Travelers Championship: Grounds Crew Gets Their Due

Tom Yantz wrote a wonderful story in the Hartford Courant detailing the trial and tribulations that the grounds crew, led by superintendent Tom DeGrandi, goes through getting TPC River Highlands ready and then keeping it at peak shape for the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship. Yantz details how many of the crew members don't go home during the week, sleepng in a camper trailer in the maintenance building parking lot, or on the floor of the building.

"Those guys are really dedicated and really care about the golf course," Yantz told me.

I worked for Tom during a couple of summers a few years back and was on the crew for two tournaments. He has River Highlands in fantastic condition every year.

Pictured is the 17th hole from behind the green.

Biggest Cheer of the Day

I was at the front of the clubhouse Wednesday afternoon talking with Cromwell Police Chief Anthony Salvatore when a large roar came up from near the 9th green. We assumed that someone had holed out at nine during the pro-am but what it turned out to be was the reaction of a hospitality tent crown to Landon Donovan's game-winning goal in the 91st minute against Algeria that sent the U.S. soccer team onto the round of 16 where they will face Ghana on June 26.