CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 2023 Wells Fargo Championship at the Quail Hollow Club is underway. Some of the best golfers in the world will tee off at the Charlotte course through Sunday.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated staff of landscapers is tasked with keeping the course ready for TV, spectators and players.
For the rest of the weekend, roughly 100 people will trim, mow and water hundreds of acres of golf greenery. Split into two shifts, early morning and after play ends in the evening, they’ll ensure the course is ready throughout the tournament.
Keith Wood, the director of green and grounds at Quail Hollow Club, said the work will be split among his 40 regular staffers and 60 volunteers from around the world.
“There’s a challenge from my end of the business, playing chess with Mother Nature each and every day, to manipulate what she gives us to work with and provide excellent playing conditions,” Wood said.
The volunteers help distribute the work, since the staff has hours, instead of a full day, to work on the turf surfaces. For example, some start their morning as early as 3:30 a.m. to prepare mowers, trimmers and other equipment, because the work has to be done before the first tee time.
A staff of about a dozen remain at the course during play to handle any emergencies. Then, the cycle repeats itself as an evening crew ensures the course is in good shape after the full round.
“This year’s field is unbelievable, so we’re going to have a lot of great players. And, when they come in to play your golf course and things are in great condition, yes, it is very much an adrenaline rush. And, yes, we are very relieved when it’s over,” Wood said.
One of his employees is Robert Blood, the assistant golf course superintendent. Blood is in his sixth year at the Quail Hollow Club.
“I’ve always loved the game of golf. I grew up playing it ever since I could walk,” he said.
After college, Blood said a lack of interest in job openings at the time brought him back to his first love.
“I came here to Quail Hollow just because I know the course, I’ve been to a lot of the events here. And I love golf, and then all the sudden I fell in love with turf maintenance,” he said. “The turf managers of today are real professionals. They’ve gone to school, and they’ve learned, and they’ve worked under other great superintendents to kind of develop their craft.”
This course requires a lot of maintenance.
“With the rye grass we’ve got and this warm weather, we’ve had plenty of rain this spring, so we’re out here 50-60 hours a week, plus the weekends,” Blood said.
The course has about 160 acres of greenery related to golf. There are four acres of putting surface, two and a half acres of tee-boxes, 26 acres of fairway, and the rest is in the rough. Overall, members of the staff have to wear a lot of different hats.
“Trimming, mowing greens, walk mowing, riding on big units, blowing the clippings, cleaning it up — we’ll do anything we can to make this place look awesome,” Blood said.
It’s been a busy spring and fall keeping the course up to par from the Presidents Cup to this week’s Wells Fargo Championship. The turf playing surface is different for each tournament.
“So that began very quickly. In fact, I believe we started over-seeding three weeks after the Presidents Cup ended,” Blood said.
As you walk the links this weekend, remember the grounds staff and the work they’ve put in.
“We’re so glad that you’ve come to see us,” Blood said to spectators.