Tuesday, March 31, 2020

The Past Twenty Days!

Hello and welcome to The Greenkeeper!  Today is Tuesday, March 31st and so much has happened in the twenty days since my last post!  To be honest, I've wanted to post something the past two weeks, but the situation that surrounds us all has been constantly moving and I was reluctant to post something that may be untrue 24 or 48 hours later.

 Ironically, it was the date of my last post (March 11th) when the president addressed the nation and I realized things were about to change.  Since that time I've closely followed the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services twitter account @ncdhhs along with the city of Charlotte @CLTgov to get updates and information.

 I've met with my team daily and stressed to them our first priority is to keep ourselves safe and healthy.  If we're staying safe and healthy then we keep our families safe and healthy, and we also help keep each other safe and healthy.  I've also stressed to them over the two plus weeks that it's imperative they do the right things when away from work to ensure that our workplace remains safe and healthy.

Everyone on the staff understands they do not have to be here if they feel unsafe.  And we have taken countless measures to eliminate touch points in the Turf Care Center by propping doors open, cleaning and disinfecting our equipment and workplace daily, and adhering to social distancing.  Again, keeping the team safe is priority number one.

 We've also been doing everything we can possibly think of to help keep you safe and healthy.  The removal of bunker rakes, drinking coolers, and divot sand bottles are again an example of eliminating touch points.  We even inverted the cups to ensure your ball doesn't fall completely below the surface when holing a putt to allow you to retrieve it without touching the cup or flagstick.  Yes, golf looks different from what we remember but at the same time the course does look good with less clutter, just saying.  ;)

 Despite the fact Covid-19 has closed much of the world, one thing it cannot stop is Spring.  The golf course is waking up and according to growing degree days it's more than three weeks ahead of schedule.  With each passing day the work load increases as the turf areas wake from their winter sleep, okay so maybe it wasn't the deepest of hibernations this year, but you know what I mean.  I will admit I've been frustrated with the putting greens as this year we've had some of the best post-aeration weather ever experienced (nearly 2.5 inches rainfall and several 80 degree days).  

But A1/A4 bentgrass has historically always been late to wake up, like trying to get a teenager out of bed.  Truth is the grass responds more to soil temperature than air temperature so even though we've enjoyed some warm days we're not where it wants to be.  But, despite my impatience the greens are still ahead of most other years by comparison.

 It was good to see so many of you this past weekend out enjoying the course.  I received several nice comments of gratitude via text, email or a verbal thank from a safe distance.  I can tell you the team was happy to hear your kind remarks during our morning briefing yesterday.  Everyone in life needs a purpose, and your agronomy team's purpose is caring for your course.

 One thing you may not be aware of is the effort some folks are going to so you may continue to play golf.  As the Immediate Past President of Carolinas GCSA I remain an active member of the Board of Directors until our next annual meeting in November.  As a result, I have been privy to a courtesy copy of emails exchanged between our executive director and the other allied groups in both North and South Carolina.  

 The biggest reason Mecklenburg County and Governor Cooper agreed to include golf as an approved outdoor activity was because of the incredible effort of two state lobbyists and the leaders of the North Carolina Golf Course Owners Association, Carolinas Club Managers Association, Carolinas GCSA, Carolinas PGA Section, Carolinas Golf Association, and South Carolina Golf Association.

 Whether you knew it or not there are a lot of people working hard behind the scenes so you may have the opportunity to play golf.  That's why it's imperative that you do your part too.  Please adhere to the social distancing guidelines and other rules in place.  We're all in this together.
That's all for now.  A few things to consider on the bright side.  When this is over the range tee will be perfect and divot free and the fairways will be in their best shape with the elimination of cart traffic stress.  Yes, fairway divots are becoming an issue since you are no longer able to fill them, but my team will be making a conscious effort to address starting this week so we don't fall behind.  

 From the outset of this situation I have felt golf has the potential to be a beacon of hope for members of the community.  A place to escape the insanity and stress by breathing fresh air and exercising the body and mind.  I hope and pray we are able to continue to provide you with this outlet in the safest manner possible.
See you on the course... from a safe distance,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG
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Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Aeration Recap!

