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

[GreiginFife]

The key to a lot of this is effective communication. Our head greenkeeper attends the AGM and provides an annual report but, aside from that, we rarely hear from him.

That is a significant issue, and one which I have asked the club, via the committee, to urgently address. As with anything, if we are told what the issues are and how they are to be dealt with then, as armchair experts, we are less likely to complain about.

Our club manager hears the moans and groans. I’m really surprised he hasn’t prompted more open lines of communication without being pestered.

We get a HDID email fortnightly telling us what’s been done and what’s going to be done in the past and next two weeks.
Doesn’t always go to plan, Scottish coastal weather plays a massive part in it but it works for the most part.

 

[Billysboots]

We get a HDID email fortnightly telling us what’s been done and what’s going to be done in the past and next two weeks.
Doesn’t always go to plan, Scottish coastal weather plays a massive part in it but it works for the most part.

We used to, but the new head greenkeeper, who has been in post some time now, seems very reluctant to communicate with the members. I can only speak for myself, but if there are issues relating to weather, disease and so on, and at the moment it’s clear to all that there are, then just tell us.

 

[GreiginFife]

We used to, but the new head greenkeeper, who has been in post some time now, seems very reluctant to communicate with the members. I can only speak for myself, but if there are issues relating to weather, disease and so on, and at the moment it’s clear to all that there are, then just tell us.

Sometimes you just have to trust that the qualified person making the decisions is doing what is best for the course.

Disease, especially on greens, seems to be more common and related to weather as spring seems to be getting warmer but also more wet. Perfect conditions for fungus and other invasive nasties.

My mate’s brother has been working 15 additional hours a week to try and get in top of an issue with greens at his course.
They roped off areas of fungus to stop people walking on it and spreading it to other areas but like always, golfers know best so were just ignoring the roped areas.

 

[clubchamp98]

The key to a lot of this is effective communication. Our head greenkeeper attends the AGM and provides an annual report but, aside from that, we rarely hear from him.

That is a significant issue, and one which I have asked the club, via the committee, to urgently address. As with anything, if we are told what the issues are and how they are to be dealt with then, as armchair experts, we are less likely to complain about.

Our club manager hears the moans and groans. I’m really surprised he hasn’t prompted more open lines of communication without being pestered.

Our head GK sends out emails about what’s going on and when.

He always adds “ if your unsure of something just come and ask me when you see me on the course”
He’s very approachable but can blind you with science at times.

 

[Mandofred]

A mate’s brother is a green keeper and I know a couple of others and for the most part they don’t “do what they want” they do what is best for the course. Now many times, that’s not what the golfer wants but then the two positions are rarely aligned. If it was up to half the golfers I hear mumping around the clubhouse, we’d never core the greens or add drainage channels that disrupt a single fairway for a few months.

Our head GK isn’t a golfer. But he IS a qualified green keeper and has studied botany. I trust his opinion and actions on what’s good for the course and the time to do it over Colin from the greens committee who has planted some grass seed one time.

For the most part?

I've mentioned a few things that have gone on at the course with a greenkeeper at my other course....he stated that the huge cores taken out aren't necessarily a bad thing, but in this case was done at the wrong time of year......and the holes just sat there. Played yesterday and it was the first day in a month and half the ball wasn't bouncing all over the place, the holes had pretty well filled in finally. So who is right.....the gkeeper at one course or the gkeeper at the course that's in a lot better shape? Or are they both right/wrong?

There is no point to a greens committee if the things that are brought up and agreed on are then not put into action by the staff out there working......I'm not sitting on committees, so am I getting accurate details?

I have no issue with work done on the greens or elsewhere. I do think it would help a lot and solve golfers questioning things (at least it would for me), if instead of getting a notice from the office saying something like "the greens will be aerated next week" or something similar.....give me the reasoning why/when/how of their doing it. We've just put up with those huge 1/2inch aerated holes that took a month and half to fill in (no sand used, although they did sand a month later).....this made the greens crazy to putt on. Supposedly they are now (just when things are looking better) going to verticut the greens, which will of course cause issues for at least a couple of weeks. I stay away from most comps (today was a medal that I avoided)....so it really doesn't kill me if thing greens are perfect. I'd just like to know more about the thinking behind it, rather than "you just have to trust the greenskeepers".

 

[GreiginFife]

For the most part?

I've mentioned a few things that have gone on at the course with a greenkeeper at my other course....he stated that the huge cores taken out aren't necessarily a bad thing, but in this case was done at the wrong time of year......and the holes just sat there. Played yesterday and it was the first day in a month and half the ball wasn't bouncing all over the place, the holes had pretty well filled in finally. So who is right.....the gkeeper at one course or the gkeeper at the course that's in a lot better shape? Or are they both right/wrong?

There is no point to a greens committee if the things that are brought up and agreed on are then not put into action by the staff out there working......I'm not sitting on committees, so am I getting accurate details?

I have no issue with work done on the greens or elsewhere. I do think it would help a lot and solve golfers questioning things (at least it would for me), if instead of getting a notice from the office saying something like "the greens will be aerated next week" or something similar.....give me the reasoning why/when/how of their doing it. We've just put up with those huge 1/2inch aerated holes that took a month and half to fill in (no sand used, although they did sand a month later).....this made the greens crazy to putt on. Supposedly they are now (just when things are looking better) going to verticut the greens, which will of course cause issues for at least a couple of weeks. I stay away from most comps (today was a medal that I avoided)....so it really doesn't kill me if thing greens are perfect. I'd just like to know more about the thinking behind it, rather than "you just have to trust the greenskeepers".

Think you need to step up as the head GK, you know what’s what.

