110th US Open /PGA TOUR/ June 17-20
 

Best Wishes Brian and Lynn.

Pebble Beach Greens
 

Did anyone else notice how the greens looked at least on tv...they looked all patchy and fungus infected looking...but no one mentioned it that I heard about regarding their conditions from a health standpoint.

I played there a few years ago at this time of year and it looked the same then although I don't remember it affecting the putts. It was the most scenic cow pasture I've ever played.

A friend of mine, member at the Olympic Club in SF said that the PoAna greens become infested by nematodes, and the environmental protection agency has banned the nematodacide formerly used. Olympic has replaced greens on one of its courses with bent grass. The greens appeared only a little worse than the golf did.
For me the combination spoiled the whole event.

USGA Executive Director David Fay Saturday at the U.S. Open responding to Tiger Woods comments.

“As far as the greens are concerned, he’s wrong,” Fay said. “That old statement that you’re entitled to your opinion? He is entitled to his opinion, but he’s off on his facts. These putting surfaces have never been better.”

Fay said if there should be criticism of the greens, it’s more of a cosmetic issue than an agronomic one. Poa annua greens have brown splotches, but he says an “A-team” of superintendents from around the country have made these surfaces better than ever.

“They are much truer than we had in 2000, ’92 and ’82,” he said of past U.S. Opens at Pebble Beach. “They wanted them fast, firm and smooth. And I think they have accomplished that.”

When we last played the Olympic Club the greens were Poa.

When the Open returns to Calif expect more of the same.

Cool weather and Poa go together.