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The longest putt
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The 16,000-square-foot Pynes Putting Course is open for play by USGA Museum visitors. Photo courtesy of the USGA |
The Himalayas in St. Andrews, Scotland, one of golf’s best-known putting courses, now stretches to the USA.
The USGA Museum in Far Hills, N.J., recently opened The Pynes Putting Course, a 16,000-square-foot green that was inspired by the one in St. Andrews that lies adjacent to the Old Course and is famous for its array of severe swales and humps.
The putting course is something of an amenity for visitors to the USGA Museum and grounds. For a $5 green fee, they can use replicas of historical putters and balls to play the course, including the favorite putter of Old Tom Morris, the first greenkeeper of the Himalayas.
The link between the two putting courses is appropriate: The USGA and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews are the game’s governing organizations.
The Pynes Putting Course — named for Percy and Evelyn Pyne, who lived on the estate that became the USGA headquarters — is only a few yards from the museum and is the product of a team effort from several noted experts. The dramatically contoured green was designed by golf course architect Gil Hanse, ASGCA, with agronomic knowledge provided by USGA Green Section staffers Jim Moore, director of construction education, and Dave Oatis, director of the Northeast region. The green was grassed with Declaration, a highly disease-resistant bentgrass developed by Rutgers University.
Also involved in the project were the golf course management professionals from nearby Hamilton Farm Golf Club, director of golf grounds Paul Ramina and course superintendent Patrick Husby.
“We were approached by Dave Oatis, who asked if we’d be interested in helping out during the whole process. They wanted our expertise as field superintendents. I wanted Patrick to be involved because I thought it would be a great experience and great exposure for him,” says Ramina, a 16-year member of GCSAA.
Ramina and Husby, an eight-year GCSAA member, worked closely with the USGA grounds staff during the grow-in this past summer, consulting on fertilizer and fungicide programs and water scheduling. The superintendents’ advisory capacity is ongoing, too, regarding maintenance practices and related issues.
“That’s all I thought our role should be — to help them through the greens management process,” Ramina says. “It was a great experience ... growing in a green that large in the summer here was quite a challenge.”
Annika Sorenstam has partnered with the American Junior Golf Association to create the Annika Invitational, an invitation-only tournament featuring the top 60 girls from around the world. The event will take place Jan. 16-19, 2009, at the Ginn Reunion Resort outside of Orlando. Sorenstam will conduct clinics and educational activities for participants at the event. The tournament is hosted by the Annika Foundation, whose mission is to enrich quality of life through development of sports and physical fitness programs and to encourage youth participation through new playing opportunities and resources. Proceeds will go toward the Achieving Competitive Excellence Grant in Sorenstam’s name, which ensures golf opportunities for young golfers regardless of their financial resources and has given nearly a million dollars in grants to 170 junior golfers since its inception in 2003. Win a $25 GCSAA gift certificate by referring a superintendent or assistant superintendent to join GCSAA by Dec. 22. As soon as GCSAA processes your peer’s application, you will be sent the reward. As a result, your colleague will also receive a $25 voucher toward GCSAA education. Learn how to refer a fellow superintendent by going to www.gcsaa.org, and clicking on the link that reads, “Give Your Peers the Opportunity to Join GCSAA Today” under the “My Community” banner. |
