Last year players saw a course played firm and fast, but this week thanks to Mother Nature Blythefileld Country Club, the site of the Meijer LPGA Classic Presented by Kraft will play soft and long. The course will play to a par 71 at a yardage of 6,414 where the greens are exclusively hand watered as needed. With all the rainfall received don't anticipate needing to water much this week.
"There are no major changes to the set up from last year just maybe a little different with regards to what Mother Nature has given us this year versus last year," LPGA Manager of Rules and Competition Donna Mummert says. "The course will slowly dry out which will make the course play differently this year."
"The biggest challenge will be the rough which is bluegrass and given the amount of rain they've had it is very healthy," says Mummert. "It is three inches in height and thick and healthy from all the rain."
The greens mixed with annual bluegrass and bentgrass are average to what is seen on the LPGA Tour with green speeds at 11 1/2 to 12 on the stimpmeter.
This course is set-up and will play long, but players with accuracy and pinpoint precision will have a bit of an advantage this week.
"Players who have precise driving off the tee will avoid the thick rough and then be given an opportunity to be more aggressive with approach shots to the green." said Mummert.
“It’s nice, it’s nice. It’s a really good layout,” University of Michigan rising senior and one of two qualifiers Cat Peters said of the course. “I like traditional courses and I like bentgreens, so it really fits my eye well growing up in the north.”
According to Mummert the weather forecast for the tournament looks good.
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