Evian Masters Exclusive – Changes To Host Course Ahead Of 2013 LPGA Major Debut.

EXCLUSIVE –

Agathe Seron interview with Julian Mooney, Director of Agronomy at Turfgrass Consultancy regarding changes to the Evian Masters host course ahead of 2013 LPGA Major Championship debut.

Agathe Seron:  Julian, please tell us what will be the next move ?

Mooeny:  ““The golf will close on the 18th of September. Greens are primary important. They’ll be the number one focus. First thing happening is grass on the greens is going to be taken up, left aside, stored effectively. That will be about two weeks. That existing greens will have been renovated beside new performance and new criteria. New material will be putt in there, new drainage and new turfing.”

Qn:  Are you going to destroy and rebuilt all the greens or do you save some ?

Agatha Seron reveals big changes to Evian Masters host course ahead of next year's 2013 LPGA Majors debut.

Mooney:  “We changed all the greens, they will be consistent in their build and they will be consistent in their performance in the golfers perspective. We are looking forward  in a very high level of playability and firmness. We can only achieve by doing a uniform treat of the golf course.”

Qn:  Is the weather important for the schedule ?

Mooney:  “Very important, we need a mild winter. Of course we are going to get some snow but we have to minimize the impact. If we have a lots of snow it going to compromise the schedule.”

Qn:   A few days ago, you said that the schedule was very optimistic. Isn’t that your job to be pessimistic ?

Mooney:  “We are realist. We wouldn’t be putting ourselves in a scenario that we can’t get out of.  But knowing the level of quality they are expected for the tournament next year, the media and the eyes of the world will be watching us, we would like to have more time. The one thing that we don’t know is what the weather is going to deliver.

“But if you are asking me the question will  the golf course will be ready of course it will be ready. It is all a resort human issue. If you have one man working and you have 2 men. They are doing twice as much. There will be here an abundance of people and equipment working here on very different zones. Almost as many workers as during tournament week.”

Qn:  On new golf course map, two next big lakes are scheduled to be dog, can you talk about these lakes ?

Mooney:  “We are going to create new big water hazards on the 5th hole and on the 18th hole. The depth will be 3 meters and a half. This depth is important for two reasons, first is that it accumulate material, soil which can be used to build up the profiles of the greens, build up a tee or bunker complexes. That means you don’t have to import material from outside and it is part of the environmental ethic of Evian.

“The other thing if that the deeper the lake you have, the less chance you have in the development of algae because the sun light is blocked. So it is very important as well.”

Qn:  Players and spectators saw this year that the practice is no longer where it used to be. Instead there is a huge area of green like a huge green. What is this place ?

Ans:  “At result of the current small size of the greens in comparison of the international standard, we develop our own nursery green. We take samples on the 15th green and we develop this nursery using carrotage. Once again Evian wants to keep it very organic and environmental approach to golf course development. The existing grass, native to the area and performing very very well will be the material for future greens.”

Qn:  Julian, how often will you come to Evian in the next months to look after you “baby” ?

“I will come approximately every two weeks during autumn, winter and spring. The intensity of the schedule is going to change from the spring time when the construction will be effectively finished and then we will be pushing the development of the grass.

“So you have a window from mi-April to the beginning of July to do a very intensive growing of the grass. And a period from July to the beginning of the tournament when we will really tweak that. But most of the growing will be done by July.”

Well, enjoy then your coming year in France.

Merci beaucoup”

 



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