Hello and welcome to The Greenkeeper!  Today is Wednesday, March 11th and I'm happy to report our spring greens renovation is complete.  Over the past two days my team and I executed an aggressive deep, solid-tine and shallow, hollow-core aeration and topdressing plan.  Coupled with the addition of two soil amendments we've now set our greens on a successful path for the upcoming season.  This was the first core removal performed on the putting greens since March last year, removing nearly 10% of the surface area. Core Aeration  

 If you reviewed the linked article above you noticed 20% surface area impact is the recommended annual goal.  We will reach this with our second aeration (solid-tine only) in early June. This was the second consecutive year we incorporated the deep, solid-tine process in advance of core removal.  Our soil physical properties continue to perform like new in the deeper regions of the root zone, and the creation of channels connecting the upper and lower portions aids in water penetration, which based on recent rainfall patterns are direly needed.  Here's a look at some of the action.
Core Removal on Heels of Solid Deep-Tine
The reason the tweet above states "obligatory" is because we have a rule in the world of Turf Twitter, no slo-mo or it didn't happen.  With the recent time change (Spring forward) the team was forced to work well into the evening and we cleared the final green slightly after dusk.
A Full Day
With all 22 greens (122,607 square feet) aerified and cores removed, Day 2 began by rolling multiple times, followed by the application of soil amendments, applying nearly 50 tons sand topdressing and brushing in.  This was followed with some hand brooming to touch-up, followed by another roll and irrigation to help settle the sand topdressing.
We unfortunately were delayed for approximately two hours just shy of midday when light rain moved across the Queen City.  The rainfall amount wasn't much, but it slammed the breaks on applying kiln dried sand successfully.  Thankfully the weather cooperated much better once the rain cleared as we enjoyed a cool, drying breeze and near perfect conditions to complete the process.
Final Green!
Finished Product!
It's always a relief to wrap up the spring greens renovation.  Hats off to the agronomy team, six of whom weren't with us at this time last year.  In the coming days we will continue to roll the greens to smooth any tire marks, treat with soil wetting agent, and fertilize to aid recovery.  I am also planning a light verticut in two directions early next week to help move the sand deeper into the canopy and hopefully pinch the holes slightly.  

 In other news we finally managed to complete our spring crabgrass pre-emergent herbicide application.  Mother Nature really made it a difficult challenge this year with the saturating rains.  There were days when the course was simply too wet to tolerate the weight and traffic of the sprayer.  If you haven't yet applied crabgrass preventer on your home lawn, the clock is ticking.  You do still have time, but I would get the application complete before next Friday (March 20).  

 With aeration and preemergence in the books, next up for my team is some selective, post-emergent herbicide applications where needed, mulching of all landscaped areas (golf course and clubhouse grounds), and hopefully mowing some grass soon.  Despite the mild winter conditions as measured by temperature, it certainly felt like a long, dreary one with all the rainfall.  Everyone on your agronomy team is ready for spring and green grass!

 On a final note, I'll leave you with this.  Tomorrow is the beginning of The Players Championship.  Recently, Connor T. Lewis, host of the Talking Golf History podcast had former PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman on as a guest.  To learn about the history of how The Players Championship came to exist and its early days you can listen by clicking HERE.  Enjoy!
See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG
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Tuesday, February 11, 2020

How Do You Like Your Eggs!

Hello and welcome to The Greenkeeper!  Today is Tuesday, February 11th and it's raining again.  Forgive me, I don't mean to lament the weather but this current pattern is enough to drive a person mad.  I mean, let's just examine the events of last week alone and you will see how Charlotte experienced "multiple seasons" in less than seven days.

 Monday, February 3rd was by far one of the nicest days all winter.  It was sunny, warm and the temperature climbed all the way to 73 degrees.  You can definitely say it felt like spring.  By Saturday, February 8th we reached a morning low of 28 degrees, the high temperature only made it to 39 degrees, and for a couple of hours just passed midday large snowflakes fell across the Queen City.  Definitely a winter day.

