barrybridges
Head Pro
I've just got back from a fortnight's break out in Cyprus, where my in-laws live on the Aphrodite Hills golf resort.
A few interesting observations and things to share.
The first is that I had a really good view of a new course that is being built out there - and I was pretty fascinated by how a course actually gets built and contoured. I wish I'd taken some photos, but it was fascinating to watch how the course is shaped by the bulldozers and then - quite literally - grass gets 'sprayed on' to the earth. No turfing or anything like that.
Also, when the greens are created, underneath the actual turf the contour lines for the green are sprayed to give an indication as to roll/slope, and for guidance on drainage.
Anyway, more interesting was that while I was out there the Aegean Open was taking place on the AH championship course. I was a bit disappointed as I was hoping to get some practice in, but the entire place was shut down - you couldn't even use the driving range.
What was most interesting though was that for 4 days after the tournament ended the course remained all-but-closed other than a few holes. I was told that in order to get the greens up to speed for a tournament they are essentially 'shaved' to the bare minimum grass length, which damages the greens. After the final round, they get treated to shock them back into life, but that it takes several days to kick in, during which time the course closed.
Is this normal - or is this just something that happens to courses in hot climates? After the BMW PGA, is a course returned to the members straight away?
A few interesting observations and things to share.
The first is that I had a really good view of a new course that is being built out there - and I was pretty fascinated by how a course actually gets built and contoured. I wish I'd taken some photos, but it was fascinating to watch how the course is shaped by the bulldozers and then - quite literally - grass gets 'sprayed on' to the earth. No turfing or anything like that.
Also, when the greens are created, underneath the actual turf the contour lines for the green are sprayed to give an indication as to roll/slope, and for guidance on drainage.
Anyway, more interesting was that while I was out there the Aegean Open was taking place on the AH championship course. I was a bit disappointed as I was hoping to get some practice in, but the entire place was shut down - you couldn't even use the driving range.
What was most interesting though was that for 4 days after the tournament ended the course remained all-but-closed other than a few holes. I was told that in order to get the greens up to speed for a tournament they are essentially 'shaved' to the bare minimum grass length, which damages the greens. After the final round, they get treated to shock them back into life, but that it takes several days to kick in, during which time the course closed.
Is this normal - or is this just something that happens to courses in hot climates? After the BMW PGA, is a course returned to the members straight away?
