Course statistics

1421 Research Park Drive • Lawrence, KS 66049-3859 • 800- Average tee size: 3 acres • 472-7878 www.gcsaa.org Average green size: 3 acres Soil conditions on course: Clay GCSAA Tournament Fact Sheet Green construction soil mix: PGA of America USGA (sand 85%, peat 15%) 96th PGA Championship Rounds per year: 17,000 Acres of fairway: August 4 - 10, 2014 27 Source of water: Pond, creek Acres of rough: 110, primary & native Valhalla Golf Club Drainage conditions: Fair Louisville, Ky. Sand bunkers: 65 Water hazards: 2 ponds & Floyds Fork Golf Course Management crossing many holes

Information Course ratings GCSAA Golf Course Superintendent: Yardage Par Rating Slope Roger Meier

Gold 7540 72 76.4 148 Availability to media: Contact Roger Meier by phone 502-245-1714; fax 502-245-1157; cell Black 6975 72 74.1 143 502-332-5012; email [email protected] Twitter: @RmeierVGC Green 6540 72 71.6 138 Education: B.S., Turfgrass Science & Management, Blue 6345 72 69.8 129 SUNY Cobleskill, Cobleskill, N.Y., 1999 Years as a GCSAA member: 17 GCSAA affiliated chapter: Red 5075 72 70.8 124 Kentuckiana Golf Course Superintendents Association Course characteristics Years at this course: 4 Number of maintenance employees: 40 Height of Number of tournament volunteers: 70 Primary Grasses Cut Previous positions: 2005-2010, Golf Course Tees Bentgrass 0.250" Superintendent, Chariot Run Golf Club, Fairways Bentgrass 0.300" Elizabeth, Ind.; 2000-2005, Assistant Superintendent, TPC River Bends, Greens Bentgrass 0.125" Maineville, Ohio Previous tournament preparation: Kentucky Rough bluegrass; 4" 2002-2004 Senior Kroger Classic, TPC zoysiagrass; fescue River Bends, Maineville, Ohio; 2011 Senior PGA Championship, Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Ky. Previous tournaments hosted by facility: Wildlife on the course 1996, 2000 PGA Championship; 2002 Club Pro Championship; 2004, 2011 Senior PGA Championship; 2008 Ryder Beaver; Blue heron; Canada goose; Coyote; Cup Deer; Fish; Fox; Groundhog; Hawk; Mole; Muskrat; Osprey; Otter; Quail; Rabbit; Raccoon;

Red fox; Snakes; Squirrel; Turkey; Turtle; Kentucky bluegrass, with fescue making up the Woodpecker; Several different species of birds secondary rough. The incoming nine holes were carved out of higher, tree-covered terrain with a shallow creek that would come into play on four holes. Interesting and historical course- related facts Over the years, Valhalla has undergone some minor course alterations to keep up with ever Valhalla Golf Club is named after the great hall changing landscape of golf. However, in the fall described in Norse mythology where the souls of 2011 Valhalla and the PGA of America of Vikings feasted and celebrated with the gods. embarked on a project to modernize the course Valhalla is also the PGA of America's first by overhauling the drainage and irrigation owned championship site. infrastructure throughout the course. The major focus was on the green complexes, rebuilding Valhalla Golf Club, located approximately 20 them from the ground up, enhancing surface miles east of Louisville, opened its doors in drainage and softening contours. For this 1986. Named one of the top three new private project the PGA of America enlisted Valhalla’s golf courses in the U.S. in 1987, the first year it course designer Jack Nicklaus to handle the was eligible, Valhalla Golf Club remains the No. work of modernizing the golf course. 1-ranked course in Kentucky and one of "America's 100 Greatest Courses", according to Golf Digest (2005). Course architect/date: Jack Nicklaus, 1984-195 In 1992, Valhalla Golf Club was announced as the site for the 1996 PGA Championship, and in Original course builder/date: November 1993, an agreement was negotiated Wasworth, 1984-1985 whereby the PGA of America agreed to purchase 25 percent of Valhalla Golf Club. After Most recent redesign/renovation: the successful conclusion of the 1996 PGA Jack Nicklaus, 2011 Championship, the PGA assumed 50 percent ownership in the club and announced it would Redesign builder: return to Valhalla Golf Club in 2000 to play the Sanders Golf, 2011 82nd PGA Championship. At the conclusion of the 2000 PGA Championship, The PGA Other key course personnel exercised the right to purchase the remaining interest in Valhalla. Chris Habich, GCSAA Class C Lead Spectators found some of golf's most Assistant Superintendent spectacular viewing areas in Valhalla Golf Joey Downard, GCSAA Class C 2nd Club's natural amphitheaters. The scenic par-5, Assistant Superintendent 542-yard No. 18 handled 20,000 spectators. Jason Sperring, 2nd Assistant Superintendent The area surrounding the green on the par-4, Bryce Yates, AIT 422-yard No. 17 accommodated a gallery of John Bonifield, AIT more than 8,000. Jason Newman, Equipment Manager Keith Reese, Club Manager Valhalla Golf Club's front nine traverses a low- Jimmy & Mary Kahle, Horticulturist lying parkland setting where 650,000 cubic Chris Hamburger, PGA Professional yards of earth were moved to build up tees, PGA of America, Club Owner greens and fairways to a level that would protect the course from major storm damage. Valhalla's greens, tees and fairways are a combination of T1 and Penway bentgrass Golf course management facts strains. Overall, there are 65 sand bunkers strategically positioned throughout the course. For additional information please visit Valhalla Golf Club's greens feature distinct tiers gcsaa.org/newsroom or contact the and sections that provide a variety of Communications Department at 800-472-7878. challenging hole locations. The primary rough is GCSAA is a leading golf organization and 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 nearly 18,000 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. Find GCSAA on Facebook, follow GCSAA on Twitter, and visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org. The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA, and has as its mission to foster sustainability through research, awareness, education, programs and scholarships for the benefit of golf course management professionals, golf facilities and the game. Visit www.eifg.org.