 And this time of year, it is impossible to transition from one set of conditions to the other without experiencing severe weather.  Thursday, February 6th saw over three inches of rain fall on Carolina Golf Club and the National Weather Service has confirmed seven tornadoes touched down in various parts of the greater metro area!
We were very fortunate to not encounter any major tree or structural damage related to the storms.  Our good friends at Carmel Country Club unfortunately were not and lost many trees (I've heard estimates near 300) on both the North and South Courses combined as they were in the direct path of one of the confirmed tornadoes.  My heart goes out to Brannon Goodrich, Director of Greens and Grounds Agronomy and the entire team at Carmel CC as they clean up and repair the damage.  Many of you long-term members may remember the famed Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1994 and the impacts to Carolina Golf Club as we were in the path.
In other weather related news.  January brought us 5.11 inches rain.  This was the third time in the past four years our rainfall total in January exceed five inches.  We've already received 4.50 inches rainfall this month and it's expected to rain most of today and there's an 80% chance Thursday.  And we all thought madness was reserved for March.  ;) 

 So, how do a group of greenkeepers maintain their sanity during weather like this.  Well, writing is certainly therapeutic which is why I am updating the blog.  Continuing education is another good way to step away from the course and stimulate the brain.  I spent four days in Orlando, Florida the last week of January attending the Golf Industry Show (more on that later).  Today assistants Matthew Miller and Matthew Rollyson are attending an Irrigation Troubleshooting Workshop at Smith Turf and Irrigation.  Next week Matt and Matt will accompany Senior Assistant Eric Sosnowski to the North South Turfgrass Association Education Meeting at Tega Cay.  There they will hear from two N.C. State University professors, Dr. Jim Kerns - Optimizing Fungicide Efficacy for Root Diseases and Dr. Travis Gannon - Preemergent Herbicide Options and Application Timings.  

 One of the great things about greenkeeping is the ever changing nature of the business.  Whether it's environmental changes, regulatory changes, technological changes and more, there is always a need to stay educated and abreast of what is taking place within the industry.  The Golf Industry Show held annually and presented in partnership by the GCSAA, ASGCA, and GCBAA is the single largest education conference and trade show in the world for those in the business of designing, building and maintaining golf courses.  This past GIS was my 19th overall and 18th consecutive, and one of my busiest as I packed a lot into four days.

 On Day One I was honored to co-present the Master Greenkeeper Workshop with Course Manager David Langheim, MG of Wimbledon Park Golf Club before attending two education sessions later that same day.  On Day Two I had the good fortune to join an illustrious panel that included Anthony Williams, CGCS from Four Seasons Los Colinas, Andrew Wilson from Bethpage State Park, Lukas Harvey from Atlanta Athletic Club, Josh Heptig from San Luis Obispo and moderator Bob Scott from Irrigation Consultant Services, Inc.

We discussed Irrigation Renovations with a large audience swapping stories from our collective experience.  Day Three was the trade show which meant there were lots to see and many people to meet before attending our chapter reception that evening.  I started Day Four as a volunteer Turf Bowl grader.  What a fun experience to sit between Lee McLemore, CGCS from the Country Club of Birmingham and Alan Fitzgerald of Ledgerock Golf Club in Pennsylvania and pour over dozens of written essays.  I was thrilled later that evening when my alma mater, Virginia Tech managed a Top 10 finish.  Go Hokies!

Following the Turf Bowl grading session I made my way back to the trade show floor where I was invited by the Toro Company and Andy Johnson, host of The Fried Egg Podcast to appear on the podcast live inside the Toro booth.  We had a small audience and were joined by Edric Funk, Director of the Center for Technology, Research and Innovation for Toro.  
Photo Courtesy of Ian Daniels, GCS Teugega C.C.
The three of us had a fun conversation about some challenges we face in the industry and how some emerging technologies may help bring a solution to those challenges.  If you don't subscribe or listen to podcasts on your mobile device you can listen on Andy's website. CLICK HERE 

 For those of you familiar with Andy's podcast this will be different as we stepped away from the normal discussions about great golf course architecture.  Ironically Andy approached me about being a guest last fall when he and one of his colleagues traveled to North and South Carolina visiting Old Town Club, Roaring Gap, and Palmetto Golf Club to name a few (check out episodes 158 and 159).  Unfortunately I wasn't available as that coincided with my trip to Ireland, so Andy will just have to make the trek to Charlotte some time this year to experience Carolina Golf Club.  Then we can set up the mics in my office and talk Donald Ross, Kris Spence, restoration and all the other good nerdy stuff we're accustomed to.

 Well, that's all for now.  Looks like we've got a small break in the rain so time to get the team in action.  Hopefully this update will find you warm and dry, and hopefully this wet pattern breaks and we can enjoy some golf at Carolina Golf Club soon.

