The National Golf Foundation estimates that around 1.13 million rounds of golf are played on Cape Cod annually. Though there is such an abundance of golfers on Cape Cod, not many know what it takes to maintain a course and the science behind it.

The most important part of maintaining a course is agronomy, the study of turf grass management. This is the degree required if one wishes to be a golf course superintendent, the person who is in charge of keeping the course as green as it is.

Hyannisport Club superintendent Tom Colombo said, “It’s not cookie cutter,” each course is a different micro-climate. He added that though the practices are similar, the frequency and timing in which they’re done is different for each course.

At Hyannisport they have several interesting practices that are safe for the environment and effective for the course at the same time. One of those methods is the use of seaweed extracts. They are used to help with the stress tolerance of the grass. 

These processes are ever-changing though, with technology coming up with new bio-stimulants each year the courses and their superintendents have to adjust with them.  Grounds crews can’t just throw a new bio-stimulant out onto a course though. Colombo said that,  “There is no better place to test than your own course.” So using Hyannisport’s nursery, they test to see which products work best and how to effectively put them to use.

Being environmentally friendly is a top priority. Hyannisport, which is located right on Nantucket Sound, is a certified Audubon sanctuary, meaning that protecting the environment is the biggest goal of the course. To keep the course environmentally friendly, Hyport follows best management practices or BMP, which determines what practices or methods are effective in reducing the level of pollution generated.

Though Hyannisport has subtle differences compared to other courses, the basics are the same. A golf course is a golf course; we all try to accomplish the same thing. is the superintendent at the Blue Rock Golf Course in Yarmouth. As a former employee at Hyport he knows what it takes to produce a course of that high quality. 

Players are aware of the struggles facing courses too. BHS golf coach, Mark Titus said that there certainly are differences between public and private courses. It’s not all bad, but golfers note the budget and workforce of a course while playing.