Golf: Hard work to keep course in nick

The Hills superintendent Brendan Allen says the greens at the championship course are in '...
The Hills superintendent Brendan Allen says the greens at the championship course are in ''fantastic condition'' for the New Zealand PGA next week. Photo by Tracey Roxburgh.
For the past few weeks, The Hills golf course superintendent Brendan Allen has been working up to 70 hours a week - but the hard work is only just beginning.

Just four days out from the practice round of the New Zealand PGA, Allen said the greens on the championship golf course were ''fantastic'' due to the dedication of the green keepers.

''It's taken a lot of hard work - four or five guys are out there every day with hand hoses, hand-watering fairways.

''We're using one million litres of water a night ... our pumping system does 38 litres a second, from dark until dawn.

''It's looking stunning at the moment, but the big challenge is the coming week.''

Allen, who previously worked at the Royal Auckland Golf Course, said there had been no significant rain in Wakatipu for some time, which was ''pretty brutal'' for the course.

The staff of 23 was working around the clock to keep the course in optimum condition.

Temperatures next week were expected to stay around 30degC, which was ''great for the golf tournament and great for the spectators but not so great for the people trying to keep the grass alive''.

From Wednesday, staff would begin work at 4.30am. Greens would be mowed before the first tee-offs at 7am, and staff would again work from 3pm until about 10pm each night.

Their hard work will not go unnoticed. The carpet-like greens are sure to impress players, along with the course, which remains largely unchanged from the inaugural 2012 event.

''We've got a better cover and better condition than last year,'' Allen said.

''We've changed a few of the mowing patterns and there are a few changes to the long rough areas, as well, but nothing substantial's changed.

''It's a championship golf course and it sets itself up naturally for tournament golf.''

 

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