 See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG

  
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Thursday, January 23, 2020

Dynamic Viscosity!

Hello and welcome to The Greenkeeper!  Today is Thursday, January 23rd and our fourth consecutive morning with temperatures below freezing.  Prior to this cold snap's arrival we had endured 29 consecutive days with above average temperatures dating back to before Christmas.  In fact, our Bermudagrass tees and fairways began to show signs of waking from their annual winter's slumber.  Yes, the color you see and enjoy is natural, nothing has been applied.
Brad Panovich, WCNC
We are also in the midst of our driest stretch this winter (since Dec 1) with only 0.14" rainfall in the past eight days.  Unfortunately our area is forecast to receive more than one inch of rain starting sometime late tomorrow.  Also, we have already received 9.46 inches rainfall this winter (since Dec 1) which is well above average.  The record winter rainfall total is 19.46 inches set just last year (Dec '18-Feb '19).

 It has rained 119.03 inches on Carolina Golf Club since Jan 1, 2018!  And that total is approximately equivalent to three years average rainfall, but in just two.  I tell you this only to give you a greater perspective and understanding to the unusually wet conditions of late.  For those curious the most recent wet winter prior to last year was four years ago (Dec '15-Feb '16) when we received 15.48 inches.

 Needless to say, during periods of extreme wet weather we receive comments about drainage.  And the information I'm sharing is not meant as an excuse, the committee and I are always evaluating the golf course, playing conditions and our resources to determine the best ways to improve and enhance your experience.  I'm merely trying to help you better understand the context of why things are softer and slow to dry this year and last.

 The golf course is built on native Piedmont clay soil and is mostly surface drained, that was a strong suit of Donald J. Ross.  We added a modest network of inlets and below ground drains during the restoration, and have added and modified that network over the years.  We've also sand topdressed fairways the past five years in an effort to modify the soil profile and improve water infiltration.  

 In the summer months Bermudagrass is actively growing and takes up plant available water through the roots.  Long days and warm temperatures help promote evaporation.  In the winter months the turf is dormant (hibernating) and the short days and colder temperatures greatly reduce the rate of evaporation.  But there is also another phenomenon that negatively impacts the removal of water from our clay soils - viscosity.  

 Viscosity is a fluid's resistance to flow and everyone understands liquids such as motor oil, molasses and honey are much thicker and have a greater viscosity than water (the higher the viscosity value the more resistance to flow).  But viscosity is not static, and temperature alters the viscosity of liquids, including water where flow is reduced in colder temperatures.
Chart Courtesy of Cale Bigelow, Ph.D.

 Another question I've been fielding lately is why the wet area on No. 8 fairway seems to defy gravity and is on the slope.  For starters it doesn't help the area in question is shaded (see pic below), but that's not all.  In the book Practical Drainage for Golf, Sportsturf and Horticulture by Keith McIntyre and Bent Jakobsen, Chapter Four, The Capillary and Lateral Movement of Water in Soils provides two key factors.  First, the lateral movement of water in soils is extremely slow.  Second, the downward force of gravity on water is reduced once it reaches where the slope begins to flatten.  The slower rate of lateral movement then causes the water to back up and we encounter the phenomenon that seems to defy our logic.
Wet Area Marked by Small Stakes

Hopefully this update gives you a better understanding of how the changing seasons impact our daily conditions, and lately the seasons have been a little extreme.  In the meantime you can help by exhibiting caution and avoid the lower lying and wetter areas with your traffic.  All traffic compacts wet soils and the increase in compaction slows even more the internal movement of water.  We will continue to examine the needs of the course and make improvements when and where possible, and I encourage you to reach out to me and/or members of the Green Committee with your questions and comments.  All feedback is helpful. 

 That's all for now.  Next week I'll be at the annual Golf Industry Show where I'll be co-teaching a seminar on Monday and participating in a panel discussion on Tuesday.  Looking forward to networking and collaborating with my peers, and catching up with Matt Claunch!
See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG
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Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Serve Pro, Links Gems, and DJR!

Hello and welcome to The Greenkeeper!  Today is Tuesday, January 7th and I thought I would share a few interesting finds as we close out the first week of 2020.  Wow, can you really believe it's 2020!  That means we are less than a decade away from CGC's Centennial in 2029!  But I digress.

