Photos: Maintenance team preps for PGA Championship

By |  August 11, 2015 1 Comments

With the first three Majors of 2015 in the rearview, all eyes now look to the final Major of the year at the Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis. Check out photos of the maintenance team preparing for this week’s PGA Championship.

A bunker raker admires his work as the sun sets on the Straits Course.

A bunker raker admires his work as the sun sets on the Straits Course.

Walk mowing No. 5 green with a John Deere 180C.

Walk mowing No. 5 green with a John Deere 180C.

Volunteers with bunker rakes in hand ready for a hayride to the course for the first evening shift of maintenance.

Volunteers with bunker rakes in hand ready for a hayride to the course for the first evening shift of maintenance.

Golfer Steve Stricker mid-practice round encouraged the greens mowing crew to keep working while he putted out the hole.

Golfer Steve Stricker mid-practice round encouraged the greens mowing crew to keep working while he putted out the hole.

John Reid, assistant greenkeeper of The Duke's, St. Andrews, and Ryan Lindsley, Staits Course assistant-in-training, take time for a photo. (And thanks to Lindsley for valeting my Dodge Charger when I got to the course... but was that burn-out really necessary? Oh well, it's a rental.)

John Reid, assistant greenkeeper of The Duke’s, St. Andrews, and Ryan Lindsley, Staits Course assistant-in-training, take time for a photo. (And thanks to Lindsley for valeting my Dodge Charger when I got to the course… but was that burn-out really necessary? Oh well, it’s a rental.)

The only water feature on the course (other than Lake Michigan), the crew works to tidy up No. 5 fairway with their reflections bouncing off the water.

The crew works to tidy up No. 5 fairway with their reflections bouncing off the water.

Walk mowing the green surround on No. 6.

Walk mowing the green surround on No. 6.

Walk-mowing a tee box. Check out that Wisconsin sky over Lake Michigan!

Walk-mowing a tee box. Check out that Wisconsin sky over Lake Michigan!

The second cut is closely mowed by the lead mower... three staggered mowers follow his lead.

The second cut is closely mowed by the lead mower… three staggered mowers follow his lead.

Grandstand facing the 18th and final hole of the PGA Championship with one of the signature bunkers situated next to the green of course.

Grandstand facing the 18th and final hole of the PGA Championship with one of the signature bunkers situated next to the green of course.

Senior Assistant Superintendent Joe Sell directs traffic with rain clouds overhead ready to pour buckets on the crew.

Senior Assistant Superintendent Joe Sell directs traffic with rain clouds overhead ready to pour buckets on the crew.

The cart parade heading to the back nine holes pauses to receive directions from Joe Sell, senior assistant superintendent of Whistling Strait's Straits course.

The cart parade heading to the back nine holes pauses to receive directions from Joe Sell, senior assistant superintendent of Whistling Strait’s Straits course.

The bunker raking crew gets a ride to the far south end of the course.

The bunker raking crew gets a ride to the far south end of the course.

Several weather delays put some excess water on the turf. Crew members used blowers to remove some of it before mowing.

Several weather delays put some excess water on the turf. Crew members used blowers to remove some of it before mowing.

The crew spends some down time with a game of pick up. Some of these kids have game, I've gotta say.

The crew spends some down time with a game of pick up. Some of these kids have game, I’ve gotta say.

Dave Van Auken, superintendent at Bass Lake GC in Deerbrook, Wis., gives the Gremlin's Ear bunker a raking

Dave Van Auken, superintendent at Bass Lake GC in Deerbrook, Wis., gives the Gremlin’s Ear bunker a raking

Photos by: Seth Jones | Grant Gannon

This is posted in Industry News, Maintenance


1 Comment on "Photos: Maintenance team preps for PGA Championship"

Trackback | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Randy Hisey, CGCS says:

    Thank you for the pics. Nice to see all the work that goes on off camera. I will show this to my crew of 14 that takes care of 27 holes. This should help them take pride in their work and see the other side of course maintenance.
    Thanks again,
    Randy,

Post a Comment