This week the PGA TOUR returns to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
GCSAA Certified Golf Course Superintendent Scott Ebers has dealt with an unusually cool spring that has his bentgrass greens in great shape, but his bermudagrass rough not as thick as in years past.
Other than mowing fairways with a more classic, subtle-looking half-and-half style instead of back-and-forth striping, Ebers hasnt made any changes to the course this year, but begins a renovation project next week that will replace every tee, bunker and one green.
He points to holes 3, 4, and 5, known as the Horrible Horseshoe, as the toughest stretch in any given round. No. 3 is a 465-yard par 4, dogleg left with bunkers in the landing area, No. 4 is a 245-yard par 3 with a firm, crowned green, and No. 5 is a 470-yard par 4 with a ditch on the left and the Trinity River on the right, making it a hard fairway to find with a tricky approach shot as well.
Ebers prefers organic fertilizers as much as possible and maintains martin and bluebird houses throughout the golf course, which serves as nesting grounds for redtail hawks and a natural corridor for various wildlife coming to and from the neighboring river.
Other environmentally friendly programs initiated with the tournament this week include increased recycling opportunities and a discount at the Trinity entrance for spectators who come by bike or kayak, which sends a $10 donation to the local ecological organization Friends of the Trinity River.
COURSE STATISTICS
| Yardage | Par | Rating | Slope | |
| Forward | 5745 | 72 | 74.7 | 136 |
| Regular | 6526 | 70 | 71.7 | 127 |
| Championship | 7034 | 72 | 74.7 | 133 |
COURSE CHARACTERISTICS
| Primary Grasses | Height of Cut | |
| Tees | Bermudagrass | 0.375' |
| Fairways | Bermudagrass | 0.400' |
| Greens | bentgrass | 0.120' |
| Rough | Bermudagrass | 3' |
COURSE NUMBERS
| Stimpmeter | 11.5 feet | |
| Sand bunkers | 84 | |
| Water Hazards | 3 |
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