How's your course shaping up?

[Billysboots]

As the title suggests - now we're well into spring, with decent growing conditions, how are your courses looking?

Our fairways are looking lush and green, the second cut starting to thicken up very fast, and the greens starting to roll true. I am slightly disappointed to see no changes to the layout have now been made for several years - no changes to the bunkering, greens or new tees - but we only have four greenkeeping staff and they work wonders to keep on top of things.

The promise for this year is to keep on top of the 2nd cut, which during the last three summers has been ridiculously long, thick and unplayable. My wish is that they would dig out and re-sand the bunkers, which are inconsistent and full of stones.

How are your courses, and what new work would you like to see?

 

[Crazyface]

Some bunkers filled in, one of which that has been will mean a badly hit ball will go in the river, and the ones left have been nicely filled with sand. Excellent! Greens top dressed with sand and fertillized ready for the rain due at the weekend and next week. Hopefully this will mean super growth and great greens, back to what they were when I joined!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Both of our course have come on so quick in the last two weeks, Played the Hotchkin on Tuesday and it was looking superb and played 9 on the Bracken last night and its in lovely condition, the definition of fairway and rough is just stunning.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Pretty damn well tbh

Best greens we have had in the 6 years I have been there - definition is looking really good - new head greenkeeper is doing a great job

 

[need_my_wedge]

Pretty damn well tbh

Best greens we have had in the 6 years I have been there - definition is looking really good - new head greenkeeper is doing a great job

second this

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Its coming along nicely, our 12th has been completely re-built and has just re-opened, playing it for the 2nd time this afternoon. Course and greens improving week on week in this weather.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

No idea, haven't been near the club since the start of March.

 

[brendy]

Looking well according to our pro.. Pity it is due to rain towards the weekend... sad faces.

 

[backwoodsman]

Given the ground we're on and the rain over the winter, it took a bit of a battering. But coming on nice now, and the scarifying we did a month back will mean the greens will be the mutts when I get back in a fortnight.

 

[Robobum]

We get two types of grass growing on our greens and the one to wake up first and start growing is the less desired one. So the greens are pretty bumpy until it stays warm for a spell.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We get two types of grass growing on our greens and the one to wake up first and start growing is the less desired one. So the greens are pretty bumpy until it stays warm for a spell.

Had a chat with our head Greenkeeper at lunchtime. Same issue. First it was cold and little growth - now too dry. Meadow grass and bent. Meadow grass is dying off and will seed. Gets clumpy. So until we have some rain and more warmth greens are going to be relatively uneven. But that's how it is.

 

[Face breaker]

Greens are looking good, rough and fairways are cut tight, some of the bunkers are in need of attention, Tee tops are in need of some serious attention but generaly looking good !...

Got to give the "Head keeps" some time though as he only took over last year when the old "Head" retired and they went from 5-4 only then for one of the other lads to hand his notice in and they spent most of last year down to 3 until I stepped in, got 1 or 2 things that are gonna change if I get my way (and the position of 2nd) so a bit of a case of watch this space !...:thup:

 

[AmandaJR]

Hmmm, some good and some bad with ours. Greens like treacle having been scarified (sp..) last week and very bumpy and hairy. Really tough to get the ball to the hole. Fairways are brilliant - like a lush green carpet. Lots of changes over the winter and personally I'm not in favour of most of them. A couple of great strategic bunkers filled in for some reason. The 3rd hole has had a lot of time and effort spent on changing the fairway bunkers and trying to extend the room for tee shots but would have been better spent banking the green up at the back and side to make it fairer. In summer it's just a crazy hole where 2 really good shots can see your ball through the back and even in the hazard.

Then there's the reshaping/pinching in of, already pretty tight, fairways. All to make the course tougher for the big hitting low handicap guys. They're by no means the majority and the course, whilst not long, is already pretty tough. Last couple of days, now the rough has grown up, I'm finding I'm going to have to adjust off the tee to hit the short stuff and some of the decisions seem daft. The 5th hole has a green best approached from the left hand side as that's really where the front of the green is. On course lessons with the pro in the past and advice, rightly, to aim 2nd shot down the left (Par 5) yet now that, once ideal route, will find the ball in the rough...

I sound like a moaner but think the pro, course director and head greenkeeper (in that order) are basing all their decisions on the minority...

 

[Evesdad]

Ours has been in pretty decent condition all winter tbh. Bunkers on the 3rd and 7th re done as the back edges had worn away etc. few new paths put in. Greens were hollow tined a good while ago and are starting to roll true again and a few weeks of the bobbles! We've had a new head green keeper last year too and has done excellent work so far. Also have a few tweaks to the course planned for the end of the season.

 

[Lambchops]

ours is immaculate, had weather of 15-27 degrees for about 3 weeks which has he'ped

 

[bladeplayer]

Greens struggling to recover from work , need rain , think it on the way , playing away this weekend so hopefully be right by next time im out

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Blackmoor last weekend was magnificent.

 

[fundy]

Were a bit short of growth generally and our greens were tined last week (since which its not rained once lol) so theyre not at their best, greenkeeper is praying for some proper rain this weekend.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Excellent and looking a picture with all the fairways cut. Greens are not the prettiest to look at but getting quicker all the time and running nice and true

 

[macca64]

Very good indeed, pro am sat so they get it ready for that.