By John Kim, Coordinating Producer- PGA.com
Feb. 19 -- The Gallery Club has the distinction of having two of the top-rated golf courses in the country at their Dove Mountain location. The South Course is the host of the World Golf Championships -- Accenture Match Play tournament, and it may not even be the best course at the facility! So how does PGA Head Professional of The Gallery Club Paul Nolen manage to maintain such incredible standards at this desert oasis? He shares some insight about the course and the WGC -- Accenture Match Play Championship with us at PGA.com.
PGA.com: Paul, what makes your course so great for this type of tournament?
Nolen: The South Course is a perfect venue for match play. It's not an overly difficult layout and there are a number of risk/reward opportunities. There are a couple of drivable par 4s and the par 5s offer most players a chance to reach in two -- but on any of those, if you miss, you might have a hard time saving par. For all the strategy and discipline that you need in match play, this course really shines in that type of format.
PGA.com: When you say the course is not overly difficult, it's not a cakewalk for these guys, is it? During the rest of the year, you guys provide a pretty good test for your membership?
Nolen: Oh, it's not an easy course by any means. Keep in mind, these are the top 64 players in the world. They are going to play well anywhere. For amateur players, for most professionals, it's a very good test of golf. In particular, when you get within 50 yards of the green, this course can really jump up and get you. The turtleback greens here, the undulations around the greens; yes, it's a strong test of golf.
PGA.com: Do your members get involved in the hosting of the tournament?
Nolen: The volunteer rolls are full of our members. They are very excited about the tournament and love being involved.
PGA.com: The course is so new, has it settled and grown in like you had thought and/or hoped?
Nolen: Absolutely. Certainly, the tournament has helped in establishing our course as a premier golf venue. But on its own, the course is in immaculate condition and we're excited about showing it off this week. We have two different courses here, and they are both excellent but very different courses, so our membership always has some variety offered to them. We're very pleased.
PGA.com: It's been quite the sports year for your area this year, with the Super Bowl last month and the season's first world golf championship this month. As a private facility, does this high profile exposure affect your bottom line?
Nolen: Well, it can only be a positive. And not just for our course, but for Tucson -- which is often overlooked as far as great golf courses compared to say Scottsdale -- and for even Arizona in general. It is a great sports market here in the state and it's a good thing that it's getting some national recognition. Here at the Gallery Club, in the short term, the effect is probably negligible, but down the line, people will know that this course hosted the world's best players in a premier PGA Tour event.
PGA.com: Last year, Tiger Woods ended his seven match winning streak with a dramatic playoff loss to Nick O'Hern. He later said it was a pitch mark in his putting line that cost him the win. Did you guys fix that mark yet? Just kidding. But what does it say about your course that Nick O'Hern could take on the mighty Tiger Woods at your course?
Nolen: I think that it says more about the format than the course, that's what match play can do. Keep in mind, even the lower seeds are some of the best players in the world. And as far as that pitch mark Tiger mentioned, it was there. We went out and looked!
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