Crooked Stick For PGA Cham

condition of the course. He knew that C-15 decline had begun to attack several of Crooked Stick's Toronto creeping bent greens in 1984, and had actually visited the course to help out with their reconstruction in September 1985. "We'd seen the greens stressing in 1984, and we dealt with it as stress," he said. "But Before Dye redesigned the course, there were only two fairway we realized that the disease had the poten- bunkers. This series of bunkers was added on the 11th hole. tial to strike all the greens. That and the Championship, and just improving the olf has been described as an aggra- mel, IN, approximately 15 miles north of course for the members, were all factors in vating, exhilarating, uplifting and , was awarded the PGA Cham- deciding to rebuild the greens." Riedman Gexquisitely lonely game. On any given pionship for 1991, the club's 90-member explained, "We stripped the sod, fumigated, course, grown men can sometimes be seen tournament committee realized, from a cer- and modified the slopes to accommodate dancing like lottery winners. tain amount of experience gained hosting 9112- to ten-foot green speeds. We didn't For all its considerable etiquette and con- major national amateur events, that the attempt to modify the soil because it was sistent good manners, golf occasionally tournament's success relied on several fac- already 85 percent sand. We floated the the provokes a player's most basic emotions. -tors, It required a course that was superbly seed beds, fumigated, floated again, put Solitary, "man-versus-himself" sports are challenging and fair for the players, and down seed and starter fertilizer, and like that. And golf is perhaps the world's also a pleasure to view, both for the on-site covered them with tarps" most solitary sport. spectators and the television audience. The choice for the new greens was Penn- A wide receiver can watch a football sail To shape the already-excellent course cross. "It's been a proven grass over the just over his fingertips and out-of-bounds, into one of PGA Championship caliber, they years," said Riedman. "It's probably the and realize that the quarterback bears - turned to its original designer, , most recommended grass by Pete Dye on tial responsibility for the incompletion. A and 30-year-old Dave Riedman, superinten- his courses:' point guard who sinks a jump shot off a pick dent at Crooked Stick. "I always dreamed of Snow mold attacked greehs nine, 11, 17, can thank the teammate who set it. But being the superintendent here," said Ried- and 18, and they had to be replanted again. when a professional golfer hooks his tee man. That dream came true in February The planting was done in March 1986 and shot into the woods, he owns it solely, just 1986, which was the same month that the greens were ready for play that June. as he owns a chip shot from a bunker that Crooked Stick signed a contract with the Greens 15 and 16, which were resodded in drops into the hole. PGA to host the 1991 Championship. fall 1988 by Riedman and his 16-person Hosting a professional golf tournament Riedman started working as a laborer at crew, were ready for the 1989 season. couldn't be more different from the game the course in 1978, but moved on to earn a "We did all the work in-house," said Ried- itself. The sheer volume of work demands degree in turfgrass management at Penn man. "Both greens were totally resodded a team approach to planning and prepara- State University, under Dr. Joe Duich. His from our own nursery. I much prefer work- tion, especially for professional golf's four association with Dye began when the two ing in-house with my own people:' major tournaments. rebuilt the west course at Birmingham Using a combination of Jacobsen Simply landing one of the four "majors" is Country Club in Birmingham, AL. mowers and overseeders, Cushman Ryan a substantial accomplishment for a course. When Crooked Stick was awarded the aerators, Hahn topdressers, and good old- Two of the tournament sites are forever PGA Championship, Dye realized that the fashioned hard work, Riedman and his predetermined. The Masters is always course would require changes and crew logged 75- to 90-hour weeks to ensure played in Augusta, GA. The British Open is improvements. Having worked with Ried- that the course would be in optimum condi- limited'to the harrowing links of the British man before, he recommended him for the tion. As a team, they have handled the daily Isles. That leaves only the U.S. Open and job of superintendent. Riedman, who was maintenance chores, in addition to major the PGA Championship available for bid- superintendent of Harrison Lake Country course changes designed by Dye in order ding by courses around the country that Club in Columbus, IN, at the time, gladly to raise Crooked Stick to PGA standards. would like to host a major. accepted. With the exception of heavy earth moving, When in Car- He had never been out of touch with the the task of implementing these changes fell 14 Golf & Sports TURF Prepares pionship

