Superintendent Greg Niendorf on hosting the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play in the desert

Graphic: Golfdom Staff

What’s it like to maintain a golf course in the middle of the desert? Greg Niendorf, superintendent at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, says it’s a constant battle with weather, soil and water.

“There are challenges no matter where you’re at in the world, but the extremes we deal with out here are unlike any other,” he says. “We have poor soil, poor water quality and we’re maintaining cool-season greens in temperatures that can reach 117 (degrees F) at times.”

Shadow Creek’s bentgrass greens add to the challenges that face Niendorf and his crew, especially in the brutal Nevada summers. Still, Niendorf says, the grass is surprisingly resilient and delivers championship-level conditions in the scorching Nevada summers.

“It’s a course in the desert Southwest that resembles a course in North Carolina,” he says. “I think if a superintendent watching the tournament on TV is going to notice something, it’s going to be the beauty of the course and the detail work that goes into maintaining it on a daily basis.”

Keepin’ it cool

Niendorf says, in his mind, water management separates Shadow Creek from other clubs in the area.

“We keep greens on the drier side and also keep them cool,” he says. “We have fans that we put on greens like courses do back east. It’s just really about tweaking your turf health program a little bit in certain areas that can make a difference in this region of the country.”

A native of Michigan who spent the early parts of his career on the East Coast with stops in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Niendorf credits that experience to his success at Shadow Creek.

“The biggest thing that has helped the transition was the watering techniques that I learned from other high-end clubs I worked at,” he says. “Not a lot has changed between the watering practices I learned back there and what we do here.”

Shadow Creek Superintendent Greg Niendorf credits his East-Coast upbringing in the industry for his smooth transition to maintaining bentgrass in the Nevada desert. (Photo: MGM Resorts International)

Familiar territory

Niendorf didn’t have much experience in the deserts of Nevada before he stepped into a role at Shadow Creek. Before he joined the MGM Resorts International-owned course in 2008 as assistant superintendent, his experience mostly kept him east.

Niendorf’s time at Shadow Creek began during a Fazio renovation, which stretched the course to 7,650 yards.

He says starting in the middle of a large renovation was a blessing, as it helped familiarize him with the course ahead of his eventual return as superintendent in 2018.

Niendorf calls his return to Shadow Creek both fulfilling and beneficial to everyone involved, thanks to his previous experience as an assistant.

“No matter how much you agree or get along with the superintendent that you’re working for as an assistant, there are always going to be things you think might work better,” he says. “So, coming back as superintendent, it’s exciting to implement those ideas and see how they work.”

Blistering temperatures alongside poor water and soil quality are just a handful of challenges that Shadow Creek presents to Superintendent Greg Niendorf and his crew. (Photo: MGM Resorts International)

Tournament week

Tournament week is the light at the end of the tunnel, according to Niendorf.

He calls the lead-up to it exhausting for everyone on staff. That mood shifts as the tournament starts, with crew members beaming at the thought of seeing the fruits of their labor highlighted on television.

The influx of volunteers to help during tournament week is also a welcome sight.

“It’s a long week, but we also bring in outside volunteers from other golf courses in the area to help,” he says. “My staff sees them roll in, and they get wide-eyed with smiles on their faces because they realize that they’re getting some help in here when we need it.”

While it’s nice to have the helping hands of volunteers, Niendorf says the networking and opportunities for his staff and him to learn are equally as important.

“We get to network with other people in town, superintendents, assistants and other staff members,” he says. “It’s also fun for us because we get to showcase the course and show off a bit.”