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GCSAA Fact Sheet [Golf Course Superintendent Association of America]
TPC of Myrtle Beach Murrells Inlet, S.C.
Superintendent Information
GCSAA golf course superintendent: David Eure
Average tee size: 7,500 sq. ft. Average green size: 6,500 sq. ft. Rounds per year: 30,000 Acres of fairway: 30 Acres of rough: 60 Sand bunkers: 71 Water hazards: 12 Tournament Stimpmeter: 10.5 feet Soil conditions: Sandy loam Green construction soil mix: (USGA 85% sand : 15% peat) Source of water: River & lagoon Drainage: Good Wildlife on the course Rabbit, redfox, raccoon, deer, quail, alligator, squirrel, blue heron, mole, turkey, eagle, hawk, Canadian geese, woodpecker, beaver, turtle, osprey, fish, snakes and several different species of birds* * The course is situated in a national wetlands conservation area and has been classified as a "Stage 1" partner of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for existing Golf Courses (ACSP) . The ACSP promotes ecologically sound land management and the conservation of our natural resources. Golf courses can enhance and protect wildlife habitat and water resources. This program provides an advisory information service about how to conduct proactive environmental projects for golf courses. The ACSP was created by Audubon International and is sponsored by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Together, the USGA and Audubon International are striving to: Enhance wildlife habitats on existing golf courses by working with the golf course manager and providing advice for ecologically sound course management.
Land use percentage by 18-hole golf facility: An average of 150-200 acres of total land; teeing areas 2%, putting greens 2%, fairways 23%, rough/woods/water 70%, buildings and grounds 3% Stimpmeter: A Stimpmeter is a ramp that allows for consistent and fair measurement of green speed on a particular course. The distance the ball rolls, in feet, is the speed or "stimp" reading for the green. The instrument was invented by Mr. Edward S. Stimpson in 1936 and later implemented for use by the USGA in 1978. Warm season vs. cool season grasses: Warm season grasses: Among the best known are bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, bahiagrass, carpetgrass and centipedegrass. Warm-season grasses grow at their optimal rate between 75 F and 95 F. Cool season grasses: Among the best known are colonial bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue and tall fescue. They grow best between 55 F and 85 F. Course rating vs. slope: The USGA Course Rating indicates the course's playing difficulty for scratch golfers. It is expressed as strokes taken to one decimal place and is based on yardage and other obstacles. The USGA Slope Rating reflects the difficulty of the course for the players who are not scratch golfers. The greater the difference between these numbers, the higher the USGA Slope Rating and the more strokes the golfer will receive. Grain of grass: Grain, particularly on putting surfaces, is a golfer's term referring to the tendency of grass to grow in one or more directions relative to ball roll. Exposure to the sun as it tracks across the sky is one factor that affects grain, but the predominant force is water and the direction it flows relative to slope. Much has been written about grain and how it impacts putting accuracy. Golf course superintendents alter mowing direction and utilize other maintenance techniques to minimize grain. At professional competitions on closely mown putting surfaces, grain is usually very subtle, but remains a part of the putting challenge. Reading grain properly is an art form that adds to the mystique of what it takes to be a true champion. USGA green vs. push-up green: Early golf courses were built from a mixture of soil, organic matter and sand from the construction site. Often soil was pushed up and the greens were slightly rounded to promote the runoff of water. While many courses still feature greens like this, others have greens built to "USGA specifications." This method uses sand as the principal component of the root zone mix to provide adequate drainage, resistance to compaction and a perched water table with a reservoir of moisture for the turf. A cross section would show stratified layers of soil, sand, gravel and organic matter over a network of pipes to facilitate drainage. |