to Riedman and his crew. "This is the kind of thing I like," said Ried- man. "I tend to get a little bored with simple maintenance. A lot of people think I'm more of a construction superintendent than a mai ntenance su peri ntendent. "Pete has the attitude that we can do any- thing. A lot of the things we've done have Railroad ties, a Dye trademark, border the 13th green. A creek was amazed the crew and myself. Pete says I rerouted to wind in front of the green on the left. All photos copyright can handle bulldozers better than most © 1989, Dost & Evans. people. Whatever damage they do, I feel I can fix it." many bunkers. They have also overcome Crooked Dye has a penchant for creating hazards "We didn't make changes and improve- Stick's problem of inadequate watering on that are fair, yet unforgiving and intimidat- ments just for the Championship," said the edges of its fairways. To accomplish ing. In fact, one top-rated touring profes- Riedman. "A lot of what we did needed to this, Riedman and his crew installed Rain sional has called him "the master of visual be done, and we would have done it any- Bird 91-DR sprinklers down the center of terror:' way. With all the new courses that are being the fairways and 51-DRs in the rough, at Crooked Stick was originally designed built every day, you have to continually what he calls the "scallop point." Installation with only two fairway bunkers. Long rough improve your course, or you're dead. Pete of small heads around the bunkers to water areas and lightning-fast greens provided really wants to keep up the status of this golf bunker faces is also planned. the course's primary challenges. "When course:' He is proud of his crew's efforts. But Pete came back to look at the course for the Not all of the amendments to the course Riedman also credits the patience and tournament, he knew we needed fairway are as obvious as new fairway bunkers and dedication of Crooked Stick's 225 members bunkers," said Riedman. "He also wanted bridge construction. Crooked Stick's fair- for the success of the improvement pro- to soften the greens to accommodate the ways, tees, and greens were already gram. They have played an integral role on fast green speeds the members are irrigated, but the rough was nourished only the "team," by providing both financial sup- accustomed to:' by natural rainfall. As a result, the bluegrass port and cooperation for the tournament Fairway bunkers were installed on several took a beating from the drought of 1988. A preparation. holes and additional pin placements were new Rain Bird Maxicomm IV irrigation sys- "The most difficult thing about preparing worked into many of the greens. On the tem was installed. for the Championship has probably been 14th hole, Dye added new pin placements, Putting in the irrigation system, which keeping the course open during construc- extended the fairway, and rerouted a stream was designed primarily by Riedman, was tion," he said. "The members have been which now passes along the front edge of one of the toughest chores for the superin- really great about putting up with it. There the senior tee. tendent and his crew. They worked from aren't many clubs that would be so good A horseshoe-shaped pond was installed November through May, in the dead of the about it. Bill Diehl, a member here, has around the fourth tee. On one side of the winter. been the greatest. He used to b~ the 16th green, a sand trap was converted into "We used all rubber gasket fittings so we general sales manager at McCallister a lake. Tees three, four, eight, ten, 13, 16, 17, . could work in winter, and glued all pipe Machinery [in Indianapolis], and whenever and 18 were all changed to play longer. To indoors," said Riedman. "When it got too we needed to rent something like excava- make the fifth hole carry further, 100 yards cold to pull pipe, we trenched. We worked tors or backhoes, he'd get them for us at a of the fairway were removed. On the almost every day. I think there were only fraction of the price:' seventh hole, lightning ground rod protec- about three days we didn't work:' All construction on Crooked Stick will be tion was installed to protect a 100-year-old The result of their six-month, $400,000 completed by this Mayas is stipulated by white oak tree. effort is an irrigation system with 54 con- the PGA. From then until August 1991, Other changes to the course have trollers, linked to an IBM PS-250 personal when the tournament is held, Riedman and included construction of railroad tie bridges computer. From a computer room under his crew will focus on a maintenance and and walls (a Dye signature), natural construction in the maintenance building, mowing program. Per PGA requirements, amphitheaters and spectator mounds, cart they can syringe greens easily and adjust all rough areas must be cut by rotary paths, ponds, and total reconstruction of and control all watering functions. continued on page 16 January, 1990 15 Crooked Stick was a natural choice to assist with these Stick was the development of corporate continued from page 15 plans, and Browning accepted Kellams' pavilions," said Kellams. mowers, and fairways must be cut to 7/16 offer. There were