Pinehurst in Transition

Farren speaks on sustainable standards on the golf course during “You Asked for It, You Got It!” session.

Bob Farre

Bob Farren, certified superintendent and director of golf course and grounds management at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, spoke on (betcha can’t say this three times real fast) “Transitioning from Traditional Practices to Sustainable Standards and Practices” during the “You Asked For It … You Got It! Seminar.”

Farren says Pinehurst’s maintenance staff has reduced the number of highly maintained acres on the eight courses by 10 percent, which has resulted in a 16-percent savings in fuel. It will continue such sustainable practices to reduce costs even more.

Farren talked about the 1990s when golf was growing and going over the top with conditioning. Since then, there has been an obsession to have finely groomed bunkers and distinctive mowing patterns, among other artificial enhancements.

“We have a near zero tolerance for natural debris in wooded areas,” Farren said. “We try to catch pine cones at Pinehurst on the first bounce. … Is this sustainable in the future?”

Farren said sustainability is made up of three key elements, which he calls the three 3 p’s: the people element; the planet element and the profit element. “Each of these elements must be part of the critical path of the decision-making process that will lead us to sustainability,” he added.

Farren told attendees that Pinehurst’s famed No. 2 course will soon be restored by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore ” to re-establish a more natural feel and playability of the course.”

“The results will be far less-manicured course,” Farren said. “The amount of irrigated turf will be drastically reduced.”