Kiwi makes cuts as Quail Hollow
It’s been a fast moving four years for Kiwi greenkeeper Ben Finn and this week will be a career highlight as he prepares the greens and fairways of North Carolina’s Quail Hollow for the PGA Championship.
In 2013 Finn began his apprenticeship at New Zealand’s ‘‘spiritual home of golf’’, the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, as he lacked a bit of direction after his physical education degree.
This week while raking up the sands of Quail Hollow, Charlotte, the 28-year-old realised it was one of the best career moves he could have taken.
‘‘I’ve had some pretty good moments so far with green keeping. I’ve worked some New Zealand amateur events, a European Tour event and PGA Tour events. But for me nothing can quite compare to a major championship.’’
The Southlander was given the opportunity to move to the United States on an international internship programme run through Ohio State University. After a year and a half working with some of golf’s leading keepers, Finn has established himself.
‘‘It’s quite cool to give the American guys a taste of our culture or where we’ve come from even if it’s difficult for them to understand us sometimes.’’
In his 18 months at one of the world’s best known golf courses, Finn has been a part of a PGA tour event and now his first PGA championship. This week already meeting Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox in the practice rounds.
‘‘You don’t have much contact with the golfers as we are usually done by the time they start playing and we try to stay out of their way to not distract them.
‘‘Practice rounds are pretty relaxed and I met Ryan Fox today while he was playing. He is a genuine nice bloke, which is the Kiwi way. You probably wouldn’t get that with a lot of the other players,’’ Finn said yesterday.
Preparing for the PGA has led to some punishing hours for Finn and the greenkeeping team which was extended from the regular crew of 35, to over 100 volunteers.
Finn said preparation began after the Wells Fargo Championship last year, which American James Hahn won.
‘‘Construction had started on the Sunday night after Hahn’s last putt dropped. We had the Monday off work and arrived on the Tuesday to find our greens turned upside down by Bobcats and about 400 pine trees already chopped up and sent away.’’
The club had only 90 days - outside its usual members’ schedule - to get the course up to playing standards, which Finn said was a huge challenge.
During closure, all the greens, tees, collars and approaches were resurfaced. A total of four new golf holes were built and about 54 acres of sod was laid.
Ninety five per cent of the cart paths were re-done, all bunkers refurbished and the existing fairways were stripped down to dirt and the poorer areas on the course were ‘‘resprigged.’’
‘‘There was no stone left unturned or blade of grass to be out of place.
‘‘We completed our target at 8pm on the 89th day. Despite it being a non-stop few months, it was truly rewarding when looking back at what we accomplished in such a little space of time.
‘‘Come Sunday the 18th hole will look and feel like a stadium.’’
Given the nature of the PGA Championship and its significance on the Major schedule, the tournament is the world’s chance to look at the facility.
‘‘Anything could be scrutinised by anybody. From a player to a spectator, TV viewers, journalists. Freedom of speech I suppose.’’
After the PGA Finn is heading back to the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club in October to start a new role as head greenkeeper.
‘‘It’s another step up for me I have to be a leader and will take on a big load of responsibility. It’s going to be a challenge but one I think I’m capable and confident of doing.’’