It was my pleasure to work the United States Women’s Open Championship at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina. I was fortunate to have this championship in my backyard and the unique perspective of visiting the course on a regular basis leading up to the event. It was a joy to watch the build-out and preparation that took place the weeks, months and years leading up to the championship.
David Fruchte, director of golf course maintenance, Chris Mintmeir, golf course superintendent, and Tom Stier, assistant golf course superintendent, worked with their team to make sure Pine Needles was in excellent shape leading into the championship. Pine Needles Lodge and Resort made large agronomic and financial commitments to the property to ensure it was ready, including keeping carts on paths for eight months prior to the championship.
Despite their championship pedigree, Pine Needles was not immune to labor and supply chain challenges during their preparation for the U.S. Women’s Open. Operating with a moderately sized crew of men and women, Mintmier and his team peaked the golf course at exactly the right time. In 2021, Fruchte also oversaw the complete renovation of neighboring Southern Pines Golf Club with architect, Kyle Franz as well as the maintenance of Mid Pines Golf Club. All three golf courses were originally designed by Donald Ross and have since been renovated by Franz, with architecture unique to the Sandhills of North Carolina. The 2022 U.S. Women’s Open was Fruchte’s fourth time hosting the championship and seventh USGA championship.
This group of men and women worked tirelessly to prepare all three golf courses for one of the busiest springs on record, and Pine Needles for the championship. By the eve of championship week, I witnessed the unmistakable blend of fatigue, adrenaline and excitement. And that is when the energy arrived.
Thirty women arrived Sunday night as part of the “women in turfgrass team” to help put the finishing touches on Pine Needles. On top of that, close to 50 superintendents, assistants, vendors and interns from the local golf community showed up to help prepare the course. Representatives from Modern Turf cooked and served delicious meals every day for Fruchte’s army of volunteers and the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association as well as local and national vendors showed up to support the effort. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America was represented by Kevin Breen and Kevin Sunderman. Media from around the world were also on-site to document the effort and skill of the golf course maintenance team.
I witnessed many amazing things over the course of my 10 days on the property. What will stick with me is the teamwork and dedication it takes to prepare a golf course for a national championship and the army of skilled, professional volunteers that come together to apply the finishing touches. We will get to witness that again this week at The Country Club for the U.S. Open, and I cannot be more excited than to see the golf course and marvel at all the work that went into peaking for this moment.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Chris Hartwiger, director, USGA Course Consulting Service – chartwiger@usga.org
Steve Kammerer, Ph.D., senior consulting agronomist – skammerer@usga.org
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., agronomist – jbooth@usga.org