will be 24 corporate tents in inch. In developing the Crooked Stick tourna- the pavilion area, each measuring 30 feet "Our fairways are already there," said ment plan, MSE programmed areas by 60 feet. They will be rented for the week Riedman. "We want to prepare from now encompassing the entire course. The plan of the tournament. Amenities will include air until the tournament like it was going to includes a central area for ABC Television, conditioning, closed-circuit television moni- happen next week. We want to be able to which because of technical demands can tors, private telephones, computerized scor- mow this in four hours, because be no farther than 5,000 feet from any given ing, and full catering services. hole on the course, and areas for other during the tournament that may be all the Additional plant material for the pavilion members of the media, spectators, fairway time we have. We want to have the equip- area will be brought in from nurseries and crossings, concessions, rest rooms, and ment ready to go, backup for the equip- planted shallowly. When the tournament parking. ment, and backup for the backup." has concluded, the plant material will be "Working with the tournament committee, The members have made that possible, removed and replanted around the course. we developed a list program needs said Riedman. He estimated that the at' "It is more sophisticated than just pitch- important for the sucess of the tourna- course spends $100,000 a year on main- ing a tent," said Kellams ofthe complex ment," said Kell~:{ms."We organized stated tenance equipment, and that Crooked planning for the pavilions; The pavilion area needs and requirements and established Stick's equipment inventory is worth skirts the fairway of the 424-yard, par-four an overall master plan or course layout:' approximately $890,000. "The members 16th hole on one side, and is just a chip Step one was to fully define what the ~say, 'Get it done,' and they give us the shot off the 18th tee on the other. "Another ',' ' money to do the job right," he said. "We committee needed to do to handle the service we provided to the tournament com- ,~lcouldn't do it without them:' spectators without interfering with the gol- mittee was an illustrative plan delineating fers. For nine months, the committee and LJj While Dye and Riedman have been work- design features. This helped provide a com- Kellams worked together to create several prehensive marketing package to promote 1o'Il-'- irig on the course itself, the tournament committee and Michael Browning, tourna- plans. The best of each was taken and the tournament and aid in the sale of the ment director, have been attacking the blended into one. corporate pavilions," Kellams said. challenge of making Crooked Stick perfect "We came up with a plan that encom- To date, 13 of the 24 pavillions have been for the estimated 150,000 spectators who passed all the major points that needed to rented. The price tag for each is $f20,OOO will come to view the 1991 PGA Champion- be addressed," Kellams said. "This for the week. "It may be a record high for ship. The committee decided to tap the includes logistics of running a tournament, corporate pavilions," Browning commented. talent reservoir of the Landscape Architec- how to get people on and off the course The committee and Kellams wanted to ture Division of MSE Corporation (formerly each day, how to get them to rest rooms, ensure that all of the spectator areas will Mid-States Engineering) in Indianapolis. concession areas, and so forth:' provide unique, exciting views of the action. The union of MSE and Crooked Stick Among the priorities established by the So they went to a unique, exciting expert. actually began when the club hired the committee was the need for the tournament "We asked Pete Dye how he thought golf company (which also specializes in to be a financial success. No one wants the could best be viewed from behind rope. engineering, surveying, and digital map- event to hurt the club financially. How you 'corral' people at a major tourna- ping) to perform a laser measurement of "One important feature to help minimize ment is largely determined by miles of ski the course. In the measuring procedure, a the cost of the tournament for Crooked rope," said Kellams. "Most spectators feel laser is set up on the tee of a particular hole and a beam of light is sent out to the pin. The beam bounces off a device at the pin and returns to the tee. The distance Bagging A Major: Luck And The Art Of Paying Dues' between the two points is extrapolated from the time it takes the light beam to travel the Crooked Stick Golf Club didn't simply amateur events in the area. In addition, he distance. wake up one February day in 1986 and find co-owns the Seattle Mariners w'ith Jeff After the measurement procedure was itself chosen as the 1991 PGA Champion- Smulyan. completed, Fred Kellams, director of MSE ship site. Bagging the tournament was the In Browning, Crooked Stick found a Landscape Architecture, approached culmination of a process which had begun straightforward mover. Asked how he Browning and