 I certainly hope everyone enjoyed the holiday season with their families, friends and loved ones!  As much as we enjoy some time away from the course with those nearest and dearest to us, I always look forward to the new year and seeing the team reunited.  Everyone is refreshed and ready to get after whatever is necessary to make Carolina Golf Club the best it can be.

 Yesterday was our first Maintenance Monday of the new year and we wasted no time in prepping the greens for the expected rains today.  A quick vent with needle tines followed with a roll left the surfaces smooth yet ready for more precipitation.  
Before Roll
Smooth Roll
After Roll


































Speaking of precipitation, if anyone was wondering our rainfall total for 2019 was 57.20 inches.  Just 1.40 shy of the 58.60 inches that fell in 2018.  That's nearly three FEET above average for the two-year span!

With that much excess water it was a good thing the team installed an interceptor drain near the walk-on/walk-off area of the Blue and Black teeing areas on Hole 6.  Our aim here is to capture the ground water before it surfaces at the toe of the slope and transport it to an existing subsurface pipe making for improved traction and appearance. 

 The team really came together on this project, most likely working hard to shed a few new pounds gained over the holidays. ;) I was extremely proud of their efforts and attention to detail.

















You can see from the photo in the above tweet how the drain runs parallel to the Blue Tee before wrapping in front.  We attached our new drain to an existing pipe behind the left, greenside bunker on No. 7.  Here's a couple more photos of the project as the team buttoned things up!
Almost Done

Like it Never Even Happened





































In other news, those of you on the social media channels Twitter and/or Instagram may know of Links Gems.  Jon Cavalier is a lawyer by day, or maybe by night as he takes amazing golf course photos by day!  He's based out of Philadelphia and travels the country sharing photos of some of the best golf courses ever designed.  

 Anyway, Jon was recently a guest at Carolina Golf Club and had some nice things to say about our beloved Donald J. Ross design.  Hope you enjoy!
It was nice of Jon to utilize Black and White considering our mostly dormant appearance, made for some rather interesting looks.  My understanding is his Instagram page receives even more traffic, you can find links to both on his website linked above.

 Segueing into a little more about Donald J. Ross, I posted this yesterday evening taken from Keith Cutten's book, The Evolution of Golf Course Design. 

"Seamlessly into the existing terrain" I believe accurately sums what Kris Spence was able to recapture during our restoration a little over a decade ago.  In the business we commonly refer to this as "tie-ins" and I think this is what separates Kris, his team, and the team from Golf Course Services from others, they nail the tie-ins.  

 Anyway, that's all for now.  Welcome to 2020 and a new golf handicap as the World Handicap System goes into effect.  Here's hoping we all manage to shave a stroke or two this year!
See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG

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Friday, December 20, 2019

'Tis the Season!

Hello and welcome to The Greenkeeper!  Today is Friday, December 20th and this is my final post for 2019.  What a year it has been!  Those of you that reached out following my last post thanks for the feedback.  I'm glad to know you found the numbers informative and helpful.  Quick update on the weather, the rainfall for December has now reached 4.25 inches and our Year-To-Date total sits at 55.52 inches.  And it appears we have more rainfall in the forecast for Sunday and Monday before warming up for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Winter in the Carolinas is a roller coaster.  We warm up and rain, then turn bitterly cold for a few days only to do it over again.
Earlier this week I had the good fortune to attend the Past President's Dinner at Carolina Golf Club.  It truly is a wonderful tradition and something I look forward to every year.  During the evening I couldn't help but think of an older post where I wrote about the occasion and a missed opportunity to express my thoughts and feelings about being the superintendent of Carolina Golf Club.

 I searched The Greenkeeper archives early this morning for that post and discovered ironically it was exactly six years ago today.  Which turns out to be the last time Christmas Day fell on Wednesday like it does this year.  The post dated Friday, December 20, 2013 expressed thoughts and feelings that couldn't be summarized any better today.  So kickback, pour a cup of coffee and enjoy Quick Update, Reflections, and Merry Christmas! 

 I hope you enjoyed that look back.  Just like six years ago we hit the road in the morning for Virginia.  Four Christmases in four days before we make the trek back to the Queen City on Christmas Day, wish us luck!  And just in case Santa didn't see my wish on Twitter I've embedded it here so fingers crossed he sees this.

 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG
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Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Analytics and Royal Melbourne!

