How could your golf club be improved ??

[Barney]

I know some of you have the name of your golf club on your posts so probably wont want to add to this but here are a few main gripes about my golf club..

The Golf club I play at has a very high number of members and no matter what day of the week,if the weather is dry unless you have booked you will very rarely get on.
What really frustrates me about the club is that seen as the club has so many paying members why are there so few staff out on the course. Yeah I see the same two or three lads out there trying to keep it in decent condition but even they always sound depressed about being under payed and over worked.
Another thing that infuriates me about the golf club is the lack of attention payed to bunkers. With rain we all know sand flattens down but I have seen them work the sand over in the bunkers on a rare occasion in the past and it is a mini tractor type vehicle dragging a metal net behind it that fluffs up the sand so why is it that they cant make such a simple effortless task a job for every other day or so. In my opinion badly maintained bunkers give a bad impression on any club.Also when it rains every bunker becomes a pond. Again surely they can atleast make an effort to get rid of the pond and keep it maintained as best as possible. It seems when the bad weather comes the club thinks oh well the course will have to wait until the dryer months even though we still have to make our monthly fees.
Another thing is the absolutely ridiculous winter greens that are the size of a postage stamp. Its as if they have picked an area, given it one short cut,chopped out a hole,stuck a flag in and said that will do em !!!

Basically I just think with so many paying members the club should do more or employ more staff to keep the club in a better condition.

And before anyone says it yes I know I think its about time I looked to join elsewhere !!!

 

[GB72]

I am more than happy with the course I play on. Only improvement for the club as a whole would be a spike bar. When I come off the course I would love to be able to walk in for a drink but often do not bother as by the time I have gone back to the car, changed shoes etc then just head home. Equally, if I arrive early I have a bit of a practice but then have to change my shoes if I want a coffee before the rest of the group arrive. we have a large bar area so cannot see the problem in sectioning off an area in which you can wear your golf shoes. Minor point I know but one that niggles me.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have a problem with stones in our bunkers. I have nothing agains having little sand but it seems every time I play a bunker shot there is a stone there to chip another mark on my wedge.

Other than that the green staff have done a good job this year to get the greens back to a good level after they went off a bit last year. The course is always presented well and is maturing nicely. We operate a roll up system and there are no pre-bookable times except for official comps which books the tees and which can easily be entered via the pro shop.

There are a few senior members who think they own the course when they play especially midweek and will never while they have a breath in their body let anyone through, and a few members that moan regularly but never want to join a committee or get their hands dirty but that is the same at all courses. The fees are too high but apart from that I'm fairly happy (and still cheaper than most of our neighbours)

 

[Cernunnos]

What gets to me is That If I book a tee time at my new club I don't get an option as to whether or not I get lumbered with other players, because they insist upon filling each teetime as a fourball. I don't mind being paired up, but it would be nice to have a choice in the matter.

Really not sure what else I'd change, but I'm sure play could be sped up a bit by not having all games 4 balls.

 

[HTL]

Get rid of the millions of members who act like they own the course and play at a snails pace. GGGRRRR!!!!

 

[intherough]

I play at The Marriott @ Worsley. I have to say that the course is one of the best courses I have played. One of my Gripes is it has a lot of wealthy memebers who seem to have the attitude that because they are rich and a member they can treak and speak to everyone like they are nothing. This really annoys me. Another problem is our bunkers, they have been GUR for most of this year, the course is built on clay and water has nowhere to go and the course becomes very very wet with lots of rain and the bunkers turn to mug, they are not drained properly. Having said that they are trying to rectify the course and the bunkers over the winter by putting loads of gravel drains in. However, the worse thing is the pitch marks on the greens, our greens are brilliant all year round, but people not repairing pitch marks really p****s me off. My playing partners and I can repair 4 or 5 marks each per green, this is rediculous for any private course. Members pay a lot of money for any course and it only takes a few seconds to repair the greens.

 

[Parmo]

My home course is a Municipal and only 9 holes of park land. Its great for beginners and a challenge for anyone, but its just not long enough (5250 yards, SSS65, Par 70), there just isn't anywhere they could develop unless it was into woods. I also would like to see a few more bunkers in action around on the longer holes, maybe add some water but I am not sure where this could fit on such a short track.

The current staff are great, I meet them most weekends and have the odd chat about the course, the bunkers we have are always racked and more or less stone free, the greens are mostly clear of leafs and the likes so no issues there.

Here is what I would like to see happen, an expansion, more bunkers and some ponds if possible. I know its park and spoiling such a beautiful place would not be the right thing, but its such a good track 18 holes would make the council a packet.

