This week the PGA TOUR returns to TPC Deere Run in East Moline, Ill., for the John Deere Classic. GCSAA Certified Golf Course Superintendent Paul Grogan has completed a bunker renovation project this year that added drainage and replaced all the bunker liners and sand, which should make for fluffier lies this year. Its been a challenging spring weather-wise for Grogan, as the golf course received 10 inches of rain in June, but hes quick to point out that they have fared much better than their neighbors in western Iowa, many of which are still underwater.
Despite the wet conditions, a recent dry spell during advance week helped speed up the greens to the where they need to be. Grogan admits that the rough surrounding the greens may be more gnarly than usual, but the huge fairways take most of the rough nearly out of play. He points to No. 18 as a key point in any round, as the tight par 4 has water left, bunkers right, and tends to have the pin tucked next to the water on Sunday, forcing many to go conservative.
TPC Deere Run has won back-to-back GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in Golf awards and is certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Common to the area, but unusual on a golf course, Bald Eagles have nested at TPC Deere Run the last two years, which hatched two chicks last year and two or three more this year.
COURSE STATISTICS
| Yardage | Par | Rating | Slope | |
| Forward | 5990 | 71 | 69.6 | 119 |
| Regular | 6983 | 71 | 74.2 | 128 |
| Championship | 7223 | 71 | 75.1 | 130 |
COURSE CHARACTERISTICS
| Primary Grasses | Height of Cut | |
| Tees | Bentgrass | 0.325' |
| Fairways | Bentgrass | 0.400' |
| Greens | Bentgrass | 0.115' |
| Rough | Kentucky bluegrass | 4' |
COURSE NUMBERS
| Stimpmeter | 11 feet | |
| Sand bunkers | 78 | |
| Water Hazards | 3 |
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