Golf/Golf Architecture

…and we thought Giuliani had taken care of these guys

By td ⋅ June 17, 2009 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

With an awful lot of angry clouds in the forecast, the USGA’s Jim Hyler took a moment at this morning’s press conference to outline the USGA’s wet-weather strategy.  The main weapon: Squeegees. Eighty of them, to be precise. They’ll be handled by volunteers stationed behind every green. Hyler said that 220 people overall–including sixty-five members of superintendent Craig Currier’s crew–will be at the ready if any issues arise. No word on whether the volunteers will also be selling loose Newports and mini-bags of off-brand plantain chips. Hey, it’s a New York Open, right?

For more expansive areas of puddling or pooling, like the 18th fairway (pictured below), which Hyler, with a hint of hesitation, described as a “swamp”, nine WaterHOGs (TM) are on hand to keep them playable. The flick I pulled up is of the Junior version, but WaterHOG Sr. is big enough to carry a driver. Both are front-roller sponges that soak up water and then transfer it to a tank.

The weather is clearly going to affect the setup of this Open, and the USGA will likely make some last-minute decisions in the wee hours of the morning regarding the placement of some opening round tees.

A WaterHOG Jr. in action.

Another note: One questioner asked if the lift, clean and place rule would be deployed, and the answer was a flat “No.” We’ll be here until a champion is declared even if it takes us into next week.

Tags: 2009 US Open, Bethpage Black, inclement weather, squeegees