The talk's about water, not golf
Because of one of the wettest springs in recent memory, Newport CC is "saturated," according to one official.
01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, June 27, 2006
BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer
NEWPORT -- If the opening round of the Women's U.S. Open golf tournament had been scheduled for yesterday, officials would have had little choice but to postpone play. Either that or everyone at Newport Country Club would have left with very wet and muddy feet.
Thanks to one of the wettest springs in recent memory, Newport CC is "saturated at this point," according to one official. The course took on another 3 1/2 inches of rain over the weekend, and that left numerous bunkers full on water, and fairways rough, matted down and turning to mud or worse.
The United States Golf Association, which is running the tournament, wisely chose to prohibit fans from attending yesterday's first practice round. Players trickled onto the property, registered and played as many holes as they chose. One of the first was Beth Allen, a second-year pro from San Diego. While stunned by the beauty of Newport and its ocean views, she was just as surprised by the water on the course.
"It was real wet, especially on the front nine," said Allen, one of the few players to tour the course before the noon hour. "I got in Saturday night and was going to play (Sunday), but we couldn't with the rain."
LPGA star Cristie Kerr teed off at 12:30 in a glamour group that also featured Natalie Gulbis, Morgan Pressel and Nicole Hage. By the time she reached her drive on the first fairway, Kerr knew Newport was going to offer a unique challenge.
"Someone from the USGA told me that three million gallons of water were pumped out in the last 24 hours," said Kerr. "We need a little bit of dry weather."
The good news is Newport was blessed with the perfect drying conditions yesterday, with warm, muggy temperatures and a stiff southerly breeze off the ocean. Bob Reynolds, the superintendent at Newport for the last 29 years, says if the course sees two similar days, the Open will go off without a hitch on Thursday. But Reynolds knows that at least a chance of more rain is in the forecast for much of the week.
"Between May 1 and June 6, we had 13 inches of rain here," said Reynolds. "Then we had an inch about a week ago and 3 1/2 inches the last two days, so that's a lot of water. If it rains for an afternoon, we'll be right back to where we were. We are pretty much saturated right now."
The Newport Fire Department dispatched crews to the course on Sunday to help alleviate the problems. The men attached pumps and massive hoses into trouble spots and moved water from the beginning of the property on Harrison Avenue into the practice range and toward a large stream that runs behind the clubhouse, over the ninth fairway and out toward Ocean Drive and into the Atlantic Ocean.
"We have one drainage outlet, namely the ocean," said Reynolds. "Everything for 500 acres drains through that one outlet, at one time or another."
The focus from late Sunday through yesterday was draining fairways that haven't been cut since last Friday. Even so, standing water could be seen on at least a quarter of the holes, especially Nos. 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15 and 16. Many bunkers had knee-high water while the sand in others was thick and heavy. The practice range was half-closed and had morphed into a mini-pond complete with ducks paddling in the distance. Reynolds said the traps "are the next priority," and would be addressed last night and into today.
"I've been here 25 years and this is the worst spring ever," said club manager Bill Murphy. "This couldn't have happened at a worst time."
The players realize the wet conditions could easily translate into very high scores. Even with the hard and fast fairways that Tiger Woods ate up in winning the 1995 U.S. Amateur, Newport would pose a stiff challenge to the women's field. Now that few players will get much roll on their drives, scores could skyrocket.
"It was a little wet," teen star Paula Creamer said after her practice round. "Whoever wins this week will have to hit their long clubs well. We don't get to play many courses like this one. If it gets windy, it's really going to play long. There aren't a whole lot of birdie chances out there."
kmcnamar@projo.com / (401) 277-7340