SAVOY – Golfers couldn''t have asked for a better day from Mother Nature on Saturday at the UI Orange Course for the 50th UI Open.

Blue skies, bright sun, warm temperatures and near-perfect greens made the staff at the UI course smile at every turn.

Continued work on the greens and current work on the course''s sand bunkers were well received by the golfers in the tournament and casual golfers. The greens are fast and a big challenge to golfers in this year''s field.

"The course is playing really nice," said Mattoon''s Craig Chaney, who shot a 68 to earn the first-round lead."It''s not easy, but the greens are nice."

The greens haven''t always been this true in the past, where more than one golfer would toss complaints in the direction of course director Mike Wallner. But recent work has changed all that.

"These are the best they''ve ever been," Wallner said. "It''s great to hear it."

This new look, and new feel, of the Orange and Blue courses started when HG Golf Properties began running the course in 2000. Since then, the cart paths were updated and irrigation work also was done.

"From Day 1 we just changed the whole program," said Tom Rodems, who runs HG Golf Properties. "We based it on we want to set it up for the golfers. That''s what our business is all about – making it the best for the golfers.

"But it takes time. Unless you have a gazillion dollars, which we don''t, it takes time."

Golfers continued to rave about the course''s condition, which is maintained by superintendent Mike Chastain and his crew.

"The course is in the best shape I''ve ever seen it," said four-time UI Open winner Jamie Fairbanks, who grew up playing on the course. "These greens are the fastest in town, and I''ve never said that before."

Setting his priorities

Fairbanks is one of the area''s most prominent golfers, but time constraints because of work and family have limited his golf commitments in the last few years.

Fairbanks made it a point to play in the UI Open this weekend, where he shot a 75 Saturday. He also plans to play in the Twin City later this summer.

"This is one of the top three tournaments in the area, and I''m happyto play in it," Fairbanks said. "They''ve got perfect weather and a greatfield.

"I had opportunities in front of me to shoot low, but I''ve been playing inconsistent. I just hung in there."

Family affair

One of the reasons the UI Open is so special to many golfers is the tradition.

One of the biggest traditions is the number of fathers and sons who compete in the annual event. Champaign''s Tim Hoss and son Tim Jr. are veterans of the tournament and will get a little closer today.

Father and son each shot 74 during Saturday''s first round. Going one better: They each shot 38-36 and could wind up playing together to-day.

"We played together in the Twin City a few years ago and shot horrible," said Tim Hoss Jr., who won the Twin City last year. "We''ll have a blast. I''ll try not to kill him."

Hoss Jr. recently graduated from Southern Illinois, where he playedon the golf team with Gibson City''s Grant Goltz, who also shot a 74 Saturday.

"It''s going to be hard not playing there anymore," Hoss Jr. said. "I will definitely miss it."

Give them something special.

The staff at the UI golf courses is doing its best to commemorate the tournament''s 50th anniversary.

Each golfer in the field received a T-shirt and bag tag. Each flight champion and all past champions in the field will receive one of the flags from the pins that were specially designed for the tournament''s 50th year.

Past champions in this year''s field include Chaney, Fairbanks, Urbana''s Joe Thompson, Rantoul''s Jay Scott, Danville''s Paul Dalbey and Robinson''s Pat Keen.

You can reach Jeff Mezydlo at (217) 351-5604 or via e-mail at jmezydlo@news-gazette.com.