Convexing Situation

Players About To Get Taste Of Renovated Ross Greens

Southern Pines, N.C. – The looks have been priceless. Flummoxed. Exasperated. Bemused. Some have been borne out of sardonic laughs.

No, we’re not talking about a Michelle Wie entourage sighting. Rather, if it’s Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club, no doubt player reactions have to do with the punitive Donald Ross greens.

"It’s like putting on ice," said Sweden’s Kristina Tucker, who played on Duke University’s 2002 NCAA Championship squad. She actually said this with a smile.

Mention Ross and the first imagery that invades the mind are humped, turtle-back-contoured greens that make a ball scoot faster than a race car in an oil slick. These aren’t the same exact greens some players faced during the 1996 and 2001 U.S. Women’s Opens, either.

The domed Donald Ross greens, like the sixth hole, will be a tough obstacle this week. (John Mummert/USGA)

In 2003 and 2004, architect John Fought – also the 1977 U.S. Amateur champion and former PGA touring pro – restored the vaunted greens after exhaustive research of Ross’ original designs. He spent time at the Tufts Archives in the Given Memorial Library in Pinehurst, studying Ross’ idealogy, going so far to pore over aerial shots through the years. His research revealed that the greens had actually shrunk since 1928, a byproduct of cutting patterns and erosion. The greens had devolved into circular patterns, moving acutely away from Ross’ oblong designs that took advantage of all the curves.

"The greens, which are much more contoured, will certainly get the players’ attention," said Fought on April 23. "They will be difficult. Also, the golfers will have to pay attention on their approach shots into the green."

Attention paid. Players are well aware of the intricacies the greens – and course – present after three days of practice.

"I think the greens are a little more severe," said Karrie Webb, who won here in 2001.

Said 2004 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion Julieta Granada, who tied for 46th last year: "It’s challenging. … You have to careful with your chipping, and the greens are so fast."

There’s little disagreement that Ross’ greens could be as venomous as a rattlesnake, or in other words, could make or break someone’s championship. They’re not the only changes the players will face. In 1996 and 2001 the turf consisted of an over-seeded perennial ryegrass with an underlying Bermudagrass grain. However, this year the course will be played solely on Burmuda. The reason for that, according to Mike Davis, the USGA’s senior director of Rules and competitions, is because ryegrass tends to be more sticky and isn’t as conducive to bouncing conditions in dry weather. The last Opens at Pine Needles were also conducted the last week of May when the Bermuda blade isn’t grainy. In addition, Bermuda tends to be more penal than rye in which the ball doesn’t sit up as high.

"It’s almost like – not to have this sound negative to the women – Pine Needles is to the women as Pinehurst No. 2 is to the men," said Davis. "So many of the features you see at Pinehurst No. 2 – raised greens, fall off areas on all sides, closely mown areas – are here too."

The course is set up at 6,644/6,664 yards, roughly 400 yards longer than in 2001. Par has also changed from 70 to 71 mainly because No. 15, formerly a par 4 in 2001, will play as a par 5 this week.

The second nine, particularly the par-4 12th, will be just short of brutal. It’s another reason why No. 15 was reformed to a par 5, a reversal of USGA setups where par-5s are often converted to par-4s. It’s viewed as a catch-your-breath hole before the wicked three finishers.

Davis added that Fought’s renovations have led to more hole locations. For success, players will need to aim for the center of the elevated greens. Most times they’ll have to sacrifice going for the flagstick if it’s tucked back or risk rolling off or into the closely mown areas. The goal is to have the greens between 12 and 12½ on the Stimpmeter. Davis wouldn’t commit to a winning score, only saying that the setup, coupled with the turf, will give players options while pitching, chipping or trying to play a bump-and-run shots to greens.

None of this is secretive to experienced players. They know what to expect from a USGA setup.

"You have to be creative, especially this golf course around the greens," said the loquacious Morgan Pressel, the 2005 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion who became the youngest major champion in history this past spring when she won the Kraft Nabisco Championship. "It doesn’t put such a premium all the time on length and distance.

"You play for pars. And par is always a good score."

Added defending champion Annika Sorenstam, who won here in 1996: "I know that I’ll be able to adapt to the golf course."

In any event, it all comes back to the greens. If Ross intended them to be the final defense on a brilliant course that examines every facet of the game, they’ll hold their own this week.

"The biggest thing by far – by far – is getting the right firmness," said Davis. "The trick is not letting them fire darts, and you don’t want [the greens] rock hard either."

If the USGA can find the proper equilibrium, Davis will know immediately. All he’ll have to do is inspect the players’ faces.

Ken Klavon is the USGA Web Editor. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.