This week the PGA Tour returns to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn., for the St. Jude Classic. Eleven inches of rain in the month of May, plus temperatures a tad cooler than usual, made for a slow start for the bermudagrass, but GCSAA Certified Golf Course Superintendent Jim Thomas says everything is growing now and that the greens are perfect. A great field is expected this week, being the tour event before the U.S. Open, and a lush layout awaits. The course dried out and firmed up over the weekend and while the bermudagrass rough may be thicker than in the past, at only 2 inches high Thomas says it still should provide multiple options for playing out of.
The par 3, No. 11 is considered to be a smaller version of the famous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, but with its own uniqueness. The 165-yard hole requires a short iron over water to a small island green. Prior to being a golf course, the property was a dairy farm with two grain silos and a windmill, which still exist on the property.
Thomas is a GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards winner and he achieved Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification at TPC Southwind.
Meanwhile, the LPGA Tour returns to Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace, Md., for the tours second major of the season, the McDonalds LPGA Championship. GCSAA Superintendent Member Bill Lewis had to postpone some advance week work after receiving 3 inches of rain over 48 hours toward the end of the week, but he and his staff caught up over the weekend as the course dried out and firmed up.
The Kentucky bluegrass rough will be three inches high, but much thicker than in years past because of the wet spring. The bentgrass greens will be rolling at 11-11.5 feet on the stimpmeter. Lewis says No. 18 beats out several contenders as the signature hole at Bulle Rock, as the 480-yard par 4 has a lake running along the length of the hole and surrounds the green. His staff closely monitors Bulle Rocks abundant and varied wildlife population, as well as maintaining multiple birdhouses throughout the property. Lewis is also working toward Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary certification.
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Weather: Partly cloudy skies are expected all week, with highs in the mid to upper 80s. | |
Yardage: 7,204 yards. Par 70. | |
Signature hole: Holes 3-5 are known as the Horrible Horseshoe. At 245 yards the par-3 4th might be the toughest par, but 3 and 5 are no bargains. |