 

[Oddsocks]

We don’t need to worry about a code of conduct, our General manager, golf manager and head GK all play in our roll ups and Thursday league so are very in tune with members feedback.

Couldn’t ask for a more connected management team.

 

[IanM]

You have to be careful at this time of year. Newport's greens were miles better today than as recently as Thursday. Good cut and iron yesterday, not far short of A1.

Weather warming up from today too. Stuff should start growing

 

[Mandofred]

Think you need to step up as the head GK, you know what’s what.

How did you come to that conclusion? No reason for you to be snarky. All I'm asking to be informed on what is happening and why it is happening. As a paying member of the club, that isn't too much to ask is it?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

For the most part?

I've mentioned a few things that have gone on at the course with a greenkeeper at my other course....he stated that the huge cores taken out aren't necessarily a bad thing, but in this case was done at the wrong time of year......and the holes just sat there. Played yesterday and it was the first day in a month and half the ball wasn't bouncing all over the place, the holes had pretty well filled in finally. So who is right.....the gkeeper at one course or the gkeeper at the course that's in a lot better shape? Or are they both right/wrong?

There is no point to a greens committee if the things that are brought up and agreed on are then not put into action by the staff out there working......I'm not sitting on committees, so am I getting accurate details?

I have no issue with work done on the greens or elsewhere. I do think it would help a lot and solve golfers questioning things (at least it would for me), if instead of getting a notice from the office saying something like "the greens will be aerated next week" or something similar.....give me the reasoning why/when/how of their doing it. We've just put up with those huge 1/2inch aerated holes that took a month and half to fill in (no sand used, although they did sand a month later).....this made the greens crazy to putt on. Supposedly they are now (just when things are looking better) going to verticut the greens, which will of course cause issues for at least a couple of weeks. I stay away from most comps (today was a medal that I avoided)....so it really doesn't kill me if thing greens are perfect. I'd just like to know more about the thinking behind it, rather than "you just have to trust the greenskeepers".

The greens work will have been done around the same time for most courses - beginning of March and most people know why they are done

All GKs are expecting the warmer wetter weather to come across the country through March and April as it does most years - that helps encourage the growth

That didn’t happen this year which is why most courses will have struggled due to the lack of growing weather

The issue now is whilst the warmer weather will be arriving so will the leather jackets so you will see small holes - so most courses will top dress and small scarifying

It will also again help with overseeding so the greens for most courses will recover very quickly with the forecast weather over the next 2 weeks



Most golf courses are at the mercy of Mother Nature and as golfers we need to have a little understanding and patience

And I would hope that any golf club would have the paid qualified greenkeepers making the decisions not the unqualified volunteer greens committee

 

[Teebs]

10 days after being cored and the greens are nearly back to full health.
Cut and rolled this morning, nice

Fairways are decent but still on preferred lies.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

10 days after being cored and the greens are nearly back to full health.
Cut and rolled this morning, nice

Fairways are decent but still on preferred lies.

Are you still getting mud on your ball?

 

[Teebs]

Are you still getting mud on your ball?

No, not really. They'll come off 1st May..

 

[Lord Tyrion]

No, not really. They'll come off 1st May..

Is that just an arbitrary date then, rather than a need?

 

[Mandofred]

Just took another look at the weather for the week. Jeez, things are going to turn bad on the fairways pretty soon. MET has us hitting 24 now on Wed. For the end of April and after this long dry spell already.....

But, to look on the bright side....I've been having yard works done the last couple of weeks with a few more to go.....no hard rain to slow that down.

 

[Mandofred]

Is that just an arbitrary date then, rather than a need?

I haven't really seen any mud on my balls (golf) for a week or two now. Ripon has been off for a week now, Oakdale should be coming off this coming week....and I think they probably should have last week, but they just had a medal today so next week is likely the time. A guy I play with is heading to Dubrovnik this weekend and he said it will be just as warm here in Harrogate.

 

[wjemather]

Is that just an arbitrary date then, rather than a need?

While commonly cited, mud-balls aren't the only reason for implementing preferred lies (MLR E-3); mud-balls alone could probably be dealt with by MLR E-2 (lift, clean, replace) without the need for preferred lies.
Lack of growth at any time of year can cause fairway condition to be poor, making bad/bare lies unreasonably likely - I remember Trevose had preferred lies for most of the summer a few years ago & Burnham had fairway mats all year while preparing to host Open Final Qualifying.

 

[kp17]

The best I’ve probably ever seen it this early in the year. Looking forward to next few months how good it can get.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Given the nature of many posts on this thread, and things that pop into my head about the course and I ask about (and I do…a lot ), I think I’ll raise a suggestion to the club that we create a FAQs section on our club website. The golf manager, head greenkeeper and handicap and rules secretary know what these are…and at any point in time if something new or different is being done on the course and the why/when/how is not already covered, then just add a new FAQ.

Btw…I ask questions and seek clarifications from our golf manager and head greenie so that I am armed with answers and rationale as and when playing companions start moaning about this, that and the other. I get fed up listening to these moans, gripes, criticisms and opinions as I trust the head greenkeeper to be doing the right thing at the right time. All members of my club know that our head greenie is 100% and utterly devoted to the wellbeing of our course, but still too many members moan and criticise.

Anyway, and despite many concerns expressed (and I have had some) about the state of the course (as a result of some fairway saturation and flood remediation works we have carried out) and how well it will recover, it is the case that over the last few weeks things have improved rapidly and the course is come along very nicely. Next time I see our head greenie I’ll make that observation and thank him…as I always thank him for his work on the course.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Wow. Those greens are like glass after a cut. No idea how quick they'll be for the big events but they are fantastic