When Mother Nature throws a winter full of snow and ice at you, the key is to be ready when she finally decides to tee off. That's exactly the mindset at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia as the PGA Championship approaches next week.

After a particularly brutal winter in the Northeast—one that brought multiple storms and plenty of shoveling—the PGA of America's chief championship officer, Kerry Haigh, is confident the course is tournament-ready. "The grass is growing. The course is in outstanding condition. We're in great shape," Haigh told Golf Channel. "Mother Nature is going to happen. The growing season is certainly late getting going. Any of these northern venues are like this. In August, you had three months in prime condition and you were just hanging on."

That confidence is crucial as speculation swirls about the championship's future on the calendar. The PGA Championship moved from its traditional August date to May in 2019, partly at the urging of the PGA Tour to help condense its playoff schedule. But with new Tour CEO Brian Rolapp overseeing a possible schedule overhaul, some have wondered if the major could return to its late-summer slot.

Don't count on it. Haigh made it clear that a move back to August is a nonstarter for the PGA of America, citing both agronomic and calendar challenges. "There were a lot of discussions in 2017 and 2018 when the decision was made to move it to May," he explained. "One of those decisions was that one of every four years we were going to have to change the date because of the Olympics."

With golf's return to the Olympics requiring a late-summer window free of major conflicts, and the Tour wanting its playoffs wrapped up before football season kicks off, the math was simple. "It made a lot of sense for us to move back to being the second of four majors in May," Haigh added. "It's the start of golf season for the country and our PGA members. It's a great start to promote a championship."

So while the winter may have been tough, the message from Aronimink is clear: the course is ready, the schedule is set, and the game is on. Whether you're packing for the course or just gearing up for the broadcast, this year's PGA Championship promises to be a true spring showcase.