Tackling two courses makes getting ready twice as tough

How best to get familiar with both of the two courses to be used this week? Some challengers are squeezing in as many practice rounds as possible, while others are focusing on their short games. And some are just resting up.

By T.J. Auclair, Junior Editor

VERONA, N.Y. -- Because the first two of the four rounds of the 39th PGA Professional National Championship at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino will be played over two courses, chances are the winner will be the man who is most prepared to handle 36 different holes.

The first two rounds will be split between Shenendoah and Atunyote Golf Clubs, while the final 36 holes will be played strictly at Atunyote.

On the eve of the tournament, many of the competitors were getting in last-minute preparation -- some were playing the courses, while others could be found tightening up their skills on the practice range.

"It makes it a little bit more difficult, especially when you've only got two days to try and come in and see both courses," said Ryan Rhees, the head professional at Eaglewood Golf Course in North Salt Lake City, Utah. "The hardest thing I think is the greens. You're trying to get to know where the slopes are and where exactly you want to hit it on the greens on two different courses.

"It's hard enough to figure them out on one course over two days, but on two courses it makes it really hard to remember which hole was what and what the greens are like. That, to me, is going to be the most difficult part."

While Rhees is concerned about the greens, that was the least of worries for Sean Kenily, an assistant professional from Zanesville, Ohio.

"I think the speeds are actually real close," he said. "The green speeds at Atunyote might be a little faster than over at Shenendoah. The slopes are a little bit more severe here [Atunyote] and kind of brings those bunkers into play. If you get into one of those greenside bunkers, it's a lot more difficult to get the ball close than over at the Shenendoah course."

Typically, the National Championship features just a 156-man field at one venue. However, by doubling the field to312 professionals this year, two courses were a must.

"It's a little bit difficult [playing two courses]," Rhees said. "I'm a club professional and I can't just take a week off before the tournament and come over and play a whole bunch of practice rounds.

"I got a practice round in yesterday over at Shenendoah and now I'm just trying to hit some extra chips and some extra putts and just looking at the green surrounds and trying to figure out where to miss it if you're going to miss it."

Atunyote, which will feature three of the four rounds for those who make the cut, figures to be the more difficult of the two courses.

"Luckily, these two courses are pretty similar as far as conditioning," said Rich Steinmetz, an assistant professional from Gilbertsville, Pa. "They have the same kind of grasses, the rough is the same height and everything. It's easy in that respect because you can practice the same kind of shots. I think Atunyote is a little more open, but harder.

"It's a little longer, so it's kind of a grip-it-and-rip-it sort of course. Shenendoah is a little bit shorter and more of a placement course with the shorter holes. But with the conditions almost the same at both, it makes it a lot easier to prepare for playing at two courses."

Paul Trittler, the director of instruction at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arz., said that playing an event over two courses just makes the week drag out.

"Preparing to play on two courses makes things a little more difficult and makes the week a little bit longer," said Trittler, who has played in the National Championship five other times with a career-best T22 in 2005. "If you choose to take a day off, things get a little tougher because then you only get one practice round at each of the courses. When you've got one course you can play a couple of practice rounds and get a little bit more familiar with it. The biggest difference is only getting one round at each course."

Rhees, who missed the cut in his only other National Championship appearance in 2003, got all of his work in on the courses early in the week and was spending his Wednesday skipping back and forth between the practice range, short game range and practice green at Atunyote.

"I'm not even playing a practice round today," he said. "I played Monday here and I played Tuesday over at Shenendoah. Today I'm just going to practice and try and not get too tired for tomorrow. I work full-time. I'm a director of golf, so five or six days of golf in a row is going to be more than I ever get to play. I'm just trying not to wear myself out."

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