Am I being unfair critcising my courses condition ?

[colint]

Just wondering how other parkland courses are fairing at the momemnt. We haven't had much rain for the past 10 days or so, a bit this week but nothing drastic, and my course is an absolute mud bath. The ponds are full to the brim, fairways have standing water, and more often than not greens are on temps. In summer the course is usually in excellent condition but in winter it's useless.

I really think this will be my last year here and I'll be looking for a links course next year

 

[brendy]

Water does take a while to drain, especially through compacted clay which some courses are unluckly enough to be built upon.
Id give it another week before criticising too harshly (as long as it stays dry)
I have to say our course is looking and playing a lot better already with one dryish week and we do have a couple of greens still remaining with clay soil underneath.

 

[pokerjoke]

Our course is exactly the same sodden wet,but i think critisising your course is pointless as its part and parcel of parkland courses.Ours is often wet due to lots of overflowing ponds but the greenkeepers do a great job.And at £260 a year i cant complain.But it does make you appreciate it more when you do play.

 

[colint]

I think thats the point really, if it's the same for most parkland courses then I'll probably look elsewhere. The green staff are generally good and do a lot of work on the course, but for a grand a year I want to be able to play a meaningful game more often

 

[Deleted member 1740]

Colin, i play at a parkland and to be honest its quite dry with not too much noticable standing water. We've been on full greens for most of the time unless its been frosty/snow.

Our club has spent a few quid on putting some new drainage in on some of the holes that needed it.

I think you shouldn't be too hard on your course, after all it was built over 100yrs ago.

 

[Parmo]

Our course is very good at draining, maybe because its very mature park land?

 

[RGDave]

Colin, you are not alone.

I rushed around like a headless chicken today in the hope of getting in a quick 9 holes or more at 3.00pm.

Made it to the club for 2.56 only to see boards placed in the ground at the end of the drive saying course closed.



I wouldn't have minded so much if they'd put them at the entrance, you have to meander through the back 9 to get to the clubhouse.

Can't see a good reason, but I do trust their judgement.

 

[HRC99]

It depends on what the course is built on and how much work has gone into the drainage of it over the years.

Many of the "newer" courses were built on clay and opened as soon as possible to recoup the investment which can cause problems over the years with bad weather.

If yours is closed, why not play a few others near you and judge for yourself how yours compares against them?

 

[Parmo]

HRC99, Cookridge in Leeds is like that, they have spent the last 5 years with the JCB and still they introduced trolley bans in November and fairway mats throughout winter!! Other than that I was looking at joining, but since I play winter golf I don't want a course which is shut or water logged for three months of the year.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

I think we have to realise that most of the country recently had a billion tons of snow cover, which has now melted.
This water has to go somewhere, but if the water table is brimming over, you will just have to wait. Give it a few weeks, warmer weather, wind and evaporation will take care of it.

It is February after all, what do you honestly expect

This aint Spain

Wots the betting on a Hosepipe ban this summer?

Fragger

 

[JustOne]

.And at £260 a year i cant complain.

I'd think not... I'd buy 2 memberships if it was that cheap!

Last 4 months the course has been a squishy mess, so far that's cost me £480. Might be cheaper to put my own drainage into the course

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My course has had problems particularly on the back 9 but have been working hard to improve drainage. After all the snow melted the only two holes that suffered were 14 and 15 although 16 did have some standing water too. I think the fact that its clay soil but built on old farmland means there has been some historical drainage dug and to be honest for the time of year its not in bad condition. The two affected holes had dried within a week and the rest of the course is holding up well

 

[colint]

The course is over 100 years old and they spent a fair bit on drainage just before I joined apparently. I'm playing a local links at the weekend (Wallasey) and also going to have a look at a couple of mixed links / parkland courses in the area to see how they compare.

I like playing in the winter, so if my track now compare poorly I'll be off (if the others will have me of course)

 

[Society_Fan]

For £1000 a year I would want to play for at least 11 months of the year.
The links idea is good, unfortunately I am now where near the seaside, but there is a course called Sandiway which is always playable (bar the snow days,) all because it is built on sand!

 

[Screwback]

HRC99, Cookridge in Leeds is like that, they have spent the last 5 years with the JCB and still they introduced trolley bans in November and fairway mats throughout winter!! Other than that I was looking at joining, but since I play winter golf I don't want a course which is shut or water logged for three months of the year.

Is that cookridge Hall??? Played there about 3 years back in a junior team finals comp some nice holes the second is a bit of a brute if i remember correctly and the last is
a great finishing hole a couple of dodgy holes and the whole course could do with a bit of time to mature but i rekon it will be good in years to come.

 

[Herbie]

It all depends on the geography of the course as well as the type of land it sits on. If it is in an area of more extreme weather conditions then problems should be expected.

If your club has failed to make extra effort to maintain the drainage of the course and its general maintainance then yes you do have a complaint.
But I think the weather has been a little unkind in many areas for quite a while recently.

Links couse as a choice may be a good one but as with most Links courses there are all the other frequent problems associated with that type of course to put up with. Horses for courses really.

 

[greensman]

Are you being unfair…? Probably, but as a member of you’re fully entitled to ask the question.

I’ve been a Head Greenkeeper for over 20 years and this year has been the most difficult by far, Parkland course or not. Look back only a few weeks ago, your course was a foot in snow, below that snow you have 6inches of ice, below that, the soil was frozen. As soon as the snow cleared (yet ground socking wet and still de-frosting) the membership demand to play. They played in unsuitable conditions, probably with trolleys and this is why your course has turned to a mudbath.

The water table is at its max, hence your ponds being full. Many of your drain outlets may well be the ponds; if the outlets are full to the brim the water may have no place to go. The problem is not exclusive to Heswall, we are all suffering.

My last point, and I can assure you, you have had plenty of rain lately, the problem is the rain has been mostly at night, and the ground has been frozen. Water can’t drain if the ground is frozen.

Lets hope for some dry weather soon, lets hope for a good warm spring to help the course recover.

Hope this helps

P.S its snowing again!