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BRADENTON, Fla. ― The employees on Jackson Edwards’ Bradenton Nation Membership golf course upkeep crew have watched tv this week with amazed eyes.
After 100 years, the outdated gal they so fastidiously keep has lastly gotten her close-up.
“The fellows are watching it on TV,” mentioned Edwards, the BCC’s golf course superintendent, “and so they can’t consider it.”
Not solely have a number of the world’s finest feminine golfers been on show, competing within the LPGA Drive On Championship, however so, too, has the venue, Manatee County’s oldest golf course. A course so aged, its authentic identify, the Palma Sola Nation Membership, was modified after town was renamed Bradenton from Bradentown.
That occurred in 1924, after golf architect Donald Ross, saying the land was ultimate for golf, was employed to be the course designer. However 20 years later, with lots of the BCC’s members preventing in WWII, town of Bradenton saved the membership from potential extinction by agreeing to take care of the course in the course of the conflict years “for the good thing about vacationers and resident golfers.” A complete of $35,000 had been raised by native residents to purchase the course and recondition the clubhouse.
LPGA Drive On: Images
“A membership that’s lasted 100 years,” mentioned Edwards, employed as superintendent in February 2022, “has gone by way of at the very least two or three recessions in golf. The membership actually appreciates this property. They handle it, they’re obsessed with it. The membership here’s what just about drives this membership. They do what it takes to guard it.”
Donald Ross might have seen the property as a future golf course, however Jackson Edwards didn’t see his future on a golf course. Born in Canton, Ohio, the 37-year-old enrolled at Kent State College for structure, mechanical drawing, and design. Over his sophomore summer time break, Edwards acquired a job at a golf course below building. His architectural desires started to fade away.
“On the finish of the summer time,” he mentioned, “I used to be speaking to my boss, the superintendent, and I mentioned, ‘How do I get your job? I might quite do that.’ And I by no means regarded again.”
The superintendent had attended Ohio State College, so Edwards transferred from Kent State, incomes a level at OSU in turf grass administration and agronomy. He labored at a few programs, the final as assistant superintendent on the Floridian Golf Membership in St. Lucie County, earlier than taking the highest place on the Bradenton Nation Membership.
Edwards arrived 4 years after the membership was restored to its authentic Ross design, which was shepherded by member and World Golf Corridor of Fame enshrinee Tony Jacklin who made it his “mission” Edwards mentioned. Redone had been the greens, fairways, roughs, sand traps, tee containers, and driving vary. Cart paths had been returned to their authentic crushed limestone design, and as a part of the redesign, non-native timber had been changed by palms, which elevated air motion on an already breezy course.
“Rolling slopes and rolling greens,” he mentioned. “He needed the ball to roll round, and he additionally needed to problem the golfer with technique. The way in which our course is ready up, it’s all about your second shot and administration of the greens and placement on the greens along with your second shot, and having the ability to make putts.
“Once you get out right here on the property, it feels prefer it’s been right here a very long time,” Edwards added. “You possibly can stand on our eleventh inexperienced and see your entire property. It’s vast open and simple to stroll. The tees are mainly proper off of the greens. It has character to it in its form. And it looks like a easy, quick, little golf course. However once you get on the market and begin enjoying, it turns into more difficult, and a variety of that has to do with the greens.”
Having by no means hosted a PGA or LPGA occasion, the BCC needed the possibility with the Drive On Championship. What it had going for it was a common supervisor, Dave Taylor, with connections within the golf trade, and Jacklin.
“We simply acquired wind that the LPGA Tour needed to host an occasion on this space,” Edwards mentioned, “we threw our hat into the ring, and we gained it.”
When the announcement was made, Edwards’ crew of 20 had 160 days to organize the course.
“It’s extra you simply ramp up,” he mentioned. “You simply begin making ready for this occasion, for this week. You’re making ready each floor, on daily basis. Mowing fairways, greens, tees, and approaches each single day. It’s all in regards to the playability of the golf course.”
And getting the golf course to LPGA specs. For the BCC, that meant addressing its lightning-fast greens. As soon as the venue had secured the match, the LPGA dispatched an agronomist to verify circumstances had been appropriate. A tool referred to as a stimpmeter is used to measure the velocity of greens. A golf ball is launched from it on a flat floor. In keeping with the LPGA, it should roll between 11.5 and 12 ft earlier than stopping. Balls on the BCC greens stopped after touring 13.5 ft.
“We truly needed to gradual them down for the LPGA,” mentioned Edwards, who achieved that by letting the grass develop. “We’ve been dumbing them down for a month.
“From what I’ve heard,” Edwards mentioned, “they’ve all been saying the (gamers) actually benefit from the course. They assume the greens are difficult and fairly quick. They appear to be having a superb time on the market.”
The LPGA mentioned by way of a spokesperson that they’re having fun with its week. “The LPGA Tour couldn’t be extra grateful for the hospitality and reception our gamers have acquired from Bradenton Nation Membership, its members, and the encircling neighborhood. Being a basic Donald Ross course, the course is difficult, but scorable and is an unbelievable check of golf for our gamers. We’re grateful for Bradenton Nation Membership and are excited to assist rejoice their centennial.”
It’ll be as much as BCC members whether or not the nice instances will proceed. At their annual assembly on Feb. 9, they may determine if they need the Drive On Championship again. An enormous issue within the LPGA returning to Bradenton might be the match securing a title sponsor. This yr, the LPGA sponsored it.
“The LPGA set this up as a result of they need one other Florida cease in January to kick off their season,” Edwards mentioned. “And so they usually need it for 3 years. Their intention is that they wish to do a three-year contract. In the event that they do, and so they get a title sponsor, it might be one thing that sticks round.”
Identical to the centennial Bradenton Nation Membership.
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