offered to assist with the lay- five or six years earlier. became involved with the Mariners, he out for the tournament. Kellams, who "Crooked Stick has long been consi- responded simply, "We wrote a check." But describes himself as a student of the game, dered by many to be a championship landing the tournament was a team effort. is an Evans Scholarship alumnus. It is a course," said Michael Browning, the 42- It began when Mickey Powell, owner of the caddy scholarship funded by the Western year-old owner of Browning Investments, Golf Club of Indiana and former president Golf Association. He had observed the Inc., and tournament director. "We are dedi- and director of the PGA of America, asked process of organizing large tournaments in cated to amateur golf, but we've always Wayne Timberman, then president of the past, and understood the need for tour- wanted to host a professional event." Crooked Stick, if the club could submit a nament master planning. Several national amateur events have bid to host the 1991 PGA Championship. "I've always had an interest in assisting been held on the course, including the 1982 Timberman said yes, and the bid was pre- with the planning of a PGA tournament," USGA Junior Amateur Championship, 1983 pared and submitted. Much to the delight of said Kellams. "I grew up in Indiana, but USGA Senior Amateur Championship, and the members of Crooked Stick, it was have lived in Florida and St. Louis, MO. the 1989 USGA Mid-Amateur Champion- accepted. However, I've never lived anywhere where ship. In addition, qualifying rounds for the "It's difficult to describe the process [of they playas much golf as they do in Indi- U.S. Open are held there annually. being chosen as the site for a major] ana. Indianapolis is a golfing community:' Browning is well versed in organizing because a lot of it goes on behind the The committee knew that they needed sports events at both the amateur and closed doors of the PGA," said Browning. "I rest rooms, concession areas, additional professional levels. He moved to Indi- think Mickey's [Powell] sponsorship at tbe plantings, spectator traffic control, and anapolis in 1975, and helped plan the PGA board of directors was critical. parking areas. The question was, "Where National Sports Festival held there in 1982 However, some of it is a matter of waiting are the best places to put them, in relation and the Pan Am Games in 1987. He is chair- your turn, some of it is a matter of paying to the course and one another?" A land- man of the Indianapolis Sports Organiza- your dues, and some of it is a matter of scape architect with a golfing background tion, which has held more than 300 luck:' 16 Golf & Sports TURF that the majority of action takes place on the green. Dye sees it differently. He thinks that the best viewing area is from the tee:' With both green and tee concepts in mind, they experimented with the viewing areas of several holes. Trees have been removed from spectator traffic and viewing areas and replanted by Riedman's crew around the course. Traditional spectator galleries have been created, such as behind the 18th green. Six thousand bleacher seats, as well as sitting and stand- ing room for an additional 4,000 spectators, will fill this area. Unorthodox viewing areas are also planned. One hole presented a particular problem, as both its tee and green are unsuited for large groups of spectators. The solution: bleachers will be placed along the fairway. "It's unique," said Kellams. "Spectators will be able to see the approach shot and the action on the green, all from one place:' The 18th green Is bordered on one side by a lake. Roughly 10,000 More than 18 months will pass before the spectators can watch the action from the opposite side. first pro tees off in the 1991 PGA Champion- ship. Tournament merchandising, as well as The 1991 PGA Championship winner ship at Crooked Stick ..And though he will his other duties, will keep Jim Ferriell, Jr., can thank his family for support and his be surrounded by thousands and watched Crooked Stick club pro, busy in the club's caddy for advice, but the last word in victory by millions on television, he will ultimately newly remodeled pro shop. will be his alone. The team' at Crooked Stick face the course alone. That's the nature of In a sense, the Crooked Stick team-the will have a victory of their own to celebrate, the game. members, committee, Browning, Riedman, that of successfully hosting a major. And Until that time! work and preparation for and.Kellams-c- have made the turn and are they can enjoy their accomplishment the event will C;QJJtinue.Much has yet to be heading down the back nine. Last year, together. completed, such as recruiting, training, and Crooked Stick moved from 79 to 59 in Golf "We'll be ready," said Riedrnan. 1'1 think coordinating the 2,000 volunteers that will Digest magazine's ranking of the top 100 for anyone in this business, this is like a be needed to work at the PGA Champion- courses in the country. dream come true:' •

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Circle 103 on Postage Free Card January, 1990 17