TPC Sawgrass Functions To Perfection

The 14th after the storms and just before play resumed Saturday after a storm. (click to enlarge)Reader Ed Patterman says Players tournament director Mark Russell equated TPC Sawgrass' sand-capped fairways to a screen door during a television appearance and after walking around this afternoon I can say the place drained to perfection. The TPC was reopened in 2007 after a $60 million renovation that included a new clubhouse, new irrigation system, new USGA greens and fairways capped with six inches of sand.

Most of the credit for today's quick turnaround following the thunderstorm goes to the fairway drainage, USGA greens** and sand-capping. But don't underestimate the healthy, thatch-light turf and proper amount of moisture in the ground before the rain. Director of Agronomy Tom Vlach deserves credit for that.

When play started Saturday evening, I asked Russell if the rebuilt greens sand-capping allowed them to get on the course faster and prevent a longer delay that would ultimately mean a Monday finish.

"I rode down the fourth fairway after it stopped raining," he said. "It was like it did not even rain. I mean, the sand capping they did was fantasitc. Tom Vlach and his staff have done a great job and our agronomy team [led by] Cal Roth

"Cal told me, 'Hey I don't care how much it rains. If it stops, all that water will be gone quick, and it was.'"

**Note that I didn't give my credit to the SubAir system since it does not impact the top 6 inches of the green surface and it's not even the system of choice under 6 of the greens on property.