USGA Championships

[Anthony_Nysse]

As I was golfing this afternoon on newly overseeded greens, I wondered if all this work that goes into maintaining a ultradwarf surface is really worth it, knowing the some of the shortcomings of bentgrass in the south. Anyways, this got me wondering about how many USGA Championships are played at courses with bermudagrass putting surfaces. In doing a little research, I found that other than a few US Womens Mid Ams, a couple Senior Ams and a Mens Mid Am, it seems that the USGA really steers clear of courses with ultradwarfts. Now I ask, is the USGA steering clear because of the grass OR are the courses in southern states lesser golf courses OR is the site chosen based on the time of year hoping for warmer weather, meaning many championships are in the summer where the weather is comfortable to golf in and have bentgrass putting surfaces. I look forward to hearing any feedback.

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

[Mike_Young]

Tony,
Even though it is not a USGA championship...et's see what happens after the tour championship is played on Ultradwarf at East Lake next year...
Mike

[Chris Cupit]

Anthony,

I think it is a combination of several factors.  The northeast/west and midwest certainly have many great courses that are a good fit for championships.  

Given that the bigger championships are held in the summer and given that most of the "better" southern courses  felt the need to have bent which is at its weakest during this time, it made sense not to try and host a championship and push the bent greens beyond what they me capable of that time of year.

I do think the ultradwarfs are excellent grasses and certainly worthy and capable of attaining firm and fast conditions suitable for a championship--we just have to convince the USGA that there are some courses worth playing their championships on down south!  

I wish we had a great course in GA that was available in the summer--still waiting

I am with Mike in hoping that as the "better" courses move to bermuda and people realize how good it can be at certain times of the year, the stigma of bermuda greens will go away.

But, people also need to recognize that for the transition zone, there is no silver bullet and whichever way you go, there are always turf care issues.