Chute versus booking system

[Arthur Wedge]

They prepare all 18 holes at the same time?

Blimey - 18 Greenkeepers at club with one course ?!

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Our guys are out with big floodlights on the Gators. You can often see them out in the far corner before first light.

Yes ours start early but needs about 2 hours to get the whole course ready for a comp play so the two guys normally start at 6

 

[simsini]

Yes ours start early but needs about 2 hours to get the whole course ready for a comp play so the two guys normally start at 6

If they started at 1, the first group could just be behind them. It's how it worked at Knole Park. No need to close the entire course because the greenkeepers are still working on the back nine, surely?

 

[Deleted member 36735]

If they started at 1, the first group could just be behind them. It's how it worked at Knole Park.

If they started at 1 and went round the course in order, that would be extremely inefficient when they are obviously passing by other tees, greens and bunkers.

 

[GreiginFife]

Yes ours start early but needs about 2 hours to get the whole course ready for a comp play so the two guys normally start at 6

I’m not sure of what point you are making here. I was only responding to the question about preparing a course in the dark.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I’m not sure of what point you are making here. I was only responding to the question about preparing a course in the dark.

Was saying that ours also start in the dark

 

[Arthur Wedge]

If they started at 1, the first group could just be behind them. It's how it worked at Knole Park. No need to close the entire course because the greenkeepers are still working on the back nine, surely?

The course opens when the GK have had enough time to get enough of the course prepared and that they aren’t in any danger or golfers aren’t getting in their way

 

[GreiginFife]

Was saying that ours also start in the dark

Then why ask a question “how can they prepare a course in the dark?” If you already know this?

 

[simsini]

If they started at 1 and went round the course in order, that would be extremely inefficient when they are obviously passing by other tees, greens and bunkers.

Each course is different, but I guarantee most courses with arbitrary starting times could open earlier if the green keepers didn't need the whole course closed.

 

[simsini]

The course opens when the GK have had enough time to get enough of the course prepared and that they aren’t in any danger or golfers aren’t getting in their way

Which is why I said that it would makes sense to start at earlier holes. No reason not to be open while the green keepers are still on the course. Doesn't even have to be every day, just on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Then why ask a question “how can they prepare a course in the dark?” If you already know this?

Ok I’ll clarify it - if a golfer is expecting to be allowed out there as soon as there is light , many courses won’t be able to be prepared fully for play in darkness , most will be starting when it’s starting to get light but have the lights on to help see their way around

 

[GreiginFife]

Ok I’ll clarify it - if a golfer is expecting to be allowed out there as soon as there is light , many courses won’t be able to be prepared fully for play in darkness , most will be starting when it’s starting to get light but have the lights on to help see their way around

Ok, so that is an entirely different question (or rather statement).

I have no further additions to it on that basis.

 

[simsini]

Ok I’ll clarify it - if a golfer is expecting to be allowed out there as soon as there is light , many courses won’t be able to be prepared fully for play in darkness , most will be starting when it’s starting to get light but have the lights on to help see their way around

The whole point is the course doesn't need to be prepared fully, the greenkeepers just need to be ahead of those playing. I played many courses that do this, while others strangely insist on closing the whole course.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Which is why I said that it would makes sense to start at earlier holes. No reason not to be open while the green keepers are still on the course. Doesn't even have to be every day, just on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

During winter first light is at 7:50-8:00 in most places

In the summer first light is around 6

I’m guessing in the winter they will start around 7 when it’s not “pitch black” to get going to allow people to start at 8

In the summer we open at 7 which gives them an hour

If people want courses open at 6 which is first light in the summer then they are starting at 5 ish

 

[sunshine]

A point not yet raised in this debate is that a golf club with a booking sheet has data available to understand and better manage busy / quiet periods. A ball chute club has no data and is just estimating demand.

 

[GreiginFife]

A point not yet raised in this debate is that a golf club with a booking sheet has data available to understand and better manage busy / quiet periods. A ball chute club has no data and is just estimating demand.

A good point. One of my clubs used this data to determine that they could increase the max subs numbers to bring income without overloading the course.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

We have a simple system for when play can start. We have a post on the edge of the 1st and one on the edge of the 10th fairways. The bottom half is white, the top half is red.
If the post can be clearly seen, the course is open for plaY. This applies to first thing in the morning, and when fog has descended. The greenkeepers will always do the early holes of each half and the whole fron nine, and finish the remains of the back 9 last. They also have right of way during the early morning set up/prep time.
It works fine.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

@Bunkermagnet , I could go in and edit the typo but somehow I think it is sweeter to leave it as it is. It sounds a wonderfully English way to judge if the course is safe or not

 

[Bunkermagnet]

@Bunkermagnet , I could go in and edit the typo but somehow I think it is sweeter to leave it as it is. It sounds a wonderfully English way to judge if the course is safe or not

Thankyou, and corrected. But very twee

 

[clubchamp98]

@Bunkermagnet , I could go in and edit the typo but somehow I think it is sweeter to leave it as it is. It sounds a wonderfully English way to judge if the course is safe or not

Yes it’s got flowers on.