The tree-lined Laurel Golf Club challenges the male State Am players

LAUREL — There will be no shortage of trees when players tee off Thursday in the Montana Men’s Amateur State Championship at Laurel Golf Club. Trees, however, will not be the only concern.

From the pro shop to the course staff, golf course employees do a lot of prep work to stay ahead in a competitive field filled with guys hitting bombs off the tee and throwing darts at pins.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into it,” Jacob Harr, Laurel’s head golf professional, told MTN Sports on a recent afternoon in 90-degree temperatures. “A lot of (painting boundaries), (setting hole locations) … and then just making sure we have everything under control, whether it’s golf carts or clubs.”

Now in its 103rd year and considered by many to be Montana’s most prestigious men’s tournament, the Men’s Amateur Championship is at capacity with entries. The three-day extravaganza runs Thursday through Saturday and is free to the public. Former Billings West standout Joey Moore is the reigning champion after winning last year at Old Works in Anaconda.

Bob Popp, Laurel’s golf superintendent, feels in his comfort zone after decades of working at the club.

“We’re trying to go to the extreme,” Popp said, pointing out some of the course’s risks and rewards. He and his crew will be on site earlier than usual — at 5 a.m. — and will try to keep the course pristine and fair, but also challenging.

“We try to mow everything in the morning so everything is fresh. We mow every day … we don’t usually do that,” Popp said.

In this tournament, players often have to deal with fast greens and the pins change position daily.

“We try to find the ideal position … no tricky pins, especially when the greens roll pretty fast,” Popp said.

For anyone who is interested, a friendly tip: “The old hands say that everything ends up in the (Yellowstone) river or in the refineries,” he added with a smile.

More high temperatures are expected this week, meaning Popp’s biggest concern – a temperature rise beyond his control – is quite possible.

“We just hope there are no big storms. That’s our biggest problem,” he said. Popp reported that a recent overnight storm had covered the course with branches, leaves and other debris. His crew got to work early the next morning and was able to get the course back to pristine condition in time for another tournament.

Notable holes include the par 4 No. 14, which is known for camouflaging tee shots and approaches as it is lined with native cottonwood trees on the right side.

“We saw this fairway when it was covered in cotton and it was difficult to find balls,” he said as he collected some of the cotton.

No. 18 can be an interesting risk-reward closing hole: a mostly straight par 5 that is reachable in two shots for strong hitters, although it is protected by more than just trees and bunkers.

“We have a water feature hidden to the right and left,” said Popp, to make golfers aware of the distance between the tee and the obstacle.

Harr, meanwhile, is convinced that the players who are most likely to compete for the trophy are the ones who offer accurate tee shots.

“If you go through the trees out here, you’re going to have a hard time making par,” he said.

It’s that simple: just keep the ball on the fairway.