Despite a cool, rainy summer in Atlanta, East Lake Golf Club's MiniVerde bermudagrass greens should still play much firmer than the bentgrass greens at the first three FedExCup Playoff events this year, as GCSAA Certified Golf Course Superintendent Ralph Kepple has East Lake ready for The Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola, Sept. 24-27.
"The greens won't be as firm as last year, partly because it's been so wet this summer and partly because they are a year older and therefore have a small layer of thatch under them now," said Kepple, a 27-year GCSAA member who holds an agronomy degree from Ohio State. "The greens will still be firmer than these players have seen the last few weeks though, because all of the FedExCup events coming into this were played on bentgrass greens in August and September. So I would expect those courses to have a certain level of softness, just because of a limited root system this time of year. It’s hard to maintain a good, dense root system in September. The players are going to come through those first three events on greens that receive shots pretty well, and then they’re going to come here and these greens are going to be pretty firm."
Kepple, who is in his 18th year as superintendent at East Lake, says the rough will be a "healthy" stand of bermudagrass, thanks in large part to more than nine inches of rain received in August. While the rough will be cut at 2 ¼ inches again as in the past, it will be much thicker this year.
After completing a year-long renovation last year that was highlighted by replacing the bentgrass greens with bermudagrass prior to the Tour Championship, there have been no major changes made to East Lake this year. Kepple switched to MiniVerde, an ultradwarf bermudagrass, because it’s better suited for Georgia's hot summers. It provides an excellent putting surface with fine leaf blades, short internodes and high shoot density. MiniVerde produces deep roots and is quick to recover from cultural practices, allowing a tight, fast and consistent putting surface. Kepple expects the greens to measure 12 feet on the Stimpmeter for the championship.
Nearby turfgrass students, area superintendents and assistant superintendents, as well as various vendors from around the region will make up a group of 72 volunteers aiding Kepple’s staff of 27 during tournament week, illuminating the camaraderie of the profession.
In addition to coyotes, fish, muskrats, rabbits, raccoons, snakes, squirrels, turtles and the different species of birds that include blue heron, hawk and woodpecker; beavers have found a home at East Lake this year, expanding the wildlife inventory in Kepple's environmental management program.