Saucon Valley CC Set to Host U.S. Senior Open

The Bethlehem, Pa. club is the only course to host the prestigious event three times. The USGA scouts out locations three to five years in advance. There wasn’t much tweaking needed for Saucon Valley, with the USGA saying it was at top level even before they came.

Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. this week will welcome the U.S. Senior Open.

Saucon Valley is the only course to host the open three times, WFMZ reported. They know a little something about what’s expected.

At more than 7,000 yards, there is a lot for crews to cover. The USGA does come in to help, but crews here say this course is pretty much professional ready on a daily basis, WFMZ reported.

“When we got here, we were impressed to see where the golf course was at,” said Zach Nicoludis, USGA agronomist, or “turf expert.”

He teamed with Saucon Valley Director of Golf Courses and Grounds Jim Roney to tweak the course to championship level, WFMZ reported.

“Instead of mowing grass at one continuous height, around the fairways we will give it a couple of different types of cut,” he said.

It’s called a graduated cut, so the farther from the fairway, the longer it is.

“How are the greens?” WFMZ News reporter Bo Koltnow asked.

“They are really fast, right where we want them to be for the championship,” the USGA’s Adam Moeller said.

A smart ball linked to an app tells Moeller if the greens are smooth.

“[It’s a] good gauge to build in the science along with the art of figuring out the hole location, so the greens don’t get too fast,” he said.

An added 57 volunteers help keep the course on par where work starts at 3:30 a.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m., WFMZ reported.

The pay off? Praise from three-time PGA Major winner Irish golfer Padraig Harrington.

“It’s very nice. Good test. A big golf course, suits my game,” he said to WFMZ. “I’m looking forward to it.”

The USGA scouts out locations three to five years in advance.

There wasn’t much tweaking of Saucon Valley, with the USGA saying it was at top level even before they came.