In a matter of weeks, the nation’s golf fans will view the picturesque course at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc.
However, as they watch coverage of the Buick Open on their televisions, fans may not realize how much work it takes to get the course in shape for Professional Golf Association players to play in the tournament.
The man in charge of Warwick Hills? upkeep ? golf superintendent Phil Owen ? is a Goodrich resident with plenty of experience in the field.
Owen is in his 15th year as golf superintendent at Warwick Hills. Before that, he worked at Southmoor Golf Course in Burton, Atlas Valley Country Club in Atlas Township, and Goodrich Country Club in Goodrich.
He and his staff of 22 employees are responsible for keeping the 7,127-yard course in top shape.
When the Buick Open hits, Owen said he doesn’t really increase his staff ? he said there are about 25 employees that work maintenance for the event ? but increases their hours worked.
Maintenance employees work between 50-70 hours per week during the event, while supervisors work between 80-100 hours per week ? ‘pretty much around the clock,? Owen said.
‘There’s always somebody here in case something needs to be taken care of,? he said.
Owen said course maintenance is not that much different prior to the Buick Open than any other time of the season. One exception is letting the rough grow from about two inches to about four inches.
Before the tournament, Owen said the crew installs ropes and stakes to keep the gallery a safe distance away from the golfers, as well as fencing and signs directing the gallery.
However, once the Open hits, the maintenance schedule increases.
The lawn is cut twice a day, while the mowing schedule for fairways and tees is increased from every other day to every day. In addition, Owen said the crew hand rakes the bunkers instead of machine raking them.
During the Open week, the crew works mornings and evenings, but stops once tournament play gets underway in the afternoon.
For the number of golfers that participate in the Open ? Owen said about 150 pros take part in the event ? he said very little damage to the course is done by the golfers themselves. ‘About the biggest things are the divots, on the tees and in the fairway,? he said.
Instead, Owen said it is a combination of the gallery and the tournament setup that cause the most damage to the course.
He said the gallery causes damage to the course by virtue of the number of people that walk the course, especially if it happens to be raining during that time.
‘When the ground’s softer, it damages the grass more than when it’s firm,? he said.
Owen said the setup of such temporary items as bleachers, tents, and sky boxes for the Open also takes its toll on the course.
Nonetheless, he said the feedback he has received on the course from PGA Tour pros has been mostly positive.
‘Usually, they’re remarks I hear that come from the media,? Owen said. ‘Most of the pros seem to enjoy the course because it’s an older style course and more straightforward.?
Once the tournament ends around 6 p.m. Sunday, July 31, Owen said the crew will get the course back in shape for club members to resume golfing around noon Monday, Aug. 1.
Owen lives in Goodrich with wife Ann and two children: Julie, 18, and Tyler, 13.