The World Amateur Team Championships A marathon event unlike any other! BY JOHN H. FOY

Just like the Olympic Games, each country participating in the WATC is introduced during the opening ceremonies. This is just one of the special features enjoyed by participants in this unique event. Photo by John Mummert, USGA.

fter a brief appearance more management, the WATC has some October of that same year. With than 100 years ago, will unique challenges and is a marathon permission from then U.S. President A again be in the Olympic Games event unlike any other. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who received in 2016. However, many are unaware the original WAGC representatives that since 1958 there has been a A BRIEF HISTORY in the White House Rose Garden, biennial international competition for During a meeting hosted by the the winning team was awarded the gold, silver, and bronze medals with USGA and The Royal and Ancient of . In 1964, the the mission of “Fostering Friendship St. Andrews, , (The R&A) in French Golf Federation hosted the first and Sportsmanship” through golf. The Washington, D.C., and attended by Women’s WATC and awarded the World Amateur Team Championship representatives from 35 countries, The to the winning (WATC) shares many similarities with World Amateur Golf Council (WAGC) team. Since then the WAGC has the Olympic Games, including its was established in May 1958 to conduct conducted both the women’s and values of excellence, friendship, and the WATC. The first Championship men’s championships, and in 1991 it fair play. From the standpoint of cham- was hosted by The R&A at the Old became affiliated with the International pionship course preparations and Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, in Olympic Committee (IOC) to promote

Green Section Record Vol. 50 (17) TGIF Record Number 209955 August 17, 2012 Page 1 golf as an Olympic sport and to act as , , there were before sunrise, and then in the late the Federation for Golf in the Olympic 52 women’s teams and 69 men’s afternoon as the last groups are Games. The WAGC was renamed the teams. The vast majority of teams completing their rounds the crews are International Golf Federation in 2003. have three players, and thus 155 coming back and working until sunset With both the women’s and men’s women and 207 men played in the two or later. While this routine is not championships, there are opening championships. The women’s and uncommon with any big golf event, 16 ceremonies, during which all teams men’s championships are played in consecutive days does take its toll. An

Hosting over 300 competitors for 16 rounds of golf is a lot of traffic on any , and wear and damage are especially concentrated on practice facilities. are introduced with their national flags. back-to-back weeks, and each has additional challenge for the mainte­ At the end of each competition, along four practice rounds followed by four nance staff has been that the courses with the championship trophies, medals rounds of stroke-play competition. This continued to host regular member play are awarded to the first-, second-, and means that championship course right up until two days prior to the first third-place teams and their captains. conditions must be provided for 16 practice round of the women’s cham- These ceremonies and the opportunity consecutive days! The fields are split pionship. In spite of these challenges, to represent one’s country evoke the in half and alternately play each course the dedicated golf course superinten­ same emotions that are felt by the each day. The women’s championship dents, their staffs and volunteers have athletes that participate in the Olympic is conducted first, and this does help provided first-class course conditions Games. While the Championships are as far as limiting course damage and and a great experience for the top a team stroke-play competition, there being able to progressively toughen up amateur golfers from around the world. is a long list of very notable past the courses for the men with faster players from around the world. For this putting speeds and higher roughs. Due OTHER CONSIDERATIONS and more information on the Inter- to the very large men’s field, holes Similar to the Olympic Games, the national Golf Federation, visit http:// Nos. 1 and 10 starting times with member golf federations or associations www.internationalgolffederation.org/. morning and afternoon waves must be submit bids to the IGF to host the used each and every day. biennial WATC, which is generally held MAINTENANCE MARATHON As would be expected, the courses as early as mid-September or as late Compared to hosting any other cham- that have hosted the WATC do not as mid-November. To encourage inter- pionship or tournament, the WATC is a typically have the extra staff, equipment, national development of the game, the marathon event for the host courses or resources needed for conducting all championships are rotated among the and maintenance staff because of the of the daily championship maintenance -Pacific, American, and European- number of competitors and length of tasks prior to the very early morning African Zones of the world. The past time that championship conditions starting times. There has been great three championships (2006 South must be provided. For the 2010 cham- support from neighboring clubs in Africa, 2008 , and 2010 pionships, played at Buenos Aires and regard to volunteers and equipment. Argentina) have been played in the Olivos Golf Clubs on the outskirts of Yet, course work still must start well southern hemisphere, and this has

