LAS VEGAS – Golfers love Bentgrass greens. Bentgrass has a very shallow and dense root system that grows in more of a horizontal nature, and does not have “grain” as Bermuda grass has. This makes it fantastic for true rolling and fast putting surfaces.
The one negative is that Bentgrass struggles to survive in hot climates. That’s why you rarely see Bentgrass greens in places like Las Vegas. The challenge – and expense – usually proves to be too much for golf course superintendents and owners.
That certainly isn’t the case now at SouthShore Country Club at Lake Las Vegas, whose Bentgrass greens have drawn rave reviews recently from members and guests alike.
“That was the major project when we took over the maintenance here last year,” said PTI Golf superintendent Nathan Shipley. PTI was contracted to conduct all maintenance duties at the highly decorated and beautiful private club located about 20 miles southeast of the Las Vegas Strip.
“We essentially had to regrow in the greens,” continued Shipley. “Most of the time some of the greens don’t make it through the summers because of the heat and the salt factor from Lake Las Vegas. So we grew them back in and kept them alive through July and August and into the season. We also grew a large nursery green.”
Shipley had 11 large greenside fans at his disposal to use in case the Bentgrass began to burn out. But he never turned them on last summer.
“These greens are really pure Bent, with no contamination from Poa. When the greens are this pure they are easier to manage,” he said. “We kept a close watch on the weather, and there was enough humidity and wind to keep them from burning out.”
The green complexes are a critical element of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Design, which has been ranked as high has No. 88 in the U.S. among all modern golf courses, and consistently ranks among the top 5 courses in Nevada by Golf Digest and other media outlets.
“Approach shots are definitely the most challenging part of the golf course,” said Shipley. “If greens aren’t surrounded by bunkers they have water. And some have both. Plus, many of them have pretty good undulation, and there are a few with tiers. So you have to be accurate on approach shots.”
SouthShore was the first Nicklaus design in Nevada, and opened to much fanfare in 1996, being named by Golfweek as No. 6 in the nation among new private courses that year. It is a former host of the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge, which featured top players from the PGA, LPGA and Champions tours.
Nicklaus himself called SouthShore’s final four holes among the “best finishing holes in golf.” Says General Manager Jason Brickles of those closing holes, “They feature everything that is amazing about SouthShore: Massive elevation changes, shooting over incredible canyons, amazing waterfall, and a view so high above Lake Las Vegas it feels like you’re in a helicopter. Truly amazing final holes of golf.”
For over 30 years PTI Golf has been a trusted name in golf course maintenance, construction and landscape in the southwestern USA. The company’s list of maintenance clients over the years include clubs such as Red Rock Country Club, Las Vegas National, Cascata and Rio Secco, among others. The company’s reputation led to the phone call from SouthShore.
“The condition of the golf course at a high ranked, membership driven private country club is absolutely vital to its wellbeing,” said Brickles. “The course must be exceptionally maintained to show its fullest potential from tee box to green. SouthShore is a hard course to achieve perfection when it comes to the maintenance of the course. The course has some difficult areas to access. Secondly, the water used in irrigation is Lake Las Vegas water and has a high saline content. Finally, the big horn sheep are on the course having lunch off our fairways.
“We heard that PTI was a solid company that has proven themselves in the industry by maintaining some of the more difficult courses out there, so we gave them a try.”
Brickles and his staff and members are very happy with the choice so far.
“PTI has been outstanding,” said Brickles. “They have been very consistent in properly maintaining the course. We have received no grief from our HOA regarding PTI. The Superintendent and management communicate well. Overall, I have nothing negative to say regarding PTI, and they have proved themselves to be a great partner.”
For more information, visit www.ptigolf.com.
