Steve Anderson, GCSAA certified golf course superintendent at the Inverness Club, has the golf course fast and firm for the U.S. Senior Open Championship July 28-31 in Toledo, Ohio.
“It was the second-driest June in recorded history and we’ve had record heat advance week,” said Anderson, a 17-year GCSAA member. “We’ve done a lot more hand watering this summer and used a lot more labor to pull hoses around.”
Anderson has a turfgrass management degree from Michigan State University and is one of only 1,700 active superintendents to earn the professional designation as a GCSAA Certified Golf Course Superintendent. He has been at Inverness five years, after working as superintendent at Franklin (Mich.) Hills Country Club, and director of golf course maintenance at Greenville (S.C.) Country Club previously. Anderson hosted the 2009 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship at Inverness.
“Working with Steve Anderson to prepare for the 2011 U.S. Senior Open Championship has been just fantastic,” said Jeff Hall, USGA managing director of rules and competition. “He and his staff do a super job at presenting Inverness in wonderful condition on a daily basis for the membership and their guests. The preparation for the U.S. Senior Open has been nothing more than fine tuning a high level of daily maintenance. I think we are well positioned for a successful championship.”
Anderson has the bentgrass/Poa annua push-up greens rolling smooth, fast and firm. The rough, a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, features the USGA-favored graduated cuts to further penalize shots the further they land from the fairway. The first cut of rough is 6 feet wide and 1 1/2 inches tall. The second cut goes 8 to 15 feet further from the fairway and 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches high, depending on the hole. Beyond that, the rough is 4 1/2 inches tall.
Inverness will play at par-71 and up to 7,143 yards for the U.S. Senior Open. Anderson’s staff of 24 will be assisted tournament week by 30 volunteers – a group that includes nearby superintendents, assistant superintendents, interns, turfgrass students and industry vendors.
Inverness Club was designed by Donald Ross in 1903. George and Tom Fazio (1978) and Arthur Hills (1999) supervised recent revisions to the course. Byron Nelson was the club professional from 1940-1944. Inverness Club hosted the 2003 U.S. Senior Open; 1944, 2009 NCAA Championship; 1986, 1993 PGA Championship; 1973 U.S. Amateur; and the 1920, 1931, 1957, 1979 U.S. Open.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 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 19,000 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. The association’s philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf, works to strengthen the compatibility of golf with the natural environment through research grants, support for education programs and outreach efforts. Find GCSAA on Facebook, follow GCSAA on Twitter, and visit GCSAA at www.gcsaa.org.