BEATRICE, Neb - A golf course like the Beatrice Country Club doesn’t become green just by chance, it takes a lot of work and extra hours, especially during the recent heat wave.

With the annual Pistol tournament set for this weekend, it’s been even more important for conditions to stay pure. BCC Superintendent Andy Hamilton talked with NCN about working through the recent weather.

“We rely a lot on the long range forecast, which has gotten a lot better throughout the years,” Hamilton said. “We start planning advance of being this stuff coming, make sure our preventative applications on greens, tees, and fairways are all up to date, try to water ahead if we need to, but it’s all careful planning.”

Temps have reached 100 degrees each of the last two days in Beatrice, with heat index readings as high as 117. This provides a challenge, but Hamilton credits a strong staff for keeping the course in pristine form.

“It can be a challenge, but thankfully I have a rock star staff that all want to present the best course conditions we can.”

Over 100 golfers will take to the course for the Pistol tournament this weekend, making it all that more important for the course to be in strong shape. Hamilton says the heat hasn’t changed the fact of making sure the course is at its best.

“Any event we have out here, we’re trying to give the best conditions we can,” Hamilton said. “It can get challenging this time of year when you get puffy greens, and things soften up, but that’s the hand we’re dealt.”

Despite a dry start to the season, Hamilton says recent heavy rains have balanced out the drought, and the course is in good shape as a whole.

“I think it’s pretty good, that rain, we went from being really really dry in that drought to getting a  few rains and everything rebounded really, really nicely,” Hamilton said. “I’m really happy with where we’re at.”