Hutchinson ? While Thursday’s opening round of the U.S Senior Open progressed, pars seemed to be harder and harder to come by.

The importance of hitting the ball in the fairway cannot be understated. Hitting the ball into the rough is deep trouble, literally.

Ask Ben Crenshaw, who missed the fairway left on the sixth hole. It took three marshals several minutes to find the ball. Again on No. 6 just a few groups later, another player put his drive just to the right of the fairway by no more than five feet and it took another three marshals a few minutes to locate the ball.

Ask Allen Doyle, last year’s Senior Open champion. His tee shot on No. 8 found the right rough and it took him two shots to work his way back to the fairway. Doyle wound up with a double bogey.

Maybe the best person to ask would be Hale Irwin. His approach to No. 17 missed the green by just three yards. His first shot from there was a complete miss. His next attempt from the same spot advanced the ball only two yards onto the fringe.

These are just a few examples of how rough the rough can be and how it affects some of the best golfers in the world.

Watching golf shots like these with golf course management professionals helps you appreciate being on the Golf Course Management Turf Team.

Team members gathered in a tent Thursday afternoon to catch the action in air conditioning. Stories were passed from member to member regarding conversations during the week’s practice rounds with some of the pros.

One member reported that Allen Doyle told him that if the wind didn’t blow, the pros would “tear this course up.” There have been some great scores posted, but the course is still a serious challenge and Thursday was played with only a breeze.

Another member had a brief conversation with Craig “The Walrus” Stadler as he was leaving No. 11 during his Wednesday practice round.

Upon being congratulated for making a nice par, Stadler remarked that “making pars is boring golf.” That may be true, but making pars at Prairie Dunes is critical to staying in contention for the championship.

Stadler’s 13 pars Thursday kept him close to the leaders. Other pros provided even more glowing accolades, calling Prairie Dunes “a national treasure” and “the best golf course in America.”

Perhaps of all the comments heard, one seemed to say it best and it came from maybe the most credible of sources. One of the club’s members of 50 years said, “The course has never been better.”

For those watching the rest of the tournament on television, expect a fantastic finish. The course is in the best condition possible. All 18 greens are putting with remarkable consistency, and the weather should be ideal.