Torrey Pines Agronomic Saga

Tod Leonard in the San Diego Union Tribune (reg. required) takes an in-depth look at the conditioning problems Torrey Pines has been having, along with the rescue effort led by Ted Horton.

The most interesting tidbit revealed:

“After much discussion, Horton said they will attempt to grow kikuyu grass all over the golf course in the next three years – with Riviera Country Club as the model. Horton said the idea was ‘gut-wrenching’ because he didn't know if the USGA would approve of it for the Open, since few courses in the country are predominantly kikuyu – a good and hearty course turf classified as a ‘noxious weed’ by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”