Brian Gerard (Director of Golf at Kiawah) and Jeff Stone (Superintendent of The Ocean Course) kindly found the time to co-author a Feature Interview before heading into the PGA Championship next week.
Unlike any other course with which I am familiar, The Ocean Course at Kiawah was thrust into the spotlight when it opened in 1991. Perceptions were (understandably!) instantly formed based on watching the Ryder Cup and that’s the way it goes in golf. Roll the clock forward twenty plus years and what do you have? A course that is simultaneously much the same (17 of the 18 holes play through the same corridors with the same base strategic interest) and much different (acres more short grass around the greens, a different grass scheme on the tees and greens, ground in front of the greens that is considerably firmer, etc.). And that’s the purpose of this joint Feature Interview: To give people a sense of what to expect next week on TV while also communicating the various changes that the course has undergone in its first two decades.
From an architecture junkie point of view, I am looking forward to this PGA Championship telecast more so than any in recent memory. HOPEFULLY, the wind will kick up at least a day or two to make the festivities especially (!) lively. Coincidentally, I was down there in mid July with my two children for vacation and Mike Vegis shared some ‘fun facts’ that I am reprinting here with his permission:
1. Natural sand areas on The Ocean Course completely enclosed by tended turf
No. 2 – Two (both greenside)
No. 4 – Five (three fairway and two greenside)
No. 5 – Two (both greenside)
No. 6 – One (greenside)
No. 9 – Two (one fairway and one greenside)
No. 10 – One (greenside)
No. 11 – Six (five fairway, one greenside)
No. 12 – Five (four fairway, one greenside)
No. 13 – Seven (five fairway, two greenside)
No. 18 – Three (all fairway)
Total: 33 natural sand areas.
Unlike “bunkers” or “sand traps” that have uniform sand consistent, these areas consist of natural sand similar to what is found in the dunes and “transition areas.” They have inconsistent surface texture and include shells, pebbles, etc. All sand areas will be played “through the green” for the 2012 PGA Championship.
2. During the last day of the 1991 Ryder Cup, not one player hit the 14th green with his tee shot. No wonder it is probably my single favorite Dye par three!
3. Ocean Course Acreages
Front 9 : 42.25 Acres (grass only)
Greens : 1.33 Acres
Tees : 1.72 Acres
Fairways : 13.7 Acres
Roughs : 25.5
Sand : 13 acres (estimate only)
Back 9 : 43.13 Acres (grass only)
Greens : 1.46 Acres
Tees : 1.97 Acres
Fairways : 14.3 Acres
Roughs : 25.4 Acres
Sand : 14 Acres (estimate only)
Range : 20 Acres
Range Tee : 1.28 Acres
Paspalum Field : 2.2 Acres
Total Acreage : 108.86 Acres
There you have it – Thanks to Brian and Jeff for taking the time to do this Feature Interview. As they suggest, it will be interesting to see which wind blows and the bearing that has on some of the data from past tournaments. Someone recently said in London “Let the games begin!” and I echo that sentiment for next week – should be a great one!
Cheers,