Final straw at my club today

[richart]

This is a poor year for most greens, unless you have been kept off them all winter or you are at a club awash with cash then you might be suffering.

Since the beginning of May, our greens are the best i have known them. Played on them all winter, except when there was a frost or snow. Mind you that was most of the winter. Certainly not awash with money, especially after the new kitchen fitting.

Can understand fairways being in poor condition if no watering system, but greens

 

[rosecott]

When our Head Greenkeeper joined us some 5 years ago, he said there is no need for winter greens. True to his word, we play normal greens throughout the year and they just get better and better. Even with the long dry weather this year, our greens are fast and true - not telling who we are in case you try to pinch him.

 

[Aztecs27]

When our Head Greenkeeper joined us some 5 years ago, he said there is no need for winter greens. True to his word, we play normal greens throughout the year and they just get better and better. Even with the long dry weather this year, our greens are fast and true - not telling who we are in case you try to pinch him.

Do you play at my place per chance?

We have the exact same situation. My place consistently wins "best pay and play course" in the area and as such recieves ALOT of traffic year round.

We never play off mats and we never have winter greens and despite the heavy traffic they recieve and the bad frosts we had (which made pitching, chipping and putting a flippin' nightmare, I might add!!), our greens are in superb condition.

 

[DCB]

Winter greens are a necessary evil I'm afraid. Unless a club is fortunate enough to have their greens relaid to full USGA Spec, then I'm afraid the ravages of our winter weather dictate that the greens need protected on occasion. Even USGA Spec greens will need protection from time to time.

We had snow over the course from late Nov to early Jan, so no play was possible. After that, when play restarted, careful consideration seems to have been given to either use the main green or put on a temp green depending on conditions. Our last snowfall was in early March. Winter golf is after all just an excuse to get out the house isn't it ?

This season our greens are some of the best in the area. On Saturday there, our greens were measured at 9.5 on the stimpmeter. They are true and the ball runs beautifully if you can get a good stroke on it

 

[Crazyface]

GK have struggled at ours this year, (greens are normally brilliant) due to the weather. But the recent sun and rain (load of rain) have sorted things out. Plus they have, apparently hired a new roller come whacker thing that has rolled out all the imperfections. Hells teeth were they quick this weekend. Back to being scared to death of putting. Oh well I've had a good run.

 

[19thagain]

RBB, I just wonder if any of the low handicap golfers in your club are able to handle the greens and record acceptable scores and if so have you just let it get to you?

 

[john0]

RBB, I just wonder if any of the low handicap golfers in your club are able to handle the greens and record acceptable scores and if so have you just let it get to you?

Yes Robobum, how about those low handicap golfers playing off less than 3.7, what do they think of the greens?

 

[Robobum]

RBB, I just wonder if any of the low handicap golfers in your club are able to handle the greens and record acceptable scores and if so have you just let it get to you?

No my scores are at the better end. Managed to sneak a medal win and a 4th place qualifier to the matchplay phase for one of the big board comps so far this season.

My score yesterday was "acceptable" to a point, 77 blows which is 3 over my h'cap with a Kevin Na'esque tree episode that cost me a triple.

I know when I've hit a good putt or not and whether I started it on line. I also know that I've hit a couple of bad putts that have ended up in the hole.

That's not how it's meant to be, good shots should be rewarded and vice versa. If I wanted it to be totally down to luck I'd join a Links course (joke btw, before anyone starts)

 

[Billysboots]

To be honest, before moving elsewhere I would be tempted to at least speak to your head greenkeeper and try and find out why the greens are so poor. One or two have mentioned it on here, but this spring has been a nightmare for trying to maintain a golf course, so much so that some of the most prestigious clubs around these parts are having real problems.

Our greens were absolutely dreadful in April, despite being relaid to USGA spec only six or seven years ago, and a number of us put pen to paper. Some were considering leaving the club.

Once our greenkeeper had had a chance to explain the issues regarding growing and maintenance conditions, owing primarily to the lack of rain, and told us what he was trying to achieve, he merely asked for a bit of patience.

Some weren't prepared to wait, but I was and have been rewarded with greens as true as they have been for a couple of years.

 

[Bigfoot]

It looks like USGA spec greens are the most important requirement for good greens after winter play.

We used ours throughout the winter apart from when the course was closed for snow. We have just had a Jamega tour event there and their report on the website says -
'With perfect greens that were the nearest I have seen to Augusta’s, offering the confident putter chances for birdies '

Maybe the older traditional club greens need more protection. Generally, without watering systems, greens were designed to hold water to keep the grass growing in the summer when there was not much rain. This meant that they had too much water in winter and so play damaged them.

Modern greens are more sand based with good drainage so they are firmer, faster and don't damage as much in winter use.