Machrihanish Gents Open Sat 12th May

[Dodger]

The greens are pretty poor still, hardly the worst that I've ever putted on. They will continue to over seed them for the duration of the season and once the growth comes back, fingers crossed they will start to recover. The course took an absolute battering in the storms over the winter, coupled with a greenkeeper error and a disease they nearly lost the greens which is clear to see.

The greens have got better since I was there in April but there is a hell of a long way to go.

13, I also hate that hole Allan, I just cant get it all the way onto the green with that stupid wee hump at the front of the green. My usual bogey on 13 for me.

That said I did manage to beat you with a poor 78 - 6 for a nett 72. I hope they work out an away SS. I sadly hit the bogey trail finishing bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey, bogey, par. The back 9 at Machrihanish is no push over, especially into a stiff breeze.

I must be lucky then because they are definitely the worst I have putted on,we lost our at Goswick maybe 17 years back when they put salt water onto the greens and they were dire but in no way as bad as these,they are horrific and I have to say I am surprised the Greenkeeper has survived it as, lets not beat about the bush,the blame lies with him,storms do not do that to greens.......the storm haven't helped things but it's a Greenkeeping error that has led to the dreadful state.I also have to say that the fairways were dreadfully tatty with a huge amount of divots,seeded granted, hunders of daisies on the fairways and some horrible teeing areas.It was just hugely scruffy in comparison to my last visit.

Despite that I loved it and all the guys did too with the newbies loving the course if not the condition.

Met up with the Director of Golf at the Dunes who's a guy we used to play with as youngsters and he was telling me of the £85 deal they have at the Dunes,we will be back in a flash but if we do go it'll just be the Dunes or maybe Dunaverty not Machrahanish we will play as well.....was well worth the £20 but would shudder at paying anymore than £30 to play it in that condition.

Hope they come back fast but in my experience it'll be a long time,it took us a good 5 years.

 

[thecraw]

There was two newly renewed tee areas at 6 and 14, hardly scruffy. You can't complain about seeded divots that have been sanded. As I said and you already know fine well, there has been no growth yet due to the Easterly winds and lack of heat.

I must have missed these "hundreds of daisies" as I had no issues with the fairways and only took two preferred lies even although they were still in operation.

I do agree 100% that the greenkeeper is a lucky boy. I'm back in August and September, I'll let you know if they have improved at all.

 

[Dodger]

There was two newly renewed tee areas at 6 and 14, hardly scruffy. You can't complain about seeded divots that have been sanded. As I said and you already know fine well, there has been no growth yet due to the Easterly winds and lack of heat.

I must have missed these "hundreds of daisies" as I had no issues with the fairways and only took two preferred lies even although they were still in operation.

I do agree 100% that the greenkeeper is a lucky boy. I'm back in August and September, I'll let you know if they have improved at all.

I am afraid you must have been going around with a pair of Machrahanish tinted specs on Craw.

The Professional opinion was that he has ballsed up big time and sadly it'll be a while before it's back to it's former standards.

The 2 new teeing areas were because the proper tee at 6 was goosed and the 14th was previously goosed too.there were other teeing areas that we were not hitting off that were buggered and there were countless fairways covered in daisies.

I know you love the place but you really cannot defend the indefensible.Great track that has been mauled into a condition of a tuppence Muni.

 

[Screwback]

Having taking part in the open yesterday, firstly i loved the course layout even more than i did the first, its stupendous a true challenge but the condition of the course is not. i know they have had a hard winter and all but to be fair the course over the fence has either mabaged the conditions better or not had the same winter. I looked at the first green and felt heartbroken for those conderned with club as it is a truely remarkable club with a great course.

I fear it will be 3-5 years before that comes back to top condition.

 

[thecraw]

Having taking part in the open yesterday, firstly i loved the course layout even more than i did the first, its stupendous a true challenge but the condition of the course is not. i know they have had a hard winter and all but to be fair the course over the fence has either mabaged the conditions better or not had the same winter. I looked at the first green and felt heartbroken for those conderned with club as it is a truely remarkable club with a great course.

I fear it will be 3-5 years before that comes back to top condition.

Did you play the Dunes?

