Jacobsen equipment, including the new Eclipse 322 diesel-hybrid riding greens mower with electric drive, prepared Crooked Stick Golf Course in Carmel, Ind., located just north of Indianapolis, for the U.S. Senior Open held July 27-August 2.
Kirk Richmond, Crooked Stick superintendent, along with Scott Bjortomt, the course’s equipment manager, and their staff provided an immaculate playing surface for the Senior Open competition, won by Fred Funk.
The fairways were mowed with eight Jacobsen LF-3400 fairway mowers, while the Eclipse 322 riding greens mower was used to maintain the approaches. When Bjortomt found out the Eclipse was in the area for regional sales training, he jumped at the chance to use the diesel-hybrid triplex mower.
“I was excited to use the new Jacobsen Eclipse 322,” he said. “This machine features a relatively small diesel engine to drive a generator, which in turn generates the power to drive the electric motors in both the propulsion wheels and in the cutting reels. It was a great opportunity to try the new machine and it provided peace of mind with no hydraulic oil leaks to worry about."
Jacobsen's tournament support crew together with the Tournament Support Trailer and sales staff from local dealer, Midwest Golf & Turf, were on hand to ensure that everything went as planned.
Nicknamed the "Stick," Crooked Stick Golf Course was the first 18-hole course designed by Pete Dye and also hosted the 1991 PGA Championship, won by John Daly. Pete Dye and Payton Manning were attending the tournament and took time to visit the maintenance shed to meet the staff and volunteers.
