US Open role for Scottish golf grass expert

A golf grass expert has been head-hunted by US Open bosses to ensure their showcase tournament is a tee-riffic success.

Links grass expert Chris Haspell has been flown more than 4,000 miles to ensure this week’s multi-million dollar US Open golf tournament doesn’t get blown off course.

Chris is an expert in the type of grass that will be used for the first time in a Major in the US.

Fescue grass is used at Castle Stuart near Inverness where Chris works and is more common on links courses.

This week’s tournament, where players like Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson will compete, is being staged at the Chambers Bay course in Washington State.

Chris has been asked to share his knowledge of the tricky greens with his US counterparts, to make sure the millions watching are kept enthralled.

“It’s an honour to have been asked to help out,” Chris said.

“There’s a lot of pressure when so much prize money and sponsorship cash is riding on the event.

“The biggest issue they’ll face is if the wind gets up and the green speed is too high. They would be virtually impossible to play.

“You can look very stupid if it’s a sunny day but the players can’t get on the course because the greens are unplayable.”

Chris has managed the internationally renowned Castle Stuart Course for the past nine years and prepared the links for three Scottish Opens.

He and his team painstakingly tested 55 different species of fescue grass to select the best type suited to the Highland climate and that was most resistant to disease.

Now their research and expertise is being shared with the team at Chambers Bay to ensure the tournament goes off without a hitch.

Chris added: “I’ve been working with fescue for almost 20 years, both in Scotland and previously in Denmark.

“It’s all about sharing knowledge. I’m going over to help Josh Lewis and Eric Johnson who are in charge at Chambers Bay.

“The greens are very undulating, so getting them right is paramount.

“Every morning the weather forecast will be vital. If the wind gets over 25 mph it has the potential to cause mayhem on the greens.

“Hopefully my experience and the mistakes I’ve made in the past will help them make sure it all goes according to plan.”