Golf: NBCC survives elements

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - Officially, the Newport Beach Country Club has

“weathered the storm.”

After six days of back-breaking, mind-scrambling effort, the Newport

Beach Country Club is playing as close to tournament conditions as

possible. A remarkable achievement considering the obstacles the course

maintenance crew had to deal with this past week.

“Six days ago when the first major storm hit the course, I felt like I

was going through the five steps of depression,” Tournament Director Jeff

Purser said with an exhausted smile. “There was some despair, anger,

denial and so on. In my heart of hearts I thought the Pro-Am was going to

be washed out completely.”

Thanks to the nonstop work of the NBCC crew and a break from the

nonstop rain on Wednesday night, not only was the Pro-Am able to get

underway, but 27 of the 36 holes were completed Wednesday and Thursday.

“We had 20 guys working a combined 200 hours of overtime to get this

course in shape,” Course Superintendent Ron Benedict said. “Usually, our

schedule has been from 4 a.m. to about 7 p.m. Needless to say, right

after the Sunday round, I’m heading out to Arizona for a break.”

Once the first wave of rain hit, it became a team effort to keep the

course from completely floating away.

“We got together with the guys to start pumping the water out of the

bunkers and to have guys on every green with the squeegees,” Benedict

said. “(Thursday’s) sun and wind was a huge blessing because the course

was beyond its saturation point. If we can stay dry (today) and Saturday,

the course will be able to withstand some more rain on Sunday if it

comes.”

Inside the playing ropes, the course is in as good a shape as can be

expected. Outside the ropes is a different story.

“The carts from the Pro-Am have taken its toll on some of our rough

and where people are going to be walking will be muddy and wet,” Benedict

warned. “If you come out to watch, don’t wear your $100 dress shoes or

anything like that. If you prepare for wet conditions, it’s not that big

a deal.”

The break in the rain will also allow the course to get a much-needed

haircut, trimming the fairways down to 9/16 of an inch, while keeping the

primary cut of rough to approximately one inch.

“We haven’t been able to put a mower on the course since last Friday,

so we’re excited to be able to get this opportunity,” Benedict said.

Due to the nature of the course and the wrath of Mother Nature, there

will still be some sensitive areas. The players will play the ball as it

lies except on holes 15 and 18, where they will be able to lift, clean

and place.

“The shape of the course is a testament to the effort of those

associated with our course as well as the course’s drainage capability,”

NBCC head professional Paul Hahn said. “We’re hoping for three great days

of weather, but even if there is some light rain on Sunday, I think we’ll

still be fine.”

Tour Professional Jim Dent took part in Thursday’s Pro-Am and was

extremely pleased with how the course was playing. He practiced on

Tuesday and saw how much water was originally on the course.

“The guys have worked hard and they are to be praised for their

effort,” Dent said. “The course is in great shape. Perhaps the water

might be a blessing in disguise. Now, instead of driving through some

fairways, the ball will stick and stay out of the rough. Plus, if the

course drys out, it’s going to get even faster so the player that can

adjust the quickest will have the advantage.”

Not to be forgotten, Benedict was quick to point out Assistant

Supervisor Mike Novak and mechanic Ildefonso Torres for their work above

and beyond the call of duty.

“Mike has been a tireless worker for us during this tough time,”

Benedict said. “And, Ildefonso has probably had to change the height of

the mowers over and over again. With 21 cutting units, that’s no easy

task. Quite an effort indeed.”