How is your course shaping up after winter and the dry spring?

[Tashyboy]

Wet winter, cold dry March = poor conditions. Soon as the heat gets into the soil it will change. Be patient brothers.

I am hoping you are right but why were tee boxes ( whites) not prepared when they were stopped being used from October.

 

[IanM]

I am hoping you are right but why were tee boxes ( whites) not prepared when they were stopped being used from October.

Was it too cold for seed to germinate?

 

[Tashyboy]

Was it too cold for seed to germinate?

I know greenkeepers look at the weather, but some days, weeks, we were playing in shorts.

 

[Skytot]

It would be very unusual to use sprinklers to wash in sand, they do not supply enough water at a high enough rate or for long enough.
Where I play the use of sprinklers is to keep the grass growing.

It’s been 5 weeks now , still no sign of any improvement. I realise the temperatures are not that high but it’s been mostly dry since they’ve done the maintenance, they are crying out for water

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I know greenkeepers look at the weather, but some days, weeks, we were playing in shorts.

which was when ? During the day

The temps have dropped every night with multiple days of frost meaning whilst the air has been warm the soil has still been cold meaning no growth

 

[IanM]

That's spot on. The night time minimum temperature is the key issue. It's been low constantly, even though some days have hit 20c.

 

[louise_a]

Our course is pretty good, the greens are running smooth and fast and the course looks great, the only down side is that we are having drainage work done so we are currently only playing 17 holes.

We also could do with a bit of rain.

 

[Tashyboy]

That's spot on. The night time minimum temperature is the key issue. It's been low constantly, even though some days have hit 20c.

Next week looks Like being a lot warmer but the rain still don’t look like coming for a bit.

 

[upsidedown]

Played in Monday at ours and say it's in fine fettle
Greens recovered from their renovations,tees boxes good and fairways mint. Rough just waiting to explode .Only down side is poor areas around where bunkers have been renovated over the winter but will improve soon as they've been waiting for some rain before putting down the compound fertiliser.
And then we went to Hillside today which is looking gooooood

 

[Jigger]

Sounds like a lot of places are in similar positions to us, with a key difference being most seem to be doing something to make improvements where they can.

That’s my primary issue with our place - there doesn’t seem to be any great effort anywhere.

Our course has spent a fortune on drainage over the last two years and it’s working but with the dry spell the fairways are rock hard and patching as it’s not really the conditions for the grass to grow back from winter use. Sounds like you’ve other valid points re bunker conditions etc though. That should all be done by now.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Likewise my track…improving quickly but still not great - good but not great. I have no (ok..few) complaints…but any complaints are more observations that some things perhaps could be a bit better than they currently are - after all it’s April after a totally crud 6months of wet weather.

Update after 15 holes late yesterday afternoon/ear.ly evening. Course coming into good condition - and yesterday was looking lovely. Some areas not great...but BIG improvement over when I had last played over a week previously.

 

[Bobthesock]

Course is fine but lots of bare patches around the greens. Not too bad now as still preferred lies but chipping will be interesting come may.

 

[Oddsocks]

Like everyone else a dry cold spring has not been good, good thing is our keepers have been proactive doing alot of other works.

The growth on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday following Mondays overnight rain was very evident yesterday evening with more growth than we’ve seen all winter, soft fairways back and receptive greens. We’re due a cut and roll today so they will be lightening tomorrow, and now the temps are up the next few weeks will see a huge change.

 

[wjemather]

Course is fine but lots of bare patches around the greens. Not too bad now as still preferred lies but chipping will be interesting come may.

Preferred Lies is no longer tied to a date in the calendar. If the conditions, including the state of the fairways, still warrant them, clubs shouldn't feel compelled to remove them.

 

[Bobthesock]

Preferred Lies is no longer tied to a date in the calendar. If the conditions, including the state of the fairways, still warrant them, clubs shouldn't feel compelled to remove them.

Hopefully they do something, maybe extending preferred lies for a few weeks would be easier than white painting everywhere

 

[Billysboots]

Played this morning and have to say a little rainfall has helped. Some of the fairways have started to show signs of life and one or two of the greens are much improved, although they are still very inconsistent across 18 holes.

I just hope they take advantage of the warm weather next week and seed, dress and water the tees.

 

[FuzzyDuck]

Normally at this time of year it is borderline unplayable (last year the fairways couldn't be cut until the middle of May). However due to the dry weather it is playing well and bodes well for the reset of the summer.

 

[Oddsocks]

Normally at this time of year it is borderline unplayable (last year the fairways couldn't be cut until the middle of May). However due to the dry weather it is playing well and bodes well for the reset of the summer.

I’d be more concerned that it’s play well this early compared with the past. Could indicate a dry and burnt summer. I recall playing a course near me where all of the fairways cracked and one of the cracks I couldn’t touch the bottom with a driver shaft.

 

[KenL]

The course at my club is in fantastic condition.

BTW, for those who are slating their place, do not have a code of conduct that says you should not post derogatory comments online on social media?

 

[Mandofred]

The course at my club is in fantastic condition.

BTW, for those who are slating their place, do not have a code of conduct that says you should not post derogatory comments online on social media?

Huh? If something bad happens I'm not allowed to say anything? Madness.