The Dunes took a battering as much as Machrihanish. The difference is the Dunes had the luxury of closing the course for the whole of February while they did remedial work while having no traffic to contend with. The Dunes managed to re-lay at least six greens with no traffic to worry about, no members to please or to moan at them. They have the luxury of being able to employ a further three greens staff to help out.

The Dunes is a money rich organisation. Machrihanish is a members club. Machrihanish has suffered big style. The greens are in a mess but having played on them last month I can see that they are getting there, slowly but surely they are hopefully improving. Over seeding is now the plan for the whole of the summer, hopefully it works if we ever get enough heat for some growth.

To berate the tees and fairways is just childish. There was nothing wrong with them, two tees were re-laid due to wear and tear not greenkeeper error.

As I say fingers crossed they get the greens back to some sort of playable condition, although to be fair I only had one three jab which was down to me shoving a putt left.

 

[Dodger]

Did you play the Dunes?

The Dunes took a battering as much as Machrihanish. The difference is the Dunes had the luxury of closing the course for the whole of February while they did remedial work while having no traffic to contend with. The Dunes managed to re-lay at least six greens with no traffic to worry about, no members to please or to moan at them. They have the luxury of being able to employ a further three greens staff to help out.

The Dunes is a money rich organisation. Machrihanish is a members club. Machrihanish has suffered big style. The greens are in a mess but having played on them last month I can see that they are getting there, slowly but surely they are hopefully improving. Over seeding is now the plan for the whole of the summer, hopefully it works if we ever get enough heat for some growth.

To berate the tees and fairways is just childish. There was nothing wrong with them, two tees were re-laid due to wear and tear not greenkeeper error.

As I say fingers crossed they get the greens back to some sort of playable condition, although to be fair I only had one three jab which was down to me shoving a putt left.

It isn't childish Crawford,it's hard fact.

Your voice is the one beacon of positiveness among dozens this weekend.Rose tinted pal,the course is a mess.We all hope it can be rectified but that's what we all have.....hope.

 

[thecraw]

It isn't childish Crawford,it's hard fact.

Your voice is the one beacon of positiveness among dozens this weekend.Rose tinted pal,the course is a mess.We all hope it can be rectified but that's what we all have.....hope.

:blah::blah:


Dozens, the Goswick mafia?

Only downside was that the greens were not up to scratch. Point one onto your handicap was the deciding factor?

 

[Dodger]

:blah::blah:


Dozens, the Goswick mafia?

Only downside was that the greens were not up to scratch. Point one onto your handicap was the deciding factor?

Errrr,no,members,and visitors alike Crawford and I think I was at least buffer and I hit the ball great thanks.

No offence mate but you are talking out your arris....it is in a mess at the moment no matter what ever way you try an sex it up.


Exhibit A - Knackered green

Exhibit B - Knackered tee.

Exhibit C - Daisies!

 

[Dodger]

On a plus point I have sun burn today!!

Nose like a raving alkie.:cheers:

 

[thecraw]

On a plus point I have sun burn today!!

Nose like a raving alkie.:cheers:

Factor 50 in my golf bag stopped that. Burt peeling ears in March has had me well prepared ever since.

Anyway exhibit A. That is the fringe of the green not the green, its not even the fringe its the banking.

Exhibit B. That's the disused ladies tee on the 8th. Not a concern for the gents.

Exhibit C. Not something I picked up on but its meadow grass on the machair, its just fertile land.


In my opinion your nit picking, again my opinion the tees and fairways were fine. No problems at all. The greens are poor however maybe I am not as critical as you are as I knew what to expect having played it last month and I can see improvement. Albeit very gradual improvement. The greens as you saw have been over seeded and hopefully with a bit of growth they will improve.

SSS was sitting at 72 when I left Dodger however I don't think that was the away SSS so I hope it may have gone to 73 with a bit of Donald Duck.

 

[Dodger]

A = It WAS part of the green,not now but was,never mind the roped bit,the rest of the green was utterly horiffic.

B = There were other tees that we didn't play off,yellows and ladies,that were in an awful clip,just because we were not on them doesn't mean they are not part of the course and therefore a concern to me or more importantly the club.

C = Bollox - There were daisies everywhere,not just on the fairways but also in semi rough,making it tough sometimes to spot a ball.

