IDEAS IN PLAY

U.S.Open Plays on Seed Research of Oregon Turf

The U.S. Open, runs Thursday Creeping Bentgrass June 14 – Sunday June 17, 2012 Susceptible to Dollar Spot on the Lake Course at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California on newly renovated greens and fairways. Seed Research of Oregon’s creeping bentgrass varieties TYEE and 007 were chosen by Pat Finlen, Director of Golf Maintenance Operations, after researching top-performing varieties available for this historic golf course.

Custom bentgrass sod was grown in California, a blend of 34% TYEE and 66% 007. Both varieties are noted for their superior putting quality, higher density, upright growth and cool weather active growth, in addition to their increased resistance to Poa annua invasion. Greens renovations started in November 2008 and the new Tyee/007 sod was transplanted to the course in early Spring 2009 for a re-opening date of May 29, 2009.

Improving conditions on the Poa annua fairways involved regular interseeding with 007 Creeping Bentgrass along with aggressive sand top-dressing, starting in late Summer 2010, continuing in 2011 and 2012. Consequently, the fairways are much firmer than in previous years. Lake Course superintendent Justin Mandon reported excellent playing conditions on the greens and fairways this spring as a result of the renovations and re-grassing.

Check your local golf channel listings and tune in for some exciting golf on a tough course. The field will include returning 2011 U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson and many other top-ranked PGA players – playing on Seed Research of Oregon bentgrasses, the top-ranked program in the world.

For more details on the Olympic Club renovations, contact us at Seed Research.

Seed Research of Oregon • Phone: 800-253-5766 • 541-758-5305 (fax) • www.sroseed.com