Dave Pelz: “Studying the game”

Seeing PMik again after a few weeks off

It was really great to see PMik again after a few weeks off, and on Wednesday I enjoyed walking 18 holes at Hazeltine National with him. The course was fairly dry after 5+ inches of rain on last Saturday night. Although the course seemed to be playing nicely, the bent grass greens have been taken over by probably 65% poa annua, and will probably cause some tough putting in the afternoons all week. This will happen because as the ball goes from bent to the poa surface, the little white blooms of afternoon-growth poa can deflect or bounce the ball up or push it off-line.

Just off too the right and downhill from the first tee is the practice range , and a little short game area off to its right. The putting green is up to the left in front of the clubhouse.

Hazeltine National driving range below clubhouse, with short game area to right

By noon on Wednesday the divots had started to accumulate. Can you imagine picking all of these up and trying to replace them? Don’t worry, no one has to. They blow them all to one side then chop them up, add a little sand and fertilizer, and spread them into the divots later. The grass grows back beautifully in a couple of weeks and Voila … you have a beautiful practice tee.

Divots start to accumulate on the practice tee

To show you just a couple of typical Hazeltine features, first look at a common up-slope in a fairway bunker. The fronts of all bunkers slope up towards the greens at about the launch angle of PM’s 7-iron (as seen in the photo below). The bunkers have no lips and don’t seem to prevent the players from getting shots to the greens (of course they have to stand on the slopes to accomplish this in most cases).

Sand bunkers slope up toward the greens at a 7-iron launch angle

Another Hazeltine National feature you don’t get to see on TV is the downslope which runs from 150 yards out, into the 10th green. If a player hits his tee shot too far, he rolls onto this slope (photo below). I point this out because it is so easy to hit shots “thin” off such lies (as you try to make sure you don’t hit them fat), and there is water behind this green (Lake Hazeltine).

Downhill slope leading to #10 green at Hazeltine National

One of the things that made our practice round fun was the appearance of our good friend Gary McCord on the back nine. While I’m sure you enjoy his humor during the telecasts, you may not know how hard he works at his TV craft. He talks to the players, pushes them to get their opinions, and of course gives them an ample dose of his worldly wisdom and opinions. And because he is a wonderful player in his own right and knows how to win (he’s now playing the Champions’ Tour), he knows what he is talking about, and the players respect that.

Gary McCord holds court on the back nine on Wednesday

And I always enjoy talking to friends on Tour. I have to tell you I am a serious fan of Paul Goydos, Paddy Harrington and Dr. Bob Rotella, all of whom I love to talk to. I think I learn something every time I see them.

I love to talk to my friend Paul Goydos

Good talk with Paddy and Dr. Bob Rotella

And let me leave you and this blog with one thought: Minneapolis Minnesota has some golf fans. They love their golf and they are all friends of mine, because if you love golf, you’re all right with me!

Minneapolis has golf fans

They love their golf

Just off too the right and downhill from the first tee is the practice range , and a little short game area off to its right. The putting green is up to the left in front of the clubhouse.

Hazeltine National driving range below clubhouse, with short game area to right

By noon on Wednesday the divots had started to accumulate. Can you imagine picking all of these up and trying to replace them? Don’t worry, no one has to. They blow them all to one side then chop them up, add a little sand and fertilizer, and spread them into the divots later. The grass grows back beautifully in a couple of weeks and Voila … you have a beautiful practice tee.

Divots start to accumulate on the practice tee

To show you just a couple of typical Hazeltine features, first look at a common up-slope in a fairway bunker. The fronts of all bunkers slope up towards the greens at about the launch angle of PM’s 7-iron (as seen in the photo below). The bunkers have no lips and don’t seem to prevent the players from getting shots to the greens (of course they have to stand on the slopes to accomplish this in most cases).

Sand bunkers slope up toward the greens at a 7-iron launch angle

Another Hazeltine National feature you don’t get to see on TV is the downslope which runs from 150 yards out, into the 10th green. If a player hits his tee shot too far, he rolls onto this slope (photo below). I point this out because it is so easy to hit shots “thin” off such lies (as you try to make sure you don’t hit them fat), and there is water behind this green (Lake Hazeltine).

Downhill slope leading to #10 green at Hazeltine National

One of the things that made our practice round fun was the appearance of our good friend Gary McCord on the back nine. While I’m sure you enjoy his humor during the telecasts, you may not know how hard he works at his TV craft. He talks to the players, pushes them to get their opinions, and of course gives them an ample dose of his worldly wisdom and opinions. And because he is a wonderful player in his own right and knows how to win (he’s now playing the Champions’ Tour), he knows what he is talking about, and the players respect that.

Gary McCord holds court on the back nine on Wednesday

And I always enjoy talking to friends on Tour. I have to tell you I am a serious fan of Paul Goydos, Paddy Harrington and Dr. Bob Rotella, all of whom I love to talk to. I think I learn something every time I see them.

I love to talk to my friend Paul Goydos

Good talk with Paddy and Dr. Bob Rotella

And let me leave you and this blog with one thought: Minneapolis Minnesota has some golf fans. They love their golf and they are all friends of mine, because if you love golf, you’re all right with me!

Minneapolis has golf fans

They love their golf