Ever known members leave a club because the course is too GOOD?

Billysboots

Billysboots

Falling apart at the seams
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We have been really lucky this year. After some investment and some really hard work by the greenkeeping staff the course is in stunning nick. The tees are immaculate, the fairways well manicured and greens superb.

But we do have one problem which is causing some angst. Because of the wet weather the second cut is horrific. Not just long but really, really thick. In itself this is fine but as an inland links layout exposed to the wind, and with a narrow first cut, it is at times unplayable for anyone other than good golfers.

Unfortunately it has reached the point where many will not play medals and we have even started losing the odd member because of it. I'm sure this isn't what the club anticipated, but it is a situation we are stuck with as the club do not have the means now to tackle the rough.

So there you have it. A course in the best condition ever, and a large section of the membership really miffed. How's that for irony?
 
you are not alone - this is an extremely common issue for many courses this year.

it's also a common discussion point in bars and changing rooms.

the only real solution I see doesn't sit well with the better golfers either - that is to increase the width of the semi / reduce the size of the fairways. the general effect will be that fewer balls will roll into the 'impossible' :) but that many more will be in the semi :(

I'm not sure where the people that are leaving are planning to go though! Given people's apparent need for justification to leave a golf club I guess today's rough is yesterday's poor green...
 
I think the membership at East Sussex National is fairly low (and the membership fee hasn't gone up for years) as the course is literally too tough, only big hitters and masochists play there..... and good golfers :whistle:
 
The rough is causing similar problems at my course. A wide shot now often results in a lost ball and finding one is more luck than anything else at times. It has got to the stage where I think twice about going out on my own as without a spotter and a few pairs of eyes then you can lose lots of balls and it is becoming expensive.
Nobody is thinking about leaving but it is not doing wonders for the pace of play.
 
at least most of you are playing. My golf course has seldom been open and many golfers including myself are considering moving to other courses nearby which have had better luck due to better drainage.

I have played today and the course wasn't too bad although I cant comment on the rough as I've just played one of my best rounds ever and never went in
 
I played at Hever earlier in the week and the rough is extremely punishing. One of our guys had a buggy so went ahead to look for the odd stray ball and came home with a bagful of balls!
 
my golf course rough is very punishing mainly because one of the courses is the PGA and the Johnny Walker is there each year plus the Ryder cup in 2 years, they cut back the rough on the other 2 to speed up play.

Ironic thing here is all 3 are in very poor condition right now:angry:
 
I think in terms of course set up there's a thin line between "good" and "too difficult"!! It really is magnificent at the moment but a tough test. It depends on individual perception.

I've really never seen rough like it anywhere. Certainly no other course round these parts has all 18 holes lined with it. Nearly 5 hours for the last monthly stableford tells it all.
 
Billysboots said:
I think in terms of course set up there's a thin line between "good" and "too difficult"!! It really is magnificent at the moment but a tough test. It depends on individual perception.

I've really never seen rough like it anywhere. Certainly no other course round these parts has all 18 holes lined with it. Nearly 5 hours for the last monthly stableford tells it all.
Click to expand...

I think part of it is setting the course up for the competition/day in question. Rough was very penal at my course yeserday but it was the invitation open with half the field not familiar with the course. Looks like it made for some long rounds (I missed out on entering) as I was always seeing groups ball hunting. Given the field in question a more forgiving set up may have been appropriate. On the other hand, for the Club Championship for example, a more penal set up may be appropriate to really test the membership and find a worthy winner
 
I don't think it matter too much which course you play at the moment. We have the same problem at our course and we haven't had any days with the course being shut with the weather. I think the greenkeepers are stuggling to fine the breaks in the weather just to keep the fairways and first cut in good condition.
All hail the greenkeepers and the outstanding work they do for us.
 
I had a number of members moaning at me yesterday, the joys of being on the Green's Committee, about that very issue.

"Memebers will be leaving," and "what are you going to do about the rough"?

"As soon as God stops watering the rough we'll be cutting it back."

In truth, the members have got the course how they've been demanding it for years, i.e. just like it was 30 yrs ago before we got all the machinery. The reality doesn't match the rose tinted memories...
 
duncan mackie said:
I hope you enjoyed the course though.....:)
Click to expand...

The whole day was excellent. The hospitality and food was of the highest standard and the course was of course tough but equally a great challenge. The fairways were very well maintained and the greens quick and difficult to read. I would certainly recommend Hever if you haven't been.
 
Billysboots said:
We have been really lucky this year. After some investment and some really hard work by the greenkeeping staff the course is in stunning nick. The tees are immaculate, the fairways well manicured and greens superb.

But we do have one problem which is causing some angst. Because of the wet weather the second cut is horrific. Not just long but really, really thick. In itself this is fine but as an inland links layout exposed to the wind, and with a narrow first cut, it is at times unplayable for anyone other than good golfers.

Unfortunately it has reached the point where many will not play medals and we have even started losing the odd member because of it. I'm sure this isn't what the club anticipated, but it is a situation we are stuck with as the club do not have the means now to tackle the rough.

So there you have it. A course in the best condition ever, and a large section of the membership really miffed. How's that for irony?
Click to expand...

Sounds like Tylney Park in Hampshire. Played it recently and it was brutal. Nowhere to miss off the tee and you daren't miss a green. Both options = lost ball. Lovely layout but way too difficult for a player of my ability
 
Playedat Tylney Park in my Dad's works compeitition. Nice course, I struggled off the tee like I have until the last 2 to 3 weeks.

Got 30 odd points. But my main problem was my short game. The main problem from what some people are saying is there not doing to well of the tee?

Has been my main problemup to the the last 2 weeks.
 
The description of your course sounds slightly like mine. First cut rough very thick and at least an inch too long extremely hard to see a ball in it when you may only be a few feet off the faurway and then your straight into hay after that.

Many of our members are once a week golfers just out for a days banter with the lads and whether it be a low or a high handicapper even the slightest wayward shot is lost whereas at most other course it would be found albeit a difficult shot.
The amount of no returns on a stroke comp is very high due to the amount of lost balls which you should expect to find.
 
Must say it also sounds like my course as well. But thats golf. Just stay out of the long stuff(easier said than done.) I must be a masochist or something as I like it. Makes you think more. For fun rounds I just play with old balls? As if they just roll into the rough forget it even if you see where it went in. As the balls are rubbish I dont even bother looking for them(got buckets full of them in the shed).
 
Our place is the same at the moment. It looks amazing as for the first time since I've been there there is proper definition between each cut.

The first cut is short enough to find balls but thick enough to be penal. The problem comes when you go into the long stuff it really is now long stuff and this is what people were moaning about yesterday.

In an ideal world there would be some way to thin this longer stuff out so that balls can be found but at the end of the day I think it makes the course look great and at as above you shouldnt be in there anyway so pay the price. (And I paid it yesterday big time:D)
 
Played The London Shire (one of my favourite courses) on Saturday and the (hay) rough was brutal. Had heard that a couple of long-standing, low-handicap members had left/were leaving because the course was just too difficult, therefore unenjoyable, for them (and their progeny). I've actually played it since it first opened, and it was much tougher in the first year! Not certain I'd like it so much if my handicap was based there!

While we were lucky it was open and got quite drenched, the greens were probably playing as good as I have ever experienced anywhere!
 
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