Editor's note: This exclusive editorial content is made possible through a parternship with the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association. The following dispatch is from Saturday, June 21.
One day to go. And it looks like it could be a wonderful wrap up to the whole two weeks with a finish that could be a lot closer than the men’s Open. Today was challenging for the women just like the third round was for the men. Only two women are under par, but Julie Inskter’s 66 showed what was possible. I think there were eight rounds in the red for the day so while the overnight leaders backed up, good play was being rewarded.
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We had a great day with the weather. No delays. No threats. When we were out doing the evening shift there was one storm pop up, but it skirted by to the south of us. And now tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80s which everyone will be happy to see, not to mention the greens.
The two weeks of U.S. Open competition finishes tomorrow, but then we have nine days of play scheduled on No. 2 before we begin the conversion to Bermudagrass. There’s a couple of days of play for the USGA and corporate sponsors then I’m not really sure where the rest of the play is coming from, but the course is still going to be busy.
We have been so fortunate with the weather and that has really helped because for the most part we have been able to control how much water the greens are getting. I look at them now and you can tell they have been mowed and rolled a lot in humidity and high heat. They’ve got that look to them. But they are still putting great.
The ping-pong table is also still playing great, although it has been getting a pretty serious work out over the past two weeks. The competition has really heated up and it’s real rules now not just Fair Barn rules. I am happy to say that the (Chris) Hartwiger and Kevin Robinson team continues to dominate, particularly the team of Curt Proctor (spray technician) and Daniel Whisenant (equipment technician). I know there’s no trophy, but the guys have really enjoyed the ping-pong, foosball, pool and so-on between shifts. It’s been good for keeping the mood light and keeping everyone positive.
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It was great to wrap up earlier tonight because of the women’s earlier start times. We got started about 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. so that meant we were all headed home earlier too. We ate really well again tonight with Torrey Boman with John Deere Landscapes providing fajitas, and they were excellent.
Better still was getting home to Laura and the kids at such a good hour. I did spend a bit of time trying to keep Jake, the golden retriever, from eating the Lantanas in the yard. But it was kind of fun to be tackling an “agronomic” challenge like that which didn’t have so much riding on it.
We had our last set-up meeting with the USGA folks at 2:30 p.m. We have actually been having them since June 4 so that’s a lot of days when six or seven or so of us have gathered in the USGA executive office trailer and closed the door and really dealt with the nitty-gritty. I think it has been very impressive how these meetings have been run.
They’ve been all about getting the right result. Everyone’s input has really counted and the atmosphere from Day 1 has always been really constructive. I’m not saying I’d be ready to sit through another couple of weeks’ of them right now, but they have been critical to the overall success of the championships.
I expect tomorrow there will be a few moments when I might start to think about what’s happened over the last two weeks and what it means. I’m hoping to spend some time in the afternoon watching some of the play with (wife) Laura and the kids. There will be a lot of tired people ready to get back to something more like their normal routine. But I think anyone who has been associated with the back-to-back Opens will have good stories to tell and special memories for a long time.
There will be people on our staff who won’t get to wind down immediately. Because of the play we have coming up not everyone will be able to take a break. I am glad to say that I will get that chance, though, and so will (assistant superintendents) Alan Owen and John Jeffreys. We’ll get a few days to catch our breath. I’m not sure what they are planning, but I don’t have anything big lined up. Nothing “major” you could say.
We will all be on standby so we can’t go too far. I think I will be happy grabbing the kids and going to the pool down the road. Dad just might enjoy a few cold adult beverages in between dips. But that’s then. Now I’m looking forward to a little more sleep than I’ve been getting and getting back tomorrow to send the guys out at 4:30 a.m. for the last time to wrap this thing up properly.
Trent Bouts assisted in the creation of this article.
Kevin Robinson's Day 13 diary
Kevin Robinson's Day 12 diary
Kevin Robinson's Day 11 diary
Kevin Robinsno's Day 10 diary
Kevin Robinson's Day 9 diary
Kevin Robinson's Day 8 diary (with links to Days 1-7 at bottom)
