Prepping for Augusta: Redstone's routine

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It's not easy getting Redstone's Tournament course prepped for an Augusta feel.

Or for what more than one player has described as perfect conditions. Wall-to-wall perfect according to Kevin Sutherland.

Stuart Appleby tees off on the ninth hole at the 2007 Shell Houston Open. (Lecka/Getty Images)

So, in an effort to take you behind the scenes for a peek at what goes into what you see, we offer the following:

• Overall preparation: It's year round. You can't start a project like this six months out and make it work. Superintendent Roger Goettsch started formulating his game plan last April for the 2008 Shell Houston Open. He just had to get all the pieces of his puzzle in order. He added substantial manpower, hours and equipment to get the job done and get it done right. It's a work in constant progress. Don't forget pruning trees and other shrubs around the course.

• Fairways: Most fairways are mowed in a cross-hatch pattern. Augusta mows from green-to-tee and so does Redstone. It ensures a mono-chromatic look, and shots have to be hit against the grain. The crew also starts overseeding with a tougher rye strain in October. "It usually takes a minimum of 30 days to establish a whole new turf canopy. You take care of it all winter long. It slowly matures and thickens. By tournament time, you can't get a much better stand of grass,'' Goettsch said.

• The rough: It's 1 ½ inches everywhere. Not even a blip on the USGA's radar, but exactly what players need going into Augusta. Nurturing it is a year-round project, too, because Goettsch wants players hitting off tight lies into greens that need precise approaches.

• The fringe: Goettsch said the short fringe has been expanded about 20-30 percent. Nine of the 18 greens have water right or left, and those banks are shaved to less than half an inch. Dry conditions mean even more watery graves.

• The 429-yard par-4 second hole and the 464-yard par-4 sixth holes: Both greens were enlarged, and the dogleg-left sixth could cause fits with a long approach.

• The 488-yard par-4 18th: Both Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby dunked their approaches there Sunday afternoon in 2007, and Scott edged Appleby for the title. The considerable elevation changes on a green give players the feel of Augusta more than any other green on the course. Depending on the pin placement, there could be some very slippery putts. Yes, there's water guarding that green, but just close your eyes and think the bunkers at Augusta's 18th hole.

• The 238-yard par-3 ninth and the 204-yard 16th holes: Both have full carries over wetlands areas and have bunkers left and right. Carries differ and provide a testy shot. Still, neither compares to the 12th hole at Augusta or the viciously long fourth hole.

• The wind: It bedevils everyone at Augusta, swirling down the wide fairways and wreaking havoc in the strangest of places. You can't do anything to even simulate that here, but if the normal breeze off the Gulf of Mexico from the southeast switches to a northerly gust, the players could face some testy shots and higher scores.