Golf Course Superintendent information
GCSAA Golf Course Superintendent: Gus A. Vincenty
Education: Turf Plant Science, SUNY, Farmingdale, N.Y.
Years as a GCSAA member: 4
GCSAA affiliated chapter: Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association, Palm Beach Golf Course Superintendents Association
Years at this course: 2
Previous positions: 2002-2004, Golf Course Superintendent, PGA National Resort & Spa (Squire Course), Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; 2000-2002, Assistant Golf Course Superintendent, Dix Hills Golf Club, Dix Hills, N.Y.
Previous events hosted by facility: 1982-2000 PGA Senior's Championships; 1987 PGA Championship; 1983 Ryder Cup Matches
Availability to media: Contact Gus A. Vincenty by phone 561-627-0020; fax 561-627-0155; email thegman130@yahoo.com
Course statistics
| |
Yardage |
Par |
Rating |
Slope |
|
Red
|
5145
|
72
|
72.3
|
136
|
|
White
|
5984
|
72
|
69.9
|
129
|
|
Blue
|
6379
|
72
|
71.6
|
137
|
|
Gold
|
6721
|
72
|
73.3
|
144
|
|
Black
|
7048
|
72
|
75.3
|
147
|
|
Honda Classic
|
7241
|
70
|
|
|
Course characteristics
| |
Primary Grasses |
Height of Cut |
| Tees |
TifSport bermudagrass |
3/8" |
| Fairways |
TifSport bermudagrass |
3/8" |
| Greens |
TifEagle bermudagrass |
.120" |
| Rough |
TifSport bermudagrass |
4" |
Average tee size: 1,900 sq. ft.
Average green size: 6,100 sq. ft.
Rounds per year: 30
Acres of fairway: 28
Acres of rough: 82
Sand bunkers: 80
Water hazards: 13
Tournament stimpmeter: 11.5 feet
Soil conditions: USGA
Green construction soil mix:
( 90% sand; 10% peat; )
Source of water: Lake
Drainage: Poor
Interesting and historical course-related facts
One of Florida’s most notable golf challenges is found on our legendary Champion course. Originally designed by George and Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus redesigned The Champion in 1990, adding the feared “Bear Trap” grouping of holes 15, 16 and 17.
The Champion is currently the home of the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic, benefiting the Nicklaus Children’s Healthcare Foundation (and an integral part of the FedEx Cup) and has been the site of the 1982 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, the1983 Ryder Cup, the 1987 PGA Championship and the PGA Seniors’ Championships from 1982 to 2000. It has also been the site of the PGA Junior Championships from 1980-1987, 1989-1992 and 1994-2000 and the PGA Club Professional Championships in 1980, 1982, 1983 and 1993.
The Champion is a “must play” stop on any avid golfer’s list and is included in the “Top 100” resort course rankings of several golf publications. In 2006, writer Brad Klein of GolfWeek magazine described The Champion as "an old Florida classic, core golf experience."
To top off the experience, the Champion features the services of highly trained caddies and forecaddies. With luck, they might just help you escape the Bear Trap in one piece.
Wildlife on the course
Alligator; Armadillo; Blue heron; Eagle; Fish; Hawk; Osprey; Otter; Owl; Rabbit; Raccoon; Redfox; Snakes; Squirrel; Turtle; Woodpecker
Course architect/date: Tom Fazio, 1981
Most recent redesign/renovation: Jack Nicklaus, 1990
Other key course personnel
Juan Francisco Garcia, Assistant Superintendent
Joel Paige, Club President
Cathy Blazer, Club Manager
Walton Street Capital Investment Group, Club Owner
Barbara Sedransk, Green Committee Chairman
John Lee, Horticulturist
Robert S.. Coman, Director of Golf
Jane Broderick, PGA Professional
Golf course management facts
Average tour green size (sq. ft.):
The average green size on the professional tours is approximately 6,000 square feet, ranging
from 3,500 sq.ft at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, Calif. to 9,000 sq.ft. at The
Rail Golf Club, Springfield, Ill.
Land use percentage by 18-hole golf facility:
An average of 150-200 acres of total land; teeing areas 2%, putting greens 2%, fairways 23%,
rough/woods/water 70%, buildings and grounds 3%
Stimpmeter:
A Stimpmeter is a ramp that allows for consistent and fair measurement of green speed on
a particular course. The distance the ball rolls, in feet, is the speed or "stimp"
reading for the green. The instrument was invented by Mr. Edward S. Stimpson in 1936 and
later implemented for use by the USGA in 1978.
Warm season vs. cool season grasses:
Warm season grasses:
Among the best known are bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, zoysiagrass, bahiagrass,
carpetgrass and centipedegrass. Warm-season grasses grow at their optimal rate between
75 F and 95 F.
Cool season grasses:
Among the best known are colonial bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass,
perennial ryegrass, fine fescue and tall fescue. They grow best between 55 F and 85 F.
Course rating vs. slope:
The USGA Course Rating indicates the course's playing difficulty for scratch golfers. It
is expressed as strokes taken to one decimal place and is based on yardage and other
obstacles. The USGA Slope Rating reflects the difficulty of the course for the players
who are not scratch golfers. The greater the difference between these numbers, the higher
the USGA Slope Rating and the more strokes the golfer will receive.
Grain of grass:
Grain, particularly on putting surfaces, is a golfer's term referring to the tendency
of grass to grow in one or more directions relative to ball roll. Exposure to the sun
as it tracks across the sky is one factor that affects grain, but the predominant force
is water and the direction it flows relative to slope. Much has been written about grain
and how it impacts putting accuracy. Golf course superintendents alter mowing direction
and utilize other maintenance techniques to minimize grain. At professional competitions
on closely mown putting surfaces, grain is usually very subtle, but remains a part of the
putting challenge. Reading grain properly is an art form that adds to the mystique of what
it takes to be a true champion.
USGA green vs. push-up green:
Early golf courses were built from a mixture of soil, organic matter and sand from the
construction site. Often soil was pushed up and the greens were slightly rounded to
promote the runoff of water. While many courses still feature greens like this, others
have greens built to "USGA specifications." This method uses sand as the
principal component of the root zone mix to provide adequate drainage, resistance to
compaction and a perched water table with a reservoir of moisture for the turf. A cross
section would show stratified layers of soil, sand, gravel and organic matter over a
network of pipes to facilitate drainage.
For additional information please visit the GCSAA
association news
section or contact the Communications Department at 800-472-7878.
GCSAA is a leading golf organization and has as its focus golf course management. Since 1926, GCSAA has been the
top professional association for the men and women who manage golf courses in the United States and worldwide.
From its headquarters in Lawrence, Kan., the association provides education, information and representation to
more than 21,000 members in more than 72 countries. GCSAA’s mission is to serve its members, advance their
profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf. Visit GCSAA at
www.gcsaa.org.
The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of GCSAA and is a collaborative effort
of the environmental and golf communities, dedicated to strengthening the compatibility of golf with the natural
environment. The Institute concentrates on delivering programs and services involving research, education and
outreach that communicate the best management practices of environmental stewardship on the golf course. For
more on The Institute, visit www.eifg.org.