From the agronomist’s angle: A look back on the 2010 season s by LPGA Tour Agronomist John Miller, CGCS
By Angela Nitz
During the 122 days between March and June, John Miller, GCSAA’s LPGA Tour Agronomist was only at his home in Xenia, Ohio, for 12 days. Like LPGA Tour players, Miller, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America certified golf course superintendent, lived out of suitcases and spent most of his time between airport, hotels and golf courses.
His trips this spring and throughout the rest of the season had him crisscrossing the country several times as well as making stops in Mexico, Canada and Taiwan to make sure conditions for LPGA Tour events are consistent from Tour stop to Tour stop. With his travel winding down for 2010, he reflected on this year and looks forward to where the Tour is going in 2011 and beyond.
Looking back on 2010, what were some of the biggest challenges facing Tour superintendents?
Miller: The two biggest issues were the weather and the economy. The weather took its toll on courses, and superintendents across the country, not just in localized areas. The hot and wet start to the year left superintendents struggling to get their turf to establish roots and then it was followed by hot and dry weather, which led to struggling turf in many areas across the United States. Other areas of the world where the LPGA plays experienced similar situations.
The economy led to many golf course budgets being cut and staffs downsized. This becomes a real challenge when trying to prepare for and host a tournament.
Intense summer heat was obviously a big story in much of the country, how did Tour superintendents cope?
Miller: The superintendents that prepare the courses for the LPGA events are top notch. They keep up with their cultural practices, such as top dressing and aerification, keeping their courses healthy year round so that when tough conditions appear, the courses are better able to handle them and recover once the weather stress eases.
Did water issues/restrictions having any affect on the Tour courses?
Miller: We were fortunate this year regarding water restrictions. The weather early in the year provided enough rain to most of the country that we did not have to deal with any restrictions this year.
Does a changing of the guard with the loss of veterans like Lorena Ochoa and the rise of new stars change the LPGA’s conditioning expectations in any way?
Miller: It really does not, we have a set of guidelines for preparing courses for LPGA events and those guidelines allow us to do what is needed to each site so that we can have consistency from site to site over the course of the year. The guidelines do not favor one player over another; they are there so that the player who plays the best over the course of the tournament is the champion.
No one player dominated the Tour this year, and tournament winners seem to come from all over the world. Are their types of conditions that favor American players or international players in particular?
Miller: The conditions are usually not the determining factor. The type of course has a little more to do with it and where the player grew up and the type of courses they experienced while learning the game.
In the U.S. most courses require you to fly the ball to the green while in the U.K., the links courses allow you choices of running the ball on the green or flying it on.
Many of the other courses around the world follow one of these two models and the local weather comes in to play. Many of the areas especially in tropical regions get plenty of rain so that dictates that the player carry the ball to the green and emulates more of the American style course requirements.
How much of an impact do you think course conditioning with sustainability in mind is having on the Tour?
Miller: At this point, I think it is a minor impact but as we recover from the recession and golf courses reevaluate the way they do business, I think you will see this have more of an impact. The next three to five years could be very interesting.
Are there any new scientific (such as grass types) or technological advances on the superintendent’s end that are starting to make an impact on the game?
Miller: The technologies that the superintendents use is changing every day, there are constantly new grass types being studied and brought to market that have improved characteristics such as disease and insect resistance, less water requirements and better growth habits.
Superintendents are also using water management technologies that help them make better use of their water and that is have a dramatic impact on the game by giving us firmer faster conditions.
You spend much of the year on the road; does that help you identify with the life of the Tournament players?
Miller: Yes it really does. We are like family and it is always good to see the rules staff, the players and all of the people at the various sites that make the tournaments happen. We all have our travel issues but when we are on the golf course, everything is right with the world.
What do you think the average golfer needs to know about condition that can help improve his or her game?
Miller: I think every golfer is different and they have to identify the conditions they like. Some like fast greens while others prefer them to be a bit slower. Some like firm bunkers while another golfer may prefer soft fluffy sand. You have to know what conditions you like and find courses that have a majority of the course conditioned to your liking.
What are some of your personal highlights of the 2010 season?
Miller: I think the biggest is that we have received favorable reviews from the players on all of the courses we have played so far this year. That says a lot for the golf course superintendents and host courses. I have also had very few travel issues this year -- I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.
Photo by John Miller, CGCS/courtesy of GCSAA
Angela Nitz is the manager, corporate communications for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. GCSAA is a leading golf organization, which has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide. From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to more than 20,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA's mission is to serve its members, advance their profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. The association's philanthropic organization, the Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.
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