Golfdom, July 2017

Keeping up with The Jones FRUIT PUNCH GATORADE ON THE ROCKS I dont think the USGA was caving to Kevin Nas complaints I think they were fixing what they saw as a potential problem SETH JONES Editor in Chief Fans of flying fescue O nly at the U S Open could cutting down a swath of tall grass be considered a major storyline Heres the scene Big storms blew through Erin Hills on Monday night It stormed hard all night and into the morning I decided to sit out the storms that morning and arrived at the 117th U S Open at approximately 10 a m Call me a slacker but I did make the sunrise shift for photography the day before on the street howitzer six guys on Toro rotary push mowers a dozen guys with rakes another six guys on blowers even one guy nicknamed Big Cat wearing double blowers see Golfdom Gallery It was in a word a spectacle I was documenting the whole scene with both my phone and my good camera I spotted a crew with string trimmers and blowers about to drive out on the course I flagged them down and they were nice enough to offer up their empty seat This was lucky because the walk from the maintenance facility to the nearest hole No 10 is already a long haul these guys told me they were headed to No 4 just about the farthest point on the golf course I asked the guys what they were about to do and Erin Hills intern Drew Monogue said Weve got to take out some areas of damaged rough I nodded and sat back enjoying the VIP ride across the course When we pulled up to our destination I realized this was an all hands on deck project Crews were arriving from multiple directions Darin while posting the entire scene to Twitter sorry Im not really down with Facebook I posted a few videos as well I wasnt the only one Practice rounds had begun so golfers walked by and craned their necks trying to understand what was happening A couple caddies took photos Curtis Strange walked by and recorded the action I looked around and saw that golf fans also were watching Keep in mind that PGA Tour player Kevin Na had posted a video the day before blasting the rough at Erin Hills Up until a blimp caught fire and exploded near the course seriously the rough at Erin Hills was the biggest story before play began In case youre wondering I dont think the USGA was caving to Kevin Nas or anyones complaints I think they were fixing what they saw as a potential problem based on severe weather Frankly the decision to chop down a couple areas of rough shouldnt occupy that much consideration with golf fans But its interesting that the course itself gets so much attention it was arguably the biggest star of this U S Open In other words I feel like more people know the name Erin Hills right now than Brooks Koepka Golfers and golf fans around the world are interested in how these courses are maintained in how they achieve the look that they do And thats good for our business Email Jones at sjones@ northcoastmedia net Bevard the USGAs director of championship agronomy was there waiting Then Erin Hills Superintendent Zach Reineking rolled up on a Jacobsen HR600 rotary mower like a Bruce Lee movie where the villain with the baddest weapon shows up last The crew got busy and fescue started flying Reineking 6 Golfdom July 2017 Golfdom com