Hazeltine National Golf Club prepares for 2016 Ryder Cup

Another shot of the sod job to the far side of the left hazard on 17. We used fescue sod, which we will not mow. pic.twitter.com/CNBDNzkhte

— Chris Tritabaugh (@ct_turf) October 7, 2015

With only one year remaining until the 2016 Ryder Cup, captains from the U.S. and Europe and PGA officials recently visited Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., which gave the grounds team a chance to practice. 

Head Superintendent Chris Tritabaugh and the grounds team prepared the course as it is expected to play. The visitors provided feedback and adjustments for Tritabaugh and his staff in preparation for next year.

“Our planning for this event began the day after the PGA Championship was here in 2009,” Tritabaugh says in a news release from The Toro Company. “This week provided us a great dry run of the course, testing the conditions from rough height and greens speed. We noted a couple of things the team will fine-tune prior to next year’s event, but all-in we are in good shape.

“Much of the credit goes to our tremendous turfgrass staff and volunteers here at Hazeltine. Without their hard work, none of our success would be possible. Combined, our staff has worked 35 major championships at Hazeltine – an amazing level of experience. These individuals know what it takes to put on a major golf event, and it gives me a feeling of great comfort. Making this event a success also would not be possible without our wonderful partners at Toro and MTI Distributing. Their equipment, service and expertise will help us ensure Hazeltine National Golf Club shines during this historic event.”

Toro’s relationship with Hazeltine dates back to 1962 when the course opened for play, and today the company serves as the official provider of turf maintenance equipment and irrigation. The course currently uses a full range of Toro greens, fairway and rough mowers, utility vehicles and mechanical bunker rakes, including Reelmaster 3550-D fairway mowers, Groundsmaster 4500-D rough mowers, Flex 2100 walk greensmowers and Workman utility vehicles. Hazeltine also uses Toro’s Turf Guard wireless soil sensors for monitoring turf health and water usage.

“Our long-standing relationship with Hazeltine National brings us great honor, and appreciation for the trust they put in our products,” says Bill Brown, group vice president of Toro’s commercial and irrigation businesses. “This will mark the first time a Minnesota course has hosted this prestigious event, and it will truly be one to remember. We are excited to be a partner, and support their efforts to produce and maintain first-class greens and fairways during the matches.”