USGA Green Section Record, June 13, 2014 The content in this preview is based on the last saved version of your email - any changes made to your email that have not been saved will not be shown in this preview. USGA MEMBER CLUBHOUSE EXCLUSIVE U.S. OPEN INTERVIEW WITH BOB FARREN Learn how Pinehurst Director of Golf Courses and Grounds Management Bob Farren and his team approached the restoration of Pinehurst No. 2 for the 2014 U.S. Open Championships. View The Interview USGA WATER SUMMIT PRESENTATION PINEHURST NO. 2 - REVEALING THE SPIRIT OF DONALD ROSS Bob Farren, director of golf courses and grounds management, Pinehurst LLC In March 2010, Pinehurst embarked upon perhaps one of the boldest golf course restoration projects ever undertaken. The firm of Coore/Crenshaw was challenged with recovering or uncovering the aspects of Pinehurst No.2 that made it one of Donald Ross' greatest designs. After a great deal of research it became apparent that the majority of the changes to the course design and strategy could be attributed to, in one way or the other, the automation and expansion of the irrigation systems to support numerous acres of turf. The project resulted in reducing the total acres of irrigated turf from 90 acres to 50. The total number of irrigation heads has been reduced from 1150 to 450. The "old school" center-line irrigation in the fairways now determines the strategic lines of the course. The turf quality and resiliency is far more predictable the closer you are to the center of the otherwise expansive fairway lines. View The Presentation View The Article USGA WATER RESOURCE CENTER CONSERVE AND PROTECT Water is our most valuable resource and it is extremely important that we work to conserve and protect it. The USGA Water Resource Center has been upgraded and relaunched. With the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open at Pinehurst, the concepts of reduction in water use and resource conservation are on the national stage. To hear players and television announcers praising the reduction in turf in favor of naturalized areas and the corresponding savings in water is music to the Green Section's ears. The message is clear. If it is good enough for the best players in the world to compete for the national championship, it is an idea that should be explored at your home course as well. The USGA Green Section has created the Golf's Use of Water Resource Center to provide one-stop shopping for anyone interested in how golf can use water as effectively and efficiently as possible. The site is organized into sections for communities, golf facilities and golfers to make it easier for visitors to find exactly the information they need. The site offers best management and drought-contingency plans, case studies, and multimedia presentations that can be viewed, downloaded and shared with others. We urge our readers to visit the site and ask that you urge others to do so as well. For a taste of what can be found on the site please watch our newest video, "Conserve & Protect." Visit the USGA Water Resource Center 2014 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP PINEHURST NO. 2 - BY THE NUMBERS Here are some interesting figures to keep in mind as you watch the U.S. Open: 11 to 12: The target green speed measured by a USGA Stimpmeter. 0.45: The approximate mowing height of the fairways in inches. 40: The acres of rough turf removed during the 2010 restoration project, reducing maintained turf to 50 acres. 650: The number of irrigation heads removed during restoration project. Total water usage was reduced 70%. 70: Number of plant species found in the sandy wiregrass areas. 111: Number of bunkers found on the course. 6,570: Average green square footage. 1907: Year of the original design by Donald Ross. 2: The number of mowing heights featured in this week's championship- putting greens and the rest of the playing areas. 7,562: Scorecard yardage for the U.S. Open. Par is 70. Also available in Spanish: Golf De TV versus Juego Diario Has watching the U.S. Open left you wanting championship conditions for daily play at your home course? Nearly every weekend throughout the year, beautifully maintained golf courses can be seen on television. However, providing near-perfect conditions requires years of advanced planning, auxiliary equipment, staff and volunteers. This installment of Fore the Golfer takes a look behind the scenes of televised golf and reveals some of what it takes to achieve peak conditioning for one week of championship golf. After watching the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S Women's Open at Pinehurst, you and your friends will undoubtedly want to travel to North Carolina and play some golf. Here is what it will cost you. Travel - $15.10 one-way train fare from New York City to Pinehurst. Lodging - $7 per week at one of the boarding houses. If you want a nicer place to rest between rounds plan on spending $2.50 per day at the Harvard and Berkshire, $3 per day at Holly Inn, or $4 per