mikepops
Assistant Pro
Having already “wasted†an hour’s valuable study time on here this morning when I should be writing my university assignment, I thought that I might as well contribute something myself…
In the first week of November two friends and I took the plunge and played the Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor. The chance to play an upcoming Ryder Cup course was one we couldn’t turn down, and we managed to play for £90 each, with a very decent two course meal included (compared to the 2010 green fees they’ve just published that seems a snip – but that’s for another thread).
It was a stunning course (which I will try to review properly at some point), and tremendously hard, and I was really chuffed to hit 92 (par 71, 16 h/c). Both my accomplices were 100+ off similar handicaps, and neither played badly.
My point (eventually), is that although we managed to pick a relatively decent day weather-wise, it was still cold, wet and incredibly windy. The course was still in great condition, but it was quite muddy in places, and there was some standing water. As a resident of South Wales, I must agree with the concerns that have been voiced about the potential for the weather in the first week of October to be at least similar to that which we experienced.
Of course, it doesn’t matter about the temperature and the wind (though it could make for some interesting golf), but if there is even our normal Autumnal rainfall this year, I can’t see how it won’t turn into a mud bath. The course is built around the River Usk and several large lakes, and although the drainage is superb, 40,000 people tramping about (particulary given most viewing areas are on steep-ish slopes) for 3 days has the potential to be a nightmare.
Especially when you consider that they had to suspend the Wales Open in July due to flash floods, as the 18th fairway was turned into a river.
This would be of no concern to me, as I daren’t pay £100+ for a ticket, but I work for Newport City Council, and I’m already really worried about the negative attitude of local people towards the event, and I don’t want another excuse for them to criticise the whole thing.
Has anyone else played there and worried about the same thing?
In the first week of November two friends and I took the plunge and played the Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor. The chance to play an upcoming Ryder Cup course was one we couldn’t turn down, and we managed to play for £90 each, with a very decent two course meal included (compared to the 2010 green fees they’ve just published that seems a snip – but that’s for another thread).
It was a stunning course (which I will try to review properly at some point), and tremendously hard, and I was really chuffed to hit 92 (par 71, 16 h/c). Both my accomplices were 100+ off similar handicaps, and neither played badly.
My point (eventually), is that although we managed to pick a relatively decent day weather-wise, it was still cold, wet and incredibly windy. The course was still in great condition, but it was quite muddy in places, and there was some standing water. As a resident of South Wales, I must agree with the concerns that have been voiced about the potential for the weather in the first week of October to be at least similar to that which we experienced.
Of course, it doesn’t matter about the temperature and the wind (though it could make for some interesting golf), but if there is even our normal Autumnal rainfall this year, I can’t see how it won’t turn into a mud bath. The course is built around the River Usk and several large lakes, and although the drainage is superb, 40,000 people tramping about (particulary given most viewing areas are on steep-ish slopes) for 3 days has the potential to be a nightmare.
Especially when you consider that they had to suspend the Wales Open in July due to flash floods, as the 18th fairway was turned into a river.
This would be of no concern to me, as I daren’t pay £100+ for a ticket, but I work for Newport City Council, and I’m already really worried about the negative attitude of local people towards the event, and I don’t want another excuse for them to criticise the whole thing.
Has anyone else played there and worried about the same thing?