Hello and welcome to The Greenkeeper!  Today is Wednesday, December 11th.  It's hard to believe the first ten days of December have come and gone.  Shoot, it's hard to believe just two weeks ago I was posting my annual Thanksgiving list, and two weeks from today it will be Christmas!  My mother-in-law says life is like a wagon wheel and as each year passes we move a little closer to the axle and time spins more quickly.  There's some wisdom in those words, but I digress.

 Last night I watched some of the President's Cup coverage on Golf Channel.  There was a press conference with the Assistant Captains of each team, four representing the Internationals (Geoff Ogilvy, Mike Weir, Trevor Immelman, and K.J. Choi) and three representing the USA (Fred Couples, Zach Johnson, and Steve Stricker).  With the event taking place in Australia it was only natural for Geoff Ogilvy to field the majority of questions posed to the International group.  In one answer he referenced how their squad is using statistics, data and analytics to help determine team pairings.

 Geoff went on to comment that's how the entire world is moving nowadays, we are inundated or bombarded if you will with information and either you figure out how best to utilize the data or you get left behind.  His comment struck a chord because I've lived it over my tenure as your golf course superintendent.  I've always tracked the weather because golf is played outdoors, and we keep daily records of what has been applied and when, but in recent years we've began to track other practices for the purpose of identifying outputs and trends.

 For example, one week ago I met with the Green Committee and one of our conversations centered on green speed and how it has met or exceeded expectations the majority of 2019.  I know this certainly wasn't the case in 2017, but we did begin to make some headway in 2018.  So what's different?

 For starters, in 2018 we obtained two new greens rollers.  A different brand lighter in weight and less stressful on the turf compared to our older, heavier units.  This permitted us to increase our rolling frequency, but what exactly was our frequency.  I really hadn't tracked it for an entire calendar year.  I can tell you we rolled for every tournament, in lieu of mowing once or twice a week during the heat of summer, several times immediately following aeration events, and more frequently in the winter to remove dew and smooth foot traffic when the turf was not growing.  So, with the new rollers we recorded what we did each day of the year in 2018 and the results looked like this:
  1. Mow Only 173 times
  2. Roll Only 62 times
  3. Mow & Roll 38 times
I can tell you rolling 100 times in 2018 was definitely an increase over years prior.  So how has 2019 stacked up thus far (thru today):
  1. Mow Only 130 times
  2. Roll Only 106 times
  3. Mow & Roll 21 times
We've rolled the greens on 27 more occasions than all of last year and still have 20 more days this calendar year.  That's nearly an entire extra month of rolling producing an increase in surface smoothness and firmness which equals more speed.

 Now, that is just one piece of many to the puzzle.  There is also managing the growth rate via our fertility regime and plant growth regulators, managing soil moisture between rainfall events via the use of monitors, wetting agents and hand watering plus other agronomic inputs like aeration, topdressing, and more.  But suffice to say the increase in rolling the past two seasons has translated to a more consistent putting speed over the entire year opposed to peaks and valleys normally experienced.

 I mentioned managing soil moisture between rainfall events and the weather data will show you the past two seasons have been extremely wet for the greater Charlotte area.  Charlotte receives on average about 40 inches rainfall in a calendar year.  2018 saw 58.6 inches rain at Carolina Golf Club and thus far we have received 52.5 inches in 2019!  When you consider 2009 was the only other year in my tenure we broke the 50 inch mark with 54.77 inches, it's easy to see why the number of Cart Path Only days have been on the rise the past two seasons.  For those interested the driest year in my tenure was 2007 when only 31.80 inches fell at CGC (the worst drought in state history started in May '07 lasting into late August '08).  

 That's all the math I have for you today.  Let's wrap up with a quick mention of the Presidents Cup.  The Royal Melbourne Golf Club is widely considered to be one of the best golf courses in the world.  I hope the golf is compelling and the matches are tight, but I'm excited to see the course.  The first five matches begin at 5:30 pm EST today, so pour yourself an after-dinner cocktail, put your feet up and watch some of the best players in the world on one of the very best designed courses in the world, maintained to an unmatched standard by Director of Courses Richard Forsyth, his team and volunteers from around the world.  Enjoy!
Listen to Richard Forsyth on The Course Reports here

See you on the course,

 Matthew Wharton, CGCS, MG
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