I dread to think what they were like in March if they have improved.I know Dunes is slightly different but we walked a bit of the course and it was like night and day in the way it was presented.......beautiful,with the greens looking very nice indeed.

72 gets me buffer so happy with that especially as on normal greens I would have shot 72 nett not 74,the 2 tiddlers I missed were just a farce,shanking off those bloody horrible holes/weeds that are all over the greens.

You are more optimistic than me,I have been through it and as I said it was fully 5 years before we recovered and we still have scarring from it yet.

Really hope it recovers within a year but would seriously doubt it.Regardless of the poor nick you cannot fail to enjoy the rawness of the golf course.

Let me know if things are looking up.Would love to head back tail end of the year though I will have to take your take with a pinch of salt.

 

[stevek1969]

Guys having read this thread can we not say this great course is in bad shape rather than nit picking, it is what it is , we played The Duke's last week and there greens were shocking , the courses need some heat to get growth.

Its a fantastic course pity it aint in great shape just now.

 

[thecraw]

Cut for me yesterday SSS went to 73!

Get it round you Allan!


:ears:

 

[Dodger]

Cut for me yesterday SSS went to 73!

Get it round you Allan!


:ears:

I won a tea cosy in the raffle.....GIRFUY!!:whoo:

 

[Val]

Cut for me yesterday SSS went to 73!

Get it round you Allan!


:ears:

Nice one, played Drumpellier open today managed to card a 10 today but stableford adjustment should get me a hold as it did yesterday with a 9, frustrating doesn't begin to explain.

Tough winds in deepest Lanarkshire today

 

[thecraw]

I won a tea cosy in the raffle.....GIRFUY!!:whoo:

Swap you for a used Callaway Hex Black.

 

[Dodger]

Swap you for a used Callaway Hex Black.

2 dozen would be a fair swap.

 

[FudgeNudger]

Well after reading all the posts on here i just want to say a couple of things! I dont think i have ever been so keen and excited about playing a course as much as i have been for the last couple of weeks. I was told by many people how much i was going to enjoy playing here. We arrived and instantly walked over to the 1st tee, to say i got an instant movement in my trousers was an understatement, looking at what lay ahead. I teed off and nailed it just left of the 150 marker, walked up the fairway to my ball and pulled out my 58deg wedge and played my pitch to the front of the green. Still hyper about what lay ahead i walked up to the green, pulled out my putter and just then my mate playing in front of me told me to shut my eyes. I wondered what he meant but i soon realised!! I looked at the green and the movement in my trousers soon turned into a case of brewers droop!!!! I could of cried at the sight of the greens and the fact that we had come so far to play.
Can i just say that the layout of the course was fantastic but the greens, tees and the daisy covered fairways are without doubt the worst i have ever played on in my 30 odd years of golf.
Will i be returning within the next 30 years..........................doubt it!!!!!
I cant believe some people thought it was ok when infact it was a complete mess!!
Lets hope they get it sorted soon as its such a shame that a course with such a good reputation is basically fooked!!!!

 

[thecraw]

Well after reading all the posts on here i just want to say a couple of things! I dont think i have ever been so keen and excited about playing a course as much as i have been for the last couple of weeks. I was told by many people how much i was going to enjoy playing here. We arrived and instantly walked over to the 1st tee, to say i got an instant movement in my trousers was an understatement, looking at what lay ahead. I teed off and nailed it just left of the 150 marker, walked up the fairway to my ball and pulled out my 58deg wedge and played my pitch to the front of the green. Still hyper about what lay ahead i walked up to the green, pulled out my putter and just then my mate playing in front of me told me to shut my eyes. I wondered what he meant but i soon realised!! I looked at the green and the movement in my trousers soon turned into a case of brewers droop!!!! I could of cried at the sight of the greens and the fact that we had come so far to play.
Can i just say that the layout of the course was fantastic but the greens, tees and the daisy covered fairways are without doubt the worst i have ever played on in my 30 odd years of golf.
Will i be returning within the next 30 years..........................doubt it!!!!!
I cant believe some people thought it was ok when infact it was a complete mess!!
Lets hope they get it sorted soon as its such a shame that a course with such a good reputation is basically fooked!!!!

mmmmmm