PEAKING A COURSE TO TOURNAMENT QUALITY

by John Ports

John Potts, Superintendent of Parks, has been with the Peoria Park District since December, 1976, when he joined the district as Chief of Park Police. Prior to that Potts served for five years as Director of Activities in the Psychiatric Division, Illinois Department of Corrections, at Menard State Penitentiary. He holds a B.S. degree in business management and M.S. in outdoor recreation resource management, both from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Potts enjoys running two miles a day, and bass fishing when he gets the opportunity.

The inception of widespread television coverage of major golf tournaments has had a substantial impact on public golf course maintenance. Home-bound golfers see immaculately groomed courses nearly every winter weekend and their longing for spring includes visions of emerald fairways, fast greens, and tricky hazards. Every imaginary lie can be perfectly played and never does the quality of the course interfere with the quality of the game. The harsh realities of the first real round in spring can bring disillusionment. Turf damage from winter disease, errant cars, snowmobiles, skiers, and a myriad of other problems smite the eye and present a much different picture than was seen so recently by the arm-chair golfer.

Most golfers are aware that occasionally golf courses are treated cosmetically for televised tournaments with green dyes and other techniques that produce the illusion of a flawless course. Many do not realize, however, that the state of the art of golf course management has progressed to the stage that tournament-quality maintenance is within the reach of any golf course, public or private. Methods of doctoring the course are "peaked" to provide uniform beauty and quality for major local tournaments.

Peoria has been proud to host the Peoria City High Schools Invitational Golf Tournament for the past two years. The tournament, a prelude to the IHSA state golf finals, attracts top golfers from 54 Illinois high schools to Peoria Park District's beautiful Kellogg Goll Course each September. The 270-player spectacular is co-sponsored by Peoria Park District and is one of the largest high school golf tournaments in the country. Its organizer, Coach Earl Martin of Manual High School in Peoria, also conducts a coincidental tourney for coaches, athletic directors, and principals on one of the District's other four courses. Preparing Kellogg to provide a quality tournament

Photo courtesy of The Journal Star, Peoria, Illinois

Illinois Parks and Recreation 20 May/June, 1980

experience for the high schoolers actually began during its construction when close attention was paid to the two most basic elements of good turf: water and drainage. All 27 holes including tees, greens, and fairways are irrigated automatically, thus providing the foundation upon which all truly beautiful courses are built. Detailed programs of maintenance, including the application of fertilizers and pesticides, are conducted year-round. Attention to the turf during the winter months minimizes the spring recovery period. In short, preparation for tournaments must begin with day-to-day management practices that produce the kind of quality turf which will withstand the heavy traffic and stress inherent in public golf courses.

Approximately one week prior to the tournament, the peaking process begins. In addition to routine mowing, particular attention is paid to trimming around trees, yard markers, and hazards so that long grass does not intrude unnecessarily in play. Particular attention is paid to trimming water hazards. Lost balls, or balls that are neither clearly in nor clearly out of a water hazard are frustrating to judges and players alike. Greens are gradually shortened to provide a "slicker" putting surface by tournament time. Roughs are left long enough to fulfill their function. Bare spots, should any be present, are seeded. The course then is ready to play as it has been designed, with as many obstacles to smooth play removed as possible.

Finally, to achieve that emerald green seen on TV, a solution of one and one-half pounds of iron with two pounds of urea (45-0-0) is applied per 1500 square feet of turf one week prior to the opening round. This satisfies even the most particular golfer. The effect lasts for about two weeks.

Although all golfers deserve the best that can be provided, particular concern should be given to see that youth be exposed to standards of excellence that they will remember in the future. They will soon enough be in a position to influence those standards.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 21 May/June, 1980