There are many examples of why the green-or-brown question is not a black-and-white issue.
Our recent online postings and daily e-newsletter reports on reaction to the “new look” of Pinehurst, including Donald Trump’s negative Twitter rants about how the renovated course looked on TV during the U.S. Open, generated some of the highest “page view” counts we’ve ever received at clubandresortbusiness.com. Other reports we’ve had on how more clubs and courses around the country are taking steps to join the “brown is the new green” movement have generated similarly strong interest.
There could be any number of reasons why our readership has turned this topic into an especially “hot link.” But I suspect the primary one is because superintendents, and their GMs, want to have some new handouts for their next meetings with owners or greens committees, to help make their case for taking a more realistic—and cost-effective, and environmentally responsible—approach to course and property preparation and maintenance in the high-def age.
Our Course & Grounds feature in the July issue (“Water on the Brain”) should also get added to that reading material. When superintendents at leading (and beautiful) properties like Oakland Hills CC and The Resort at Pelican Hill are saying things like “People are understanding that not every square inch has to be green,” or “As long as it’s firm, they understand that a little less color is OK,” or “Golf purists don’t care what color it is,” that can help provide a pretty powerful counter-argument to “Why doesn’t our course look like Augusta?”
As someone who has been visiting several different club and resort properties each month for the past 10 years—visits that almost always involve full rides of the golf course with the superintendent—I’ve seen many examples of why the green-or-brown question is not a black-and-white issue. I’ve toured postcard-like properties with zero appeal, and breathtaking ones that, if you saw them on TV, you’d jump up to adjust the color (next year’s U.S. Open site, Chambers Bay, may cause a worldwide outbreak of this reaction).
There was a period not too far back in the history of golf and club properties when planting trees to create parkland courses was all the rage, no matter what the climate or topography. That was followed by a period of outcry about how criminal it was to take trees out of overgrown properties—followed by delight over how much healthier the turf was after they were removed.
Just as superintendents helped to guide the industry through that needed change, there’s every reason to believe they’ll find ways to lead the green-to-brown movement, too. There may in fact be extra motivation this time, because superintendents have long lamented they should be known for much more than just “growing grass.”
To help move past that stereotype, many have gained the spotlight for a variety of other notable reasons, such as providing on-property sanctuaries for eagles and other wildlife, or taking the lead in helping their communities find long-term solutions for water shortages or runoff issues. Within the boundaries of their properties, they’re also doing more to enhance the experiences of members and guests with creative design and construction of value-added upgrades such as landscaping features, outdoor event venues, and chef’s gardens. Having all of this on display can lessen concern about just what shade the “background” might be.
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