it is designated to mow - right down to a written height of cut, thanks to the team of Equipment Managers.
Height of cut for greens this week is .125 inches (quoted) but probably lower.
#9 & #18 greens were not mowed for two days until after Thursdays rain.
More later, enjoy the tournament.
Hope this is appropiate for this forum. Thought fellow golfers might enjoy this.
I was in attendance for the first round on Thursday. Yes, I did get a good drenching and dodged a few lightning bolts trying to leave this marvelous venue.
Since I daylight in the turf management profession, I would like to share a few tidbits on course preparation for the grand daddy of American golf.
Golf Course Superintendent John Szkinski has done a superlative job in preparing this course for the 101st US Open Championship. He's endured the the destruction of several greens due to vandalism, a maintenance facility destroyed by fire, substantial winter kill on his fairways from the brutal winter(requiring much re sodding), and all the logistics of TV..tents..crowd control..you name it.
John's turfcare crew is numerous and very professional. He has a supplemental crew of highly trained volunteers this week, from all over the world. His support group also includes equipment manufactures supplying everything he needs, including back ups, for every possible scenario.
His equipment includes 14 fairway mowers - one for each fairway, excluding the 4 par three's. Two walking greensmowers per green. An arsenal of mowing units for the rest of the course.
Each mower is lined up and tagged for the area it is designated to mow - right down to a written height of cut, thanks to the team of Equipment Managers.
Height of cut for greens this week is .125 inches (quoted) but probably lower.
#9 & #18 greens were not mowed for two days until after Thursdays rain.
More later, enjoy the tournament.