 

[TonyN]

We could

1. Have a pro
2. Better Drainage
3. Less water hazards
4. More Members
5. A practice area and green with a few flags for short game, as apposed to just a putting green.

6.The ridiculas 630 uard par 5 could be re-designed. The cary for the pond off the tee is about 280 and its down hill so in the summer the big hitters cannot take a driver. (630 yard par 5 and can't take a driver off the tee how ridiculas)

Then you normally have to carry about 160 for your second and even then, your not in a decent position to play tour 3rd, really you would have to carry your second shot about 200 to be in with a chance of making Regulation(by my standards anyway)

Actually plays better as the shortened par 4 of the winter tee's.

7)The air compressors could work to clean shoes or trolleys

8)The changing rooms could smell a little better
9)The lockers could be a little cheaper
10) the price of a pint could be more realistic.

I feel much bettet now!

 

[Canfordhacker]

I'd like to be kept better informed about what is planned for developing the courses, what work will be going on and thereby made to feel more included as part of the club, rather than a cash cow to line somebody else's pocket.

Updating the website with comp results and handicaps in a timely fashion wouldn't hurt.

And if they could just clip those trees that interfere with my line on the 11th..

 

[StuartD]

People to stop nicking my stuff!!!

four of our greens are still from the old layout and are not USGA spec. They are usually a bit on the slow side so i would like to see them replaced. Think the club have a plan to replace one every two years

 

[madandra]

How could they improve Shotts Golf Club ????


Lift the whole bloody lot and bring it down into civilisation as there is a permenent gale blowing on it.


Dalziel Park GC .......... Build houses on it as it is a farm with flat bits on it.

 

[krokodil]

How could they improve Shotts Golf Club ????


Lift the whole bloody lot and bring it down into civilisation as there is a permenent gale blowing on it.


Dalziel Park GC .......... Build houses on it as it is a farm with flat bits on it.

Madandra-I played Shotts many years ago, really enjoyed it. I always equate gales to Carnwath, that was howling.

 

[krokodil]

Course wise-our club is improving, slowly but surely.
No bookings required as we are able to tee from the 1st or 10th, that alleviates any build up.

Socially the club are trying their best to get the 'car park' golfers to come in and use the facilities, and spend money at the bar, but that's not happening.

A water hazard somewhere would be nice, but in all honesty would be out of place on my course.

 

[Parmo]

Do many people stop for a beer after a round where they play, be it pay and play or club member?

 

[TonyN]

Depends, if I am popping down for a quick 9 or 18 i might not.

If I play with friends or forumers I would if I/they had time at my club or else where.

 

[intherough]

I always try to get a pint in but I try my best to tee off early Monday so I don't miss too much work. If the workloads not too bad I'll get a pint in.

 

[Imurg]

The main thing on my course is the bunkers - they are a complete waste of time.

If it rains, they flood. If its dry, the sand is packed hard. And none of them have a lip on them so running shots just - well - run through them.

They are basically just holes in the ground with sand in them. The manager's answer to the questions is that they don't have the finance or the manpower to improve them.

Anyway the place suits me as I can go there almost any time in the week and walk straight on and there's always something on at weekends if I get a pass out.

 

[Macster]

I hate to say this but I struggle to find ANY real things to whinge about for mine.

Yes, the Bunkers could have better sand ar/or be better drained perhaps, and the greens could be quicker, but I still love playing it as much as I did when I joined 20yrs ago.

Apart from Medal days, I can walk on the Tee anytime with hardly anything more than one group playing off perhaps, and most/many summer nights, I can have the place to myself probably.

I certainly wouldnt tolerate 'being paired' up whenever I wanted to play, thats ridiculous, and I sympathise.

 

[vig]

No real gripes.
The bunkers were bad last summer but loads of work in the winter has seen a big improvement, more planned for this winter.

Lack of a good practice ground. It has a bland range and a putting green.

Would like it a little longer.

When it was constructed they flattened a large forest (don't know how they got permission) should have left some of the mature trees in to "frame" some holes better.

Ponds could feature more (larger)

These are not complaints, just some improvements that could be made.
I can generally get on when I want, comps excepted.
Members are generally amiable although I wish ALL would repair pitch marks.
Location great.
drains well (fingers crossed that we don't get much more rain before Tuesday)
Greens are good if a little slow.

 

[krokodil]

Do many people stop for a beer after a round where they play, be it pay and play or club member?

Always. I include the sitting in the clubhouse after the round as part of the golf itself.