PGA Pro event on a municipal golf course?

[rob_golf1]

This has got me wondering......

Hatchford Brook GC - municipal golf course situated two minutes from Birmingham International Airport, has been hosting a Midlands PGA Pro event. The event is free to go and watch.

However, I was wondering just exactly how, has a municipal managed to host this kind of event? The course is ran by the MyTime Golf brand, and I know on evidence of the other courses ran by them - their greens aren't exactly the most challenging in terms of speed etc.

I have never played Hatchford Brook so if anybody has, would they maybe able to share their views on the course?

 

[duncan mackie]

there are a huge number of municipal golf courses worldwide hosting major events, let alone local PGA ones..... St Andrews springs quickly to mind!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

This has got me wondering......

Hatchford Brook GC - municipal golf course situated two minutes from Birmingham International Airport, has been hosting a Midlands PGA Pro event. The event is free to go and watch.

However, I was wondering just exactly how, has a municipal managed to host this kind of event? The course is ran by the MyTime Golf brand, and I know on evidence of the other courses ran by them - their greens aren't exactly the most challenging in terms of speed etc.

I have never played Hatchford Brook so if anybody has, would they maybe able to share their views on the course?

Surely each course should be judged on it's own individual merit and its ownership really shouldn't dictate the standard of the course.

The reason why a course gets PGA events - money offered , standard of course and sponsorship.

 

[Foxholer]

there are a huge number of municipal golf courses worldwide hosting major events, let alone local PGA ones..... St Andrews springs quickly to mind!

Beth Page is a Public course and the Black Course has been used frequently!

In fact, there's an entire Public Links Championship in US!

Plenty of high quality Munis in this country too. Councils with several courses are actually in a great position to optimise usage of expensive equipment and it's really only Greens that matter - which are only kept long-ish because most golfers couldn't handle 'Pro' speeds!

 

[6inchcup]

Beth Page is a Public course and the Black Course has been used frequently!

In fact, there's an entire Public Links Championship in US!

Plenty of high quality Munis in this country too. Councils with several courses are actually in a great position to optimise usage of expensive equipment and it's really only Greens that matter - which are only kept long-ish because most golfers couldn't handle 'Pro' speeds!

mmmmm so only the greens matter on a golf course,so rutted weed infested fairways are ok,rough full of bramles,dock and the like would be ok,bunkers with little sand and stones is fine so long as the greens are spot on i think the mebership of your course would disagree as most golfers would.

 

[DCB]

We've a cracking Municipal course here in Edinburgh that certainly hosts a few good amateur events, The Braids. It may be short by modern standards but it still takes a good player to make a good score there.

Ayrshire has the likes of Bell isle and Lochgreen, the latter having been a final qualifying venue for The Open when held at Royal Troon.

Municipal courses are only as good as their operator allows them to be. There are good and bad, but they still have an important place in the game.

PS I'd argue St Andrews isn't a true Municipal course, it's run by a Links Trust which is different to a 'proper' muni

 

[louise_a]

If its anything like the PGA North events, the players will mostly be club pros and assistants.

 

[Foxholer]

mmmmm so only the greens matter on a golf course,so rutted weed infested fairways are ok,rough full of bramles,dock and the like would be ok,bunkers with little sand and stones is fine so long as the greens are spot on i think the mebership of your course would disagree as most golfers would.

Take the Beer Goggles off and read what I actually posted! Specifically the word 'really'! They are definitely the most important area to get right.

If you are looking for an argument, try elsewhere!

Plenty of 'quality' courses have brambles and dock in the rough btw! Some courses even deliberately have little sand in bunkers. Can you actually identify courses with rutted or weed infested fairways?

And The Braids of exactly the sort of 'top quality' course a Muni can be! Likewise Walton Hall in Warrington, Heaton Park in Manchester and plenty further South too.

 

[duncan mackie]

Take the Beer Goggles off and read what I actually posted! Specifically the word 'really'! They are definitely the most important area to get right.

tough to argue with some of the sand courses that have nothing but fairway mats and super greens......... :thup:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Many munis have these. Locally Downshire has a pro-am very successfully. Why shouldn't they hold these events. Just because they're under the "muni" umbrella doesn't mean all of them are in poor condition

 

[MadAdey]

mmmmm so only the greens matter on a golf course,so rutted weed infested fairways are ok,rough full of bramles,dock and the like would be ok,bunkers with little sand and stones is fine so long as the greens are spot on i think the mebership of your course would disagree as most golfers would.

I don't remember walking away from courses before hating the experience because it had fantastic greens but crap fairways. But I have walked away moaning about the crappy greens that bobbled everywhere and would not take a wedge.