LA QUINTA (California) — When the world’s No. When the No.
Scottie Scheffler, who played on one of three courses in the American Express PGA Tour’s event last January, said that the greens of La Quinta Country Club were among the best surfaces he had ever seen. They’re really good. That’s consistent. Every time I have gone over there, they’ve always been the same. I think I’ve attended this event four times. It’s amazing what the superintendent and club can do to those greens.
Scheffler, and other golfers featured in The American Express in January of last year, may not have been aware that the greens of the back nine at La Quinta Country Club were stripped and new grass would be planted in summer 2022. The same process will be carried out at the club on the front nine this summer, and superintendent Tim Putnam is confident of the same result.
Putnam, a golf analyst, said that the back nine greens of 2022 and 2023 were “virtually identical” in terms of speed, firmness, etc. “They were almost identical.”
Putnam, who is approaching his 21st year at La Quinta Country Club said that swapping the tifdwarf Bermuda on the greens with the same type of tifdwarf was needed to improve the course and continue receiving rave reviews by tour players.
Putnam stated that “(Hybrid Bermuda Grass) starts to mutate, and then reverts back into its parents types (which were 328 variety).” “Then you get contamination from various processes.”
Photo: Andy Abeyta/Desert Sun/USA Today Network, La Quinta Country Club, La Quinta (California), Friday, June 23, 2030. Photo: Andy Abeyta/Desert Sun/USA Today Network
The club is a part of a larger project
Herbicides will be used to remove all the grass on the putting surfaces.
What is the secret behind La Quinta Country Club’s greens that were once compared with Augusta National?
Putnam explained that “we come in, we punch a bit, we stir it up a bit and then we apply a granular fumigant.”
The tifdwarf that is being replaced has been on the La Quinta Course since 1999. That was the year when the course underwent a major renovation. Putnam claims that players at The American Express will not notice any difference in the putting surface next January. However, there are obvious changes in late spring, summer, and fall.
Putnam explained that the growth patterns of the mutations, and contamination species were making it difficult to renovate the greens. It was very difficult to renovate the greens evenly. The overseeding would eventually be affected.
Chris Gilley is the head golf professional of La Quinta Country Club. He said that the long-term health and well-being of the course was the main priority. The reputation of La Quinta Country Club has not been built by the Tour, but rather the people who have run it. It’s great that the tour returns every year.
One of the other parts of the course’s work this year was the removal of 135 single date palm trees. Putnam stated that the trees were old and a danger.
Putnam stated that “just this year, we lost six dates palms due to wind events during the season.” They are breaking where they call a drought circle. The transplantation of a date palm causes it to undergo a shock. It is pulled from the ground, and then placed in a new location. The trunk gets thin, but as the tree grows it will return to its normal size.
On Friday, June 23, the older date palms are seen in the background of a young ghost gum tree or Eucalyptus papuna. This is at La Quinta Country Club, La Quinta in California. Date palm trees will be phased out in order to reduce safety hazards. They are susceptible to wind damage, and they will be removed when the new trees reach a substantial height within the next two years. Photo: Andy Abeyta/Desert Sun/USA Today Network
Older trees are more fragile and prone to breaking or falling. La Quinta will plant 90 new trees to replace those that are being removed. The trees range from mesquite to Chinese elm.
Putnam explained: “So, it’s not as if we are going change the strategy of golf courses or anything.” Some of those that were removed came at the PGA Tour’s request. We still have over 350 palm trees in the grounds.”
Putnam stated that while the PGA Tour does not have approval rights for projects at La Quinta Country Club the club takes pride in its reputation as a great golf course.
Putnam stated, “It’s definitely motivation.” “We have to make sure these greens look as good as last year. I don’t wish to have a bad year. You don’t need to hear “What happened to those greens?”