Green Section Record Vol. 50 (17) August 17, 2012 Page 2 presented a bit of an agronomic chal- in the need to provide championship CONCLUSION lenge because the warm-season turf- course conditions for only eight con- With national membership now includ- grasses on , fairways, and roughs secutive days instead of 16. However, ing 125 countries, the International were just emerging from winter dor- hosting the WATC does present a Golf Federation has witnessed signifi- mancy and starting to grow. On the different challenge for these facilities cant growth in the game as more and other hand, the mild springtime weather and their staffs. The golf courses are more countries foster national golf is ideal for creeping bentgrass, a cool- located in the Belek-Antalya region on programs. This effort is assisted by the season turfgrass, used on the putting the southeastern Mediterranean coast funds available through many sports greens, because it reduces the potential of , and all of the courses have ministries, which is further supported for problems that could result from bermudagrass, a warm-season turf- now that golf has resumed a place in heavy play and maintaining champion- grass, on putting greens, tees, fairways, the Olympics. In particular, new teams ship conditions for 16 consecutive and roughs. This is a very popular from Eastern Europe, Oceania, and days. European resort area destination, and Africa are now participating in the In some regions and countries the primary golf season is the cooler WATC. The biggest growth is seen in around the world, the availability of golf weather months in fall, winter, and the number of women’s teams compet- course maintenance equipment and spring. Along with the challenges of ing. The WATC welcomes all countries, specialty products is rather limited disrupting the timing of routine prepa­ even emerging programs, regardless compared to what we are accustomed rations and overseeding, course of golfer skill level. As such, even to in the U.S. Also, importation duties closure time will also be reduced at the though there is fierce competition at and taxes can significantly increase golf facilities hosting the WATC. As is the top, President Eisenhower’s hope the cost to acquire equipment and the case for some facilities in the U.S., that nations would come together in products. However, this does not mean dormant and off-color bermudagrass is sport and peace — to promote a better that consistent and good quality course not well received, and overseeding of understanding — is realized through conditions are not being provided. With all of the courses in the region is a the WATC. the employment of sound agronomic necessary practice to meet the expec- programs and the ingenuity of the golf tations of the resort guests who arrive course superintendents, these chal- for winter play. Thus, as soon as the JOHN H. FOY is director for the Florida lenges are being successfully met. At championships are over, establishment Region of the USGA Green Section. a recent championship it was realized of wall-to-wall winter overseeding on Since 2001, he has assisted in the during the first practice round that one the courses must immediately be preparations of courses hosting the of the hole cutters was out of round, or undertaken. WATC. not perfectly circular. Also, as a result of daily hand raking of the bunkers, excessively soft sand conditions were developing. Making a call to a local distributor to get a new hole cutter and bunker rakes was simply not an option. Instead, the superintendant and mechanic fabricated both a replace- ment blade for the hole cutter and a set of bunker rakes that helped main- tain a firmer surface condition. Within a couple of days, similar bunker rakes were also being used at the other golf course.

TURKEY 2012 The 2012 Championships rotate to the European-African Zone and will be hosted by the Turkish Golf Federation. The women’s championship will be played at the Gloria on the Old and New Courses. The men’s championship will be played at Antalya Golf Club (PGA Sultan course) and Immediately following the 2012 Championships in Turkey, the maintenance staffs Cornelia Golf Club (Tiberius and Gaius at host courses will switch gears and undertake establishment of a winter nines). For the first time, four courses overseeding program to provide an actively growing turf cover for resort guests will be used, and this obviously results during the primary golfing season.

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