And now our course becomes unplayable for a month

[mchacker]

So the 5 day open is over for another year, and tomorrow the greens will be cored but not top dressed. As I look out the window it is hosing down as it has been most of the day - we had a league match today and almost all of my equipment is drying in the dining room, including the jacket which the rain came through after 8 holes - and doesn't look like stopping tonight. When we left the course there were large puddles appearing on most if not all of the greens visible from the clubhouse and I can't help but think that the holes that open up tomorrow will just fill with water and become a mushy mess after a couple of days. So why not do this in October after the qualifying rounds have finished but the cold weather hasn't set in, instead of losing a month of a short playing season and then delaying the start of next season when they get a second tining in March?

What really confuses me though is that there are some opens left this month, surely if you have a day full(hopefully) of visitors paying money to play the course they should be able to play golf not bagatelle on the greens? The club bangs on about how the greens are improving year on year, and in fairness they are true, but the same complaints come up every year about pace so why not focus on that?

Apologies for the unstructured nature of this rant, I'm typing as I think but it's just something that I don't understand and don't think many if any other club would do.

 

[chris661]

So you see an improvement in the greens year on year but are still not happy

It is necessary work that can only be done at certain times of the year, what do you expect them to do?

 

[mchacker]

It used to be done in winter and I understand why it isn't now, but the recovery can't be much different between October and August. I don't think they've improved yearly as the trueness was never a question, the complaint was always speed, and still is, and this isn't helped by ripping up the greens in the middle of the competition season.

 

[fundy]

So you see an improvement in the greens year on year but are still not happy

It is necessary work that can only be done at certain times of the year, what do you expect them to do?

Have to say im with the op here, struggle to find any real justification for a course to be fully coring greens early august, especially if they are not dressing them afterwards! If I was a member I wouldnt be impressed (they moaned enough at ours when they were given a light scarify that was all but gone a few days later)

 

[JCW]

At our place course maintenance is planned and in the members diary on w/c 19th august , the work has to be done so we have better greens all year round , they were great in march but then they did the work and after 2 weeks we have had the best greens bar none , i have played , hillside , formby links , wentworth and guys at my club like me have played all over and have not seen beter , golf monthly was down to review the course and we still waiting to see the verdict ............put it another way , even your car needs an oil change , understand your rant but you need to see the bigger picture

 

[HomerJSimpson]

We have planned green repairs throughout the year. Fortunately one week is during the Royal Ascot racing when we're down to 12 holes anyway and not that many can be bothered to fight the traffic to play. They also do it early in the season and in the autumn. Surely if they do it in the winter, the cold and wet weather will damage the delicate root systems. Our members know when it will take place and most accept it for improving and quicker, true greens

 

[upsidedown]

We were shut for 3 days last week for Coring, they actuallly only verti drained but you wouldn't know it from today.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Ours were done this week and dressed, played with the Captain today who explained that in the past the diary was filled & the green staff had to work round the fixtures, they were now looking to reverse that and give the green staff first crack. As he pointed out, the course is the primary asset, if those looking after it say they need to do it now you listen. The reason for doing it earlier is that you should be able to guarantee the growth you need to recover, we did it later last year, didn't get the growth and suffered for it. A number of our members who have played away recently reckon our green staff are getting it right. As the OP said, the greens are getting better, so leave those that you pay to do it to carry on making the right decisions.

 

[Dodger]

Another member not understanding the reasoning for the work being done when it is.

What a surprise but take solace in that your are by no means alone....

 

[CMAC]

Another member not understanding the reasoning for the work being done when it is.

What a surprise but take solace in that your are by no means alone....

maybe clubs should take the time to inform their members rather than just doing it.

 

[Dodger]

maybe clubs should take the time to inform their members rather than just doing it.

I cannot comment for the OP club,wherever that is, and I have no idea of they do that or not.

We certainly do,they have all just been notified of our work that is being done early September.

August is a fantastic time for the work to be done as it speeds the recovery time faster than doing it in September or October.

 

[JCW]

Ours is in our club diary , but i still find it funny that the green keepers and those that plan the diary dont sit l down and check the dates so as to avoid doing it when the big comps are on , many a time you may have a big board comp in a medal format and find that the greens have been drilled with huge holes and makes a lottery of the club comp

 

[Deleted member 15344]

WE are changing our diary so that comps work around the course works - the course is more important and should always take priority

Our course will also be under going somework over the next two weeks

 

[upsidedown]

maybe clubs should take the time to inform their members rather than just doing it.

First week in August every year here, in the printed diary to remind us :thup:

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

To the OP

Yes, nearly all clubs will do some form of summer maintenance, what is down will vary from club to club and depends on the state of the greens and treatments required to fix various problems. But are you sure your greens will be trashed for a month? That sounds a bit extreme, usually the greens will have recovered within a week or so.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

WE are changing our diary so that comps work around the course works - the course is more important and should always take priority

that's how clubs should operate :thup:

if comps are clashing with work on the course then it's down to poor communication between departments. Ours are in the diary for 2015 and 2016 already. Members kept up to date months in advance with what is going on although not all choose to read the newsletters.

 

[Birchy]

that's how clubs should operate :thup:

if comps are clashing with work on the course then it's down to poor communication between departments. Ours are in the diary for 2015 and 2016 already. Members kept up to date months in advance with what is going on although not all choose to read the newsletters.

Bob on. Save the crappy Stableford, bogey and 7 man round robin betterballs competitions until then

Clubs having majors around the same time are clearly bonkers.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

WE are changing our diary so that comps work around the course works - the course is more important and should always take priority

Our course will also be under going somework over the next two weeks

that's how clubs should operate :thup:

if comps are clashing with work on the course then it's down to poor communication between departments. Ours are in the diary for 2015 and 2016 already. Members kept up to date months in advance with what is going on although not all choose to read the newsletters.

Unfortunately you can't do it that way, the greenkeepers need the right weather conditions to perform the work. Most clubs will pencil the works into the diary but adjust as required depending on the weather.

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Unfortunately you can't do it that way, the greenkeepers need the right weather conditions to perform the work. Most clubs will pencil the works into the diary but adjust as required depending on the weather.

Well it seems to work for our place as that's how it works and with the amount of visitors we have booked so far in advance we can't change booking just because it's a bit wet etc. both of the course are in fantastic condition and that's after the wettest winter we have had for years.

Our greens have been microtined several times this year already and within a day you would struggle to notice.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Unfortunately you can't do it that way, the greenkeepers need the right weather conditions to perform the work. Most clubs will pencil the works into the diary but adjust as required depending on the weather.

Yes the works can be adjusted etc but we will still be making sure there are no major comps on around the time of the planned works.