Firestone CC....green and firm!

[Anthony_Nysse]

Having watched the golf most of the weekend, yesterday was the first day that I noticed any brown on the golf course. It's been green, fast and firm with guys really having a hard time getting the ball to spin close. Fryks holes in one landed in the approach and ran 15 feet into the cup. Too bad Medinah could not have played this same way. You can have green have have things firm-Get the hoses out and do some handwatering! For those who have played Firestone, does it usually play firm or is it just like this for the Tournament? It is this was because of the embarassment at the PGA last week?

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC

[Ryan Farrow]

green and firm > brown and firm

[Brian_Ewen]

How about Green and Boring ? .

[Kevin_Smith]

Tony,

Do you have specific knowledge of the irrigation practices at Medinah?  It seems there has been conflicting info re: the rain events during tournament week.  As a fellow turf professional, the innuendo in your comments is a little troubling from an ethical perspective.

Kevin Smith, CGCS

[Garland Bayley]

As I recall, the players were even commenting that the course was faster for practice rounds than for play on Thursday, and there had been no rain in between at Medinah.

[tlavin]

This strikes me as a bit of cheap shot as well.  I don't know what type of weather the superintendent at Firestone was dealing with in the weeks leading up to the event.  I will tell you this: I was very impressed by the speed of the greens and the difficulty of the wet rough.  The scores weren't all that much different from Medinah, if you account for the fact that Medinah has four par 5's.  To me, the bottom line is that both superintendents did the best they could with difficult situations and people, for some reasons, want to take pot-shots at Medinah and its superintendent.  I know him to be a talented and reputable man.  I also know that he was following the schedule of the PGA in terms of maintenance.  Every one of you who has ever had the pleasure of hosting a tour event or a USGA event knows that you have to follow their bidding.  Tom Lively did a great job at Medinah.  His only failure was that he didn't control the weather and couldn't harness the best players in the world.  Who can?

[Anthony_Nysse]

Gentleman,
  No cheap shot intended. I was just making a statement. I thought that both courses looked great, in fact, I thought that Medinah looked incredible. It's my understanding the #3 plays soft most of the time though. No cheap shot at all. I wouldn't do that publicly to guys in my profession.

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC

[tlavin]

Gentleman,
  No cheap shot intended. I was just making a statement. I thought that both courses looked great, in fact, I thought that Medinah looked incredible. It's my understanding the #3 plays soft most of the time though. No cheap shot at all. I wouldn't do that publicly to guys in my profession.

Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club

HHI, SC

'nuff said.