The 19th Hole: Jared Nemitz
Superintendent // The Peninsula Club, Cornelius, N.C.
After 18 holes, what’s your drink of choice?
A perfectly blended Coca-Cola.
You just hosted 40 supers. What was the occasion?
It was an Ultradwarf Putting Green Surface Management seminar put on by the USGA. Rod Lingle came from Memphis CC. Together we showcased a variety of management strategies to produce high quality playing conditions. It gave me an opportunity to put our greens and practices on display. We had superintendents from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina.
You’re a self-described “turf-nerd.” Why do you say that?
I’m ready to talk about grass anytime. And I can break out the agronomic Excel spreadsheets to prove it.
I’m impressed with your dedication to spreadsheets. What’s your most useful one?
By far clipping weights, taking clipping weights off the same green everyday, and Stimpmeter readings. Those two help to dial things in.
Explain the clipping weights to me.
We weigh the clippings off our No. 10 green daily. We know from these numbers how the grass is reacting to our inputs. On our greens, light would be anything less than 40 grams per 1,000 square feet. Medium, 40 to 80 grams, heavy is anything greater than 80 grams. It gives us a broad idea of what’s happening on the green. Generally you’re trying to keep the grass between light and medium. The less grass I’m taking off, the more smooth and in control I am of the playing surfaces.
You worked at St. Andrews. How did that come about?
I studied at the University of Aberystwyth in Wales. I realized that the 2005 Open was going to be at the “Home of Golf.” I called the director of greenkeeping, Gordon Moir. He was very accommodating. He invited me to come and participate in the Open. I couldn’t have asked for a better capstone to my educational internships.
So what are your teams?
I root for the Purdue Boilermakers, the Tennessee Titans and the Atlanta Braves.
Are you married? Kids?
I have been married for 9 years to Rachael. I have one little girl Ainsley and a little boy on the way, due in October.
Things are going to get busy!
I’ve never been more nervous in my life. I already thought I was busy, I’m not sure where this extra time is going to come from. …I’ll make an Excel sheet for it, I’ll figure it out.
As interviewed by Seth Jones, June 30.
Photo: Seth Jones