Inside the course: TPC Deere Run

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TPC Deere Run isn't quite like an other course on TOUR.

Jul. 6, 2009
By PGA TOUR Staff

TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., is the host of this week's John Deere Classic. Here's all you need to know about the course.

Fast facts

Course Superintendent	Paul F. Grogan
Original architect	D.A. Weibring (1999)
Course remodel	PGA TOUR Design (2007)
Number of TOUR events as host venue	10 (including 2009)
Course ranking	Ranked 39th (out of 54 courses) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008
Yardage history	7,183 yards (2000-2002)
	7,193 yards (2003-2006)
	7,268 yards (2007-2008)
	7,257 (2009)
Grass	Bentgrass (tees, fairways, greens); Kentucky bluegrass (rough)
Tournament Stimpmeter	11 feet
Sand bunkers	78
Water hazards	3
Course tour	Click here

Course record

Player
J.P. Hayes

Year
2002

Round
2nd

Finish
1st

Holes-in-one

There have been 10 aces recorded during John Deere Classic competition at TPC Deere Run.

Player	Hole	Year
Woody Austin	3	2000
Greg Chalmers	7	2004
Jay Delsing	7	2005
David Gossett	12	2004
Mark Hensby	3	2004
Matt Kuchar	7	2005
Brad Lardon	7	2002
Shigeki Maruyama	3	2005
John Rollins	7	2004
Willie Wood	16	2004

2008 Rankings

Most Difficult Hole

	This brawny hole is the longest par 4 and a severe test of strategy and ball placement. You may just want to bite the bullet here, play it as a three-shot hole and try to make a one-putt par. A level landing area for your drive will leave you with a very long approach shot through the suddenly-tight forest and over a roller coaster fairway to a long and narrow tree-shrouded, slightly elevated green that has bunkers on both sides. Most people will play this with three shots, whether they want to or not. And course designer D.A. Weibring knows it, too -- that's why he put a fairway bunker 100 yards from the green. 2008: 0 eagles, 41 birdies, 297 pars, 110 bogeys, 14 double bogeys, 1 other.
Easiest Hole
	Reachable in two for big hitters, but they will have to perfectly place a tee ball on this slight dogleg left to do it. The fairway is tight, tree-lined and canted in the landing area. The green is guarded in front by bunkers, some quite short of the green to throw off your perspective. The green is elevated slightly with Pinehurst No. 2-style bentgrass collection areas all around. Miss the green and you will have a very tough up-and-down. 2008: 15 eagles, 205 birdies, 207 pars, 32 bogeys, 4 double bogeys and 0 others.

TPC Deere Run			2008 rankings		Last nine years
Hole	Par	Yards	Avg. Score	Rank	Avg. score	Rank
1	4	395	3.868	14	3.906	14
2	5	561	4.592	17	4.557	18
3	3	186	3.149	3	3.130	4
4	4	454	3.968	10	4.009	7
5	4	433	3.998	8	3.986	10
6	4	367	4.002	7	3.956	12
7	3	226	3.03	6	3.007	8
8	4	428	3.94	11	3.992	9
9	4	503	4.218	1	4.237	1
10	5	596	4.713	16	4.746	16
11	4	432	3.989	9	4.068	6
12	3	215	3.084	5	3.073	5
13	4	424	3.924	13	3.919	13
14	4	361	3.717	15	3.792	15
15	4	484	4.145	4	4.143	3
16	3	158	2.937	12	2.959	11
17	5	569	4.579	18	4.659	17
18	4	476	4.216	2	4.192	2

Course origins

The idea for naming the holes and telling a story on each tee at the TPC Deere Run started with the understanding that this piece of property has a tremendous tale to tell. The land's past includes Native American settlements, farming operations, and, most recently, was home to one of the top horse and cattle breeding programs in the country. In addition, those involved in the project found it compelling that John Deere history, Quad City history, and the property's history all intersect on this 385-acre parcel of land.

It is hard not to be moved by the fact that Erskine Wilson was building his stone house on this land at the very same time a man living 70 miles upstream named John Deere was starting his plow company, at the very same time the communities that would become the Quad Cities were incorporating. Project participants felt with all the visitors this golf course would bring to the area, it was important for everyone who visited to understand the historical significance of this piece of ground.

The signature hole at the TPC Deere Run is the 16th and is named "Mother Earth." Views like the ones from the 16th tee represent the types of features that have drawn people to this property for centuries. Archeological evidence indicates Native Americans settled and lived on this property as far back as 5,000 years ago. To Native Americans, the land is a living being called Mother Earth, who cares for all her children by providing food, shelter, beauty and a place for contest and play. The early inhabitants enjoyed many sporting activities. Games ranged from lacrosse, which was played in the summer on the large grassy expanses on the property, to snow snake races in the winter where a crooked stick called the "snake" was thrown down a steep hill as each player attempted to send his snake the farthest. The 16th hole is dedicated to these early inhabitants, to pay tribute to the spirit of respect and competition they first brought there. -- Source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Tournament course history

Course	Location	Years
Crow Valley CC	Bettendorf, Iowa	1972-1974
Oakwood CC	Coal Valley, Ill.	1975-1999
TPC Deere Run	Silvis, Ill.	2000-present

This week's Kodak Challenge hole

HOLE: The par-5, 557-yard 17th at TPC Deere Run
LAST YEAR: The 17th played to a stroke average of 4.579, with players recording 15 eagles, 205 birdies, 207 pars, 32 bogeys and 4 double bogeys.
DESCRIPTION: It's reachable in two for big hitters, but they will have to perfectly place a tee ball on this slight dogleg left to do it. The fairway is tight, tree-lined and canted in the landing area. The green is guarded in front by bunkers, some quite short of the green to throw off your perspective. The green is elevated slightly with Pinehurst No. 2-style bentgrass collection areas all around. Miss the green, and you will have a very tough up-and-down. (Click here for TPC Deere Run tour)