Superintendent has The Broadmoor ready for U.S. Women's Open

GCSAA Certified Golf Course Superintendent Fred Dickman, director of golf course maintenance at The Broadmoor Resort, has the East Course fast and firm for the U.S. Women's Open Championship July 7-10 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"It's been very hot and dry," said Dickman, a 25-year GCSAA member. "It has been 10 to 15 degrees above normal and we've had .320 of an inch of rain since May 24. That puts a lot of pressure on the turf since we're mostly Poa annua and ryegrass. We've done a tremendous amount of hand-watering to stay on top of things, but at this altitude of 6,500 feet, low humidity, and the lack of afternoon rain we usually get this time of year, it has been really stressful for the plants."

Dickman has a bachelor's degree in communications from Indiana University and an agri-business degree from Arizona State University. He has been at The Broadmoor 14 years and hosted the 2008 U.S. Senior Open at the East Course in addition to the 1998 PGA Cup Matches at the West Course. Prior to his arrival in Colorado Springs, Dickman worked 12 years as superintendent at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz.

"Everything has gone according to plan," said USGA director of the U.S. Women's Open Championship Ben Kimball. "Fred has an eye for championship golf. He is a stickler for details and wants everything perfect for the players and the fans. He is a true pleasure to work with. Hosting two championships in the last three years is a direct credit to him, East Course Superintendent Michael Sartori, and their dedication."

Dickman has the large Poa annua greens mowed at .109 of an inch, rolling smooth, fast and firm. The rough, a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass, features the USGA-favored graduated cuts to further penalize shots the further they land from the fairway. The first cut of rough is 6 feet wide and 1¼ inches tall. The second cut goes 15 to 20 feet further from the fairway and 2½ to 2¾ inches high, depending on the hole. Beyond that, the rough is 3¼ inches tall.

Dickman has overseen the addition of new tees at a few holes and the expansion of a few bunkers on the East Course since the 2008 U.S. Senior Open. All of the bunkers, many of the tees and water features were rebuilt prior to the 2008 championship as part of a significant restoration project. This U.S. Women's Open will play as a par 71 and approximately 300 yards shorter than the 2008 U.S. Senior Open, which played as a par-70. No. 17 will play as a 600-yard par-5 this year, instead of the 500-yard par-4 it did in 2008.

All three courses at The Broadmoor are certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries and the facility participate in the Colorado Carbon project. The project is a unified effort involving the allied golf associations of Colorado, Colorado State University, the USDA-ARS, and Golfpreserves, with a primary goal to support research that explores the diverse issues associated with the carbon emitted and sequestered by golf courses in Colorado.

Dickman's staff of 50 includes GCSAA Class A members Sartori and Rob McKinney, the Mountain Course superintendent, as well as GCSAA member Zach Bauer, the West Course superintendent. They will be assisted tournament week by 70 volunteers ¬a group that includes superintendents, assistant superintendents, interns, turfgrass students and industry vendors from near and far.

The East Course was designed by Donald Ross in 1918 and holes 7-15 were updated by Robert Trent Jones in 1952. The 2011 U.S. Women's Open will be the seventh USGA Championship staged at The Broadmoor; the 1952 and 1967 U.S. Amateurs, 1962 Curtis Cup, 1982 U.S. Women's Amateur, 1995 U.S. Women's Open, and the 2008 U.S. Senior Open were also held there.

For more information about the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, visit www.gcsaa.org.

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