Kirk Richmond has worked in subtle changes to Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind., over the last three years and is now seeing it all come together in time for the U.S. Senior Open, July 30-Aug. 2.
Richmond is continually tweaking the golf course with the guidance of the club's World Golf Hall of Fame golf course architect, Pete Dye. They have tinkered with the bunkering to better expose existing bunkers to the players and have also added several new bunkers.
"The main focus is to challenge the eye from the tee," said Richmond, a five-year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). "My staff has been amazing this year; however, I am more than pleased, I am overwhelmed with appreciation for the effort they have given me. It seems like it has either been raining or really hot and humid all spring, which has been challenging, but you can't control weather, so I tell my staff that we do not sweat the weather, we react to it. There is no time for worry, only preparation. My goal is to go into the Senior Open without much stress on the turf so that we can put forth a strong product and recover quicker afterward."
In addition to new bunkers, Richmond has added tee complexes, updated the irrigation system, altered the creek on No. 9, installed nine new bridges, expanded the front of No. 4 green, and narrowed the fairways per the USGA's request on holes 10, 11, 14 and 15. In an effort to recreate the nostalgia of the club's history upon one's arrival to Crooked Stick, Richmond put more attention toward the practice facility and range. And to recapture the Seth Raynor look of Dye's design on the golf course, Richmond eschewed the striped mow pattern used on the fairways and rough for a classic looking saddle cut pattern where the fairways are divided in half with one side mowed toward the green and the other side mowed toward the tee.
Crooked Stick is a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, and Richmond follows a stringent integrated pest management program. During his tenure at Crooked Stick, he has grown approximately 35 percent of the rough up to 5 inches in out-of-play areas, providing a more natural setting for wildlife, more definition to the look of the layout and saving maintenance costs with less mowing.
"Alice and I started Crooked Stick in 1964," said Dye, who lives off the 18th hole and walks the course with Richmond every other day when not away on a design project. "We raised the money, optioned the land, designed and built the Crooked Stick course. We have been very close to Crooked Stick over the years and we have tremendous appreciation for the work Kirk does on a daily basis. We take great pride in his preparations for the Senior Open. I've worked closely with many superintendents and Kirk is one of the best. His attitude, loyalty, and attention to detail is a perfect fit here and we are lucky to have him."
Inspired by a trip to the British Isles, Crooked Stick was one of Dye's first creations. He earned GCSAA's highest honor, the Old Tom Morris Award, in 2003, and serves on the Advisory Council of the association's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf.
"It's a unique experience and opportunity," said Richmond about his working relationship with Dye. "I still have to pinch myself now and then. When we're together, Pete's always thinking of things and seeing things to challenge the golfer. The membership is very loyal and understanding of the superintendent's job. They're full of what I call pride and passion. This is a special place to be a part of. Pride and passion is right up my alley and it drives me to produce the product the membership expects and deserves."
Crooked Stick is no stranger to major tournaments, hosting the 2007 U.S. Women's Amateur, 2005 Solheim Cup, 1993 U.S. Women's Open and the 1991 PGA Championship. The USGA has also held the 1989 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 1983 U.S. Senior Amateur and 1982 U.S. Junior Amateur at Crooked Stick.
The USGA will set up Crooked Stick at par 72, between 7,200 and 7,300 yards, with the Kentucky bluegrass rough cut at graduating heights starting at 1 1/2 inches closest to the fairway, 2 1/2 inches eight feet out, and 3 1/2 inches 20 feet out. Richmond will have the bentgrass greens rolling at 11 feet on the Stimpmeter.
An Indiana native, Richmond is in his seventh year at Crooked Stick, serving as assistant superintendent for the first four years before taking over as head superintendent. He holds a turf certificate from Rutgers University's golf course management program. Prior to arriving at Crooked Stick, Richmond worked as an assistant in training at The Camargo Club in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2002. From 2000-2002, he served as a spray technician at Desert Highlands Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., and he was an intern at TPC Scottsdale (Ariz.) from 1998-1999.
