Course Closed

[Crazyface]

I expected the response that I was in the wrong and accept that I could be, well there's always a first time, but I've played on it when it's like a swamp and have been amazed that it's open, but it was shut due to the traffic expected that day.

 

[Crazyface]

One last thing, all other courses around were open. I checked with every single one.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Closed yesterday. Open today as there is a society on so chasing the £. No buggies and "carry preferred". Weather not looking good for the weekend and to be honest wouldn't be too upset if we close again

 

[Oddsocks]

One last thing, all other courses around were open. I checked with every single one.

Could it be that the others handled the rain better or didn’t cope with the heat as well?

A lot of courses are scared to close for the main reason being similar to what Homer described, I’d be happy to join a course which looked at the long term protection especially based on the grilling courses took this summer

 

[Doh]

We manage the wet weather in winter by closing 2-4 holes a time it gives the course a break, seems to work well. We have also put in many new paths and rope off areas that suffer when the season is over.

 

[IanM]

Closure stats are very misleading


Celtic Manor don't close until the Coastguard are needed to perform multiple mud rescues! Doesn't mean the course is fit for play though.

 

[Deleted member 29109]

I wish my place would close more often. Or at leas ban trollies and buggies for longer periods over the winter.

We still have areas of the course with no grass from becoming a bog last winter.

 

[chrisd]

Over the last 10 years we've done lots of work on drainage, as a result our clay based course has stayed open more and more in winter time. I'd much rather the greenkeepers, pro and committee make the decision whether to open or close based on the immediate, short and long-term benefits, rather than cow down to gobby members who cant accept decisions!

 

[Golfnut1957]

I think there is an element of sense in what the OP is saying. Our course was closed on Tuesday following torrential overnight rain, as was every other parkland course in the area. It was closed because the ground was saturated, but Tuesday was a nice day and so with Tuesday being an extremely popular day at our club and the booking system being full up to mid-afternoon, the course would have been battered. It made sense to close it.
The opposite of this are days like Friday 21st when the rain started early morning and became a deluge by 11:00. The course effectively closes itself, nobody but idiots like myself would go out in that sort of weather.
Our fourball went out, and we saw two other golfers on the course. The Head Greenkeeper obviously doesn't worry about 6 people being out there as much as he would two hundred and just left it open.

 

[sunshine]

Lovely day Friday, course in great nick. What’s all the fuss about? ?

 

[Blue in Munich]

One afternoon last year our greens keeping team had an open afternoon in the sheds; we could see all the equipment they use and discuss what they actually have to do, why they do it & when, any question we had was answered. It is eye opening in terms of how much equipment we have, the cost of it & the challenges involved. If anyone's club does do it, I'd encourage you to go. You'll gain a much better understanding of how things run (and why your subs cost so much) and an appreciation of why the course closing is sometimes to your benefit.

 

[Marshy77]

I understand the frustration at not being able to play but the amount rain we've had over the last few days it wouldn't surprise at all to hear that courses are closed. Surely it's for the benefit of you and the course if it is closed when it's chucked it down after a dry summer?

Can also understand the course manager being totally annoyed with someone telling them how they should be doing their job when they aren't qualified to do so. Seems to be a thing at the moment this.