GCSAA Class A member preps for PGA of America major

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Class A Golf Course Superintendent Tony Hartsock has Colorado Golf Club prepared for the Senior PGA Championship, May 27-30, in Parker, Colo., despite being covered in snow just two weeks before the first round.

"The weather is finally starting to cooperate," said Hartsock, a 23-year GCSAA member. "Prior to last week we had only had seven days above 70 degrees this spring."
Hartsock knew that weather could present some preparation challenges with a May date when the PGA of America announced years ago that it would hold the season's first senior (ages 50+) major at Colorado Golf Club this year. Planning ahead, he executed some proactive fertilizer treatments last fall in anticipation of some less than optimal growing conditions this spring.

"We had snow fairly early in the fall that stayed around and protected the greens through the winter," said Hartsock, who holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture/turfgrass management from Iowa State University. “Everything is shaping up fine, we're just going to lower the cutting heights on the greens, roll them more and add some growth regulator to get the green speeds up."

Hartsock is confident that with those agronomic practices, he'll have the bentgrass greens rolling the desired 11 feet on the Stimpmeter. The PGA asked Hartsock and his assistant superintendents Brian Morrow (seven-year GCSAA member) and George Viher to slightly narrow a few fairways and implement a graduated rough with a 10-foot-wide first cut of Kentucky bluegrass that is 2 1/2 inches high, inside a second cut that is four inches high.
"Tony has been a pleasure to work with and has put together a good plan and an excellent team of staff and volunteers to deal with the preparations and execution of a major championship," said Kerry Haigh, PGA of America managing director for championships and business development. "We have had some interesting challenges from a weather standpoint but are looking forward to an outstanding championship with the strongest field in senior golf at a truly exciting and picturesque venue."

Colorado Golf Club was designed by golf course architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and built by Landscapes Unlimited from 2005 to 2006, with a grand opening the spring of 2007. The 7,604-yard, par-72 course is surrounded by 1,300 acres of open space and plays through open meadows, wooded hillsides, natural barrancas and streams. According to the club's website, the par-5, No. 7 features a bunker inspired by a spring snowfall. The bunker separates two levels of fairway, inviting the golfer to try a more difficult tee shot for a shorter route to the green.

"I am really pleased with how the golf course has matured, even in the past year," said Hartsock, who was hired in 2005 at the beginning of the project. "It is still an immature golf course, but it looks like it's been here a long time."

The 1,300 acres of open space surrounding Colorado Golf Club is native grass and serves as a wildlife preserve. Only 100 acres of turfgrass is irrigated and Hartsock has drastically reduced water use since growing in the golf course. He constantly monitors the facility's water use and irrigates only where and when needed.