Golfdom TV interview with Matt Beaver

Update from Beaver on storm damage at Bay Hill

If the Arnold Palmer Invitational is going to run into the next week, then "Arnold Palmer Week" at the Golfdom Daily will as well!

I just got off the phone with Matt Beaver, superintendent at Bay Hill, to discuss the intense storm that hit Orlando yesterday, causing the final round to get postponed to today. (I was already back in Kansas by then, so no photos from me this time -- sorry! But the PGA Tour has some pics up here.)

"It depends on who you ask, but we had 50- to 60-mile-per-hour gusts out there. That's pretty wild during a tournament, with everything up on the golf course.

We lost a couple trees, but nothing that affected play. One TV tower fell over, but luckily, we don't have to deal with that. A bunch of boards were blown down, leaves, branches...

There was a tornado warning that popped up at one point. We got everyone inside right away, kept everyone safe.

As far as the rain itself, we got 1.3, 1.4 inches in the rain gauge. This golf course drains really well. We were almost completely dry between the ropes by last night. We mowed fairways, tees and greens this morning.

Today it's going to be a cool, windy day. But a good day -- no rain."

Bay Hill pic parade pt. 2

A helicopter-camera hovering above the range. Cool! Noisy, though.

A closer look at the copter-cam. Reminds me of that floating football in the movie "Flash Gordon."

Brandt Snedeker, shortly after our interview. Would have liked to have used the photo then, but... well, things get busy!

The crew cut the rough on Tuesday.

More mowing.

Willie shows off the day's lunch -- some awesome steaks!

Thumb's up to this crew. Some of the nicest, most accommodating, laid-back guys I've ever met at a maintenance building.

Aww! A family of Sam Hill Cranes.

Mowers all around!

Charley Hoffman on condition at Bay Hill

A look at the current leaderboard shows Charley Hoffman in a tie for third, after firing a 69 in the first round.

I asked Charley what he thought of the way the course was playing after his practice round on Tuesday... Charley was clear he liked what he saw, and his score today seems to reflect that:

“I’ve only played here a handful of times, but it’s the best I’ve ever seen it. Greens are perfect, fairways are perfect. The rough is thick enough, that’s for sure.

Greens are perfect, probably the best they’ve ever been here. Hopefully they don’t trick them up too much, they’re perfect now.”

Palmer on: Key holes and keys to winning his invitational

No. 17 at Bay Hill.

"I think (holes) 16, 17 and 18 will be the holes most noted. 16 is a very soft par 5... a lot of the players can pick up eagle. 17 is a par three, a little over 200 yards, that will be key depending on the pin placement. And 18, a lot of guys will lay up off the tee for a longer shot into the green to avoid the water on the right side off the tees. Three holes that are attractive and challenging.

Keeping the ball in the fairway is going to be major. The roughs are not particularly long but they’re very thick. The ball is going to sink down, and the shots out of the rough to the greens are going to be key because unless it rains excessively -- which we do not expect -- the ball will be bouncing on the greens... they’ll be firm and fast.

Fairway shots, driving it into the fairway is one of the key things, it’s going to be necessary for the guy who wins this tournament to do. It'll be quite interesting. The fairways are firm, they’re cut down, and the greens are fast and hard."

Palmer on: the work of superintendent Matt Beaver

I asked Mr. Palmer if he could talk a little about the work of Bay Hill superintendent Matt Beaver....

"He has been here about 10 years and is doing an excellent job. He’s a great young man and someone I’m particularly interested in… helping him and keeping him doing the things that he’s doing so well now.

I think -- well, I know -- the course is about as good as it’s ever been."

Bay Hill pic parade

Me gusta Arnold Palmer Week!

Willie is ready to take on the world!

Beaver and volunteer Larry from Rhode Island.

Wayne and Craig, the two loyal, hardworking assistants at Bay Hill.

Straight as an arrow.

Stuart, from Irleand, Ping, from China. Both in the Ohio State turf program.

Discussing soil moisture goals.