Behind the scenes at the Galleri as crews work hard to create top golf conditions at Mission Hills

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) - It's a major undertaking to create the scenic fairways and highly manicured greens the PGA Champions Tour golfers and fans are enjoying at the Galleri Classic this week.

Behind the scenes at the Mission Hills Country Club, it takes long work hours and some science to make it all happen. 

Jeff Stahl asked the Director of Agronomy at Mission Hills Country Club, Jonas Conlan, about setting up the course for the tournament. Conlan said, "Setting up the course begins two weeks ago, getting trailers in position, working with our staff to host an event."

Conlan tours the Galleri Classic grounds high-lighting the extensive work it takes his staff of more than 60 groundskeepers to pull off this world-class event.

"Now it's pretty easy," Conlan said adding, "Now, it's just maintenance and mowing."

Even this week, that 'easy work' is a big operation. Tucked away is the course maintenance yard. Its fleet of mowers rattling away and headed out to different corners of the expansive course tasked with cutting the fairways and greens to precision heights.

"Fairways, mows, greens, everything's good for this week," Gustavo Santevanenz said, a spray technician at Mission Hills.

His hard work sentiments are echoed by others in the maintenance yard. 

"Lots of long days, and monitoring the clip accounts and lots of water because of the high temperatures coming this week," said Matt Balesteri, Superintendent of the Dinah Shore Tournament Course.

Conlan said, "Lots of good stuff here. This is essentially from 4:30 in the morning to 6:00 at night during tournament week. We're going to be working."

Cutting blades for the fairways and greens are measured to the micrometer, each to it's own designated height, and clearly marked on each mower so there's no confusion.  

Much of the work to prepare the course involves science, believe it or not. Chemistry, Pathology, Biology, Entomology which is the study of bugs, and a lot of studying of the weather conditions to make sure the course is in peak condition for the players to compete. 

Agronomy is the science of growing plants for food, fuel, and fiber. It involves managing soil and water.

Balesteri said, "Checking the soils as well as the grass and the thatch will allow us to measure proper irrigation. Some areas are too wet so we'll reduce the water. Some are just right. Some are too dry so we might have to increase the water."

A pole-like device with metal spikes in it, called a pogo stick, measures soil moisture in the greens to keep them properly irrigated.

The stakes are high. Too much water can also lead to slow greens, fungus. And any fertilizer application has to account for costs while calculating for air temperatures because that impacts the speed turf grows.

"Yeah all those biology classes I took back in high school could have paid off," Balesteri said adding, "but I had to relearn a lot of it."

Edgar Mendoza is the Superintendent of the Arnold Palmer Course. Mendoza said, "I've been in this the last 20 years. So we learn as we go.

The hard work, combined with harnessing the science, pays off with a TV and player-ready course.

When asked about seeing the finished course on TV, Santevanenz said, "I'm so happy. I'm like, 'There's our job.'" 

"I can't really explain the feeling," said Mendoza adding, "It's just a great feeling that we're able to do what we do out there and then see it on TV. That's amazing." 

The finished course also serves as a tribute to the many people who are working long days this week, and through the heat, to make it all happen.