day to enjoy the luxurious Carolina (meals included). Golf - The standard green fee charges apply - $1 per day or $4 per week. Figuring everything on an inexpensive basis, it is possible for a man to make the trip to Pinehurst, put in a week of golf and spend considerably less than $100. Note that these figures are on a basis of $60 for railroad fare, Pullman, board, charges for use of the course and caddie fees. The most expensive of all items, "incidentals," should not bring the total expenditure up to $100. It is also important to note that these fares were quoted in the 1908 December issue of Golf - Official Bulletin U.S.G.A, and may have changed somewhat over the past 106 years. REGIONAL UPDATES REGIONAL UPDATES The USGA Green Section is divided into eight regions staffed by agronomists who work with golf facilities on care of the golf course. USGA agronomists provide regular regional updates outlining current issues and observations from the field. Be sure to view updates from multiple regions as featured ideas, techniques and solutions to problems often apply to other parts of the country. NORTHEAST REGION The combination of slow recovery from winter injury, challenging rough conditions and the beginnings of disease and insect pressure is challenging courses in the Northeast. Read More MID-ATLANTIC REGION The weather has been unusually favorable for both cool- and warm-season turfgrasses in the Mid-Atlantic, but rest assured that summer stresses are right around the corner. Although nothing can be done to forestall the impending summer weather, there are several strategies you can implement to promote turf health and ensure your course is prepared for summer. Read More SOUTHEAST REGION The Southeast Region agronomists are busy working at the back-to-back U.S. Open Championships currently underway at Pinehurst No. 2. Here are some images of their most memorable experiences so far. Read More FLORIDA REGION One common issue is affecting bermudagrass recovery throughout the Florida and Mid-Continent regions: shade. While shade may not have directly caused winter injury, it is hindering bermudagrass recover. Learn the importance of adequate sunlight and how the SunSeeker app can be used to identify year-round shade issues in this week's regional update. Read More NORTH-CENTRAL REGION Two common denominators of turf injury are shade and poor surface drainage. While shade issues are easily documented and remedied, drainage issues are often difficult to define. However, if you're not allergic to water documenting drainage issues can be as simple as taking a picture. Read More MID-CONTINENT REGION The 2014 Curtis Cup Match featured three great teams. While the USA and GB&I (Great Britain and Ireland) women made the headlines, the staff at St. Louis Country Club proved they are champions as well. This update also includes a most unusual golf course construction artifact - one that shows that Charles Blair MacDonald was ahead of his time when it came to construction as well as architecture. Read More NORTHWEST REGION Attracting new golfers is a challenge faced by every golf facility. Learn how one facility in Tacoma, Wash., successfully attracted new customers, increased revenue and introduced both young and old to golf by introducing FootGolf at their facility. Read More SOUTHWEST REGION The equipment used to maintain golf courses is expensive. Here is how one California golf facility reduced equipment misuse, careless mistakes and portrayed the importance of fleet management by employing a simple idea to educate staff and golfers. Read More IMPORTANT LINKS USGA Privacy Policy USGA Green Section Home Page USGA Staff Contact Information Course Consulting Service Information USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online (TERO) Policies for the Reuse of USGA Green Section Publications ©2014 by United States Golf Association® Policies for the Reuse of USGA Green Section Publications USGA Green Section publications are made available through the courtesy of the United States Golf Association (USGA®). The reuse of these materials is authorized only if the following conditions are met in their entirety. This policy applies to all Green Section publications, including articles, videos, presentations, and webcasts. 1) Adherence to all components of our Conditions for Reuse policy. 2) Inclusion of the appropriate Reprint Permission Language. 3) Notification of your Intent To Reprint Content. The USGA Green Section Record (ISSN 2156-5813) is published biweekly via electronic mail by the United States Golf Association®. Golf House, Far Hills, NJ 07931 USGA Green Section 908.234.2300 Forward this email This email was sent to jmoore@usga.org by usgagreensectionrecord@usga.org | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. USGA Green Section | P.O. Box 708 | Far Hills | NJ | 07931 http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/...Sc2_ZSe4Q4BwXLntoaSVR0Lfy1mBDD9wiiA6qigU01JcvhYwr1AlI1l54QumzWb&id=preview[6/13/2014 9:54:44 AM]