Sign of the times.... it could be time to walk.

[Oddsocks]

i know its been a hard financial year and alot of clubs have seen a drop in profits, but recent activities at my place have deemed it could be time to move club.

At the moment, we are a club run within a local muni, but in struggling times we have seen a few cut backs in preperation throughout the year, they were only minor cutbacks but it all come home to roost new years day.

In an effort to save money,

Greens:
the greens wasnt cored/tinned/dressed as they should have been late summer early autum, which has meant no drainage and now the greens are just like a wet sponge, in addition because they havent sprayed or treated for worms, we are even seeing small worm casts on the greens. to top it off we have some how picked up that virus that just seems to eat the grass on the greens leaving bit bald patches. NOT GOOD.

Fairways:
no worm treatment has now seen large amounts of worm casts all down the fairways, i turn leaving them very very muddy.

Bunkers:
as a lot of our bunkers need new drainage and membrane, as well as fresh sand, the course management have taken the action of removing 3 key bunkers on the course with a further 6 planned to be removed,

new years day despite the golf being pretty good, i walked of the course feeling that id been robbed for my green fee, i've been playing this course on and off for 16/17 years, at can say hand on heart that i have never seen it in such poor condition.

 

[Scottjd1]

which club you at Oddsocks?

 

[Oddsocks]

Addington Court Scott. This is theres a good group of boys down there, which i suppose is what has kept me there the past 18 months

 

[Swinger]

Muddy fairways due to worms/worm casts??

I can understand a bit of frustration on the greens with the bald patches but I didn't realise they sprayed for worms.

My place is getting a bit muddy now but I'd say it was more to do with traffic and lack of trolley bans over worms.

The bald patches sound like fusarium which unfortunatly does happen a lot in damp mild conditions and can be a problem at alot of courses at some time or another.

The bunkering sounds like a bit of a cop out by removing them, especially if they are key points on the hole and the lack of maintance on the greens is poor but the rest just sounds like good old winter golf OS.

 

[DCB]

According to the web site it's run by Crown Golf, so it'll be them that's cutting the maintenance regime to save money.

Do a Freedom of Information request to local council regarding year on year maintenance spend on the course.

 

[USER1999]

All golf courses are suffering more from worm casts this year. It is my understanding that the chemicals used to poison/control them in previous years have been banned by the EU. There is nothing else which does the job.

The worm casts then get splatted by feet or trolleys, and turn the ground into a swamp.

Better get used to it.

 

[DaveM]

Rather than moan about your muni. As its council run, what with all the cut backs etc. Think about the poor sod who will have lost his job. Whats more important. A couple of hours fun for you. Or some poor guy wondering how he is going to feed his kids!

 

[Oddsocks]

The bald patches sound like fusarium which unfortunatly does happen a lot in damp mild conditions and can be a problem at alot of courses at some time or another.

The bunkering sounds like a bit of a cop out by removing them, especially if they are key points on the hole and the lack of maintance on the greens is poor but the rest just sounds like good old winter golf OS.

thats the kiddy , fusarium, couldnt think of the name. couldnt agree more with the cop out on bunkers.

According to the web site it's run by Crown Golf, so it'll be them that's cutting the maintenance regime to save money.

Do a Freedom of Information request to local council regarding year on year maintenance spend on the course.

the problem is dcb, their cutting back then cutting back again... 2 members threatened to leave new years day.

 

[DCB]

Thing is, if the course is owned by local Council and operated on their behalf by Crown, then Crown will have performance criteria that they must maintain. Council will not want adverse comment about the state of course.

It is also mid winter and that does have an effect on what greenstaff can do.

 

[JustOne]

OS, the more we play this game the more critical we become, we learn more and expect more. I'd be tempted to stay where your mates are... unless you know somewhere else you'd really like to be. I joined somewhere that still has Colonel Mustard and McBraveHeart McGreggor at the helm and I can't find any Galvin Greens in tweed!

 

[MadAdey]

I think that clubs can get into a viscous circle that can only end up with it going to ruin. Not much money in the budget so less course maintenance, no course maintenance so people stop playing there reducing income, so even less money in the budget.

I think the problem with a muni course compared to a private members club is the guaranteed income. My club for instance have got a guaranteed £500,000 in the bank 1st of April, plus a projected income from visitors. A muni that will have a small guaranteed income from members but the rest is only a projected profit from pay and play golfers. Also if you have a company running it they will no doubt be looking at making a profit from it.

Could be a good time to look around for somewhere else seeing as a lot of clubs have dropped their joining fees.

 

[thecraw]

That's the drawback of municipal golf courses. Even the so called better ones like Troon Darley, Lochgreen, and Fullerton have gone down hill faster than the German bob sleigh team. Councils are quite happy to take money out but not put it back in. Sad really.

I'd jump ship it'll only get worse.

As fir worm spraying, never heard of that in my life. Certainly not been done up here that I'm aware of!

 

[One Planer]

Our green staff have done a stella job this year.

Over the summer they cut in new drainage to certain areas of the course that were prone to getting a little boggy. The also added extra drainage to most, if not all of the bunkers and it has worked superbly.

Greens were cored at the end of summer and look fantastic (now in winter greens). I haven't noticed any worm casts on the greens, but I can honestly say with playing on winter greens I haven't been looking.

Seems a shame for the council/crown to cut costs by letting course maintenance slip. It really is a false economy as yes they will save money, but in all likleyhood they'll lose alot of members/visitors so ultimatley revenue would be down?

 

[Mattyboy]

OS - Fancy the Palace?

As you might know, the course is alot better - but the fees are alot more too, but if you fancy it?

 

[Mr_T]

The local muni near me isnt in bad nick,ive played it a few times this winter and it hasnt had temps or mats any of the times ive played it, im tempted to join them although not sure how much playing time ill get with exams and stuff, oddsocks that doesnt sound like an acceptable standard to me, i know its hard for the staff in winter but if its only gonna get worse then i think its time to move on oddsocks

 

[need_my_wedge]

Our greens were cored and tined in the summer, but some of them have caught the fungus that eats the grass and leaves bald patches. The greens were fantastic in the summer, but not looking so good at the moment.

 

[Robobum]

OS - Fancy the Palace?

As you might know, the course is alot better - but the fees are alot more too, but if you fancy it?

Pricey, i know, but a couple of great courses backing onto each other there, "Palace" and "The".

Smiffy sorted out a couple of away days @ The Addington in the winter - both fantastic days.

 

[DCB]

As fir worm spraying, never heard of that in my life. Certainly not been done up here that I'm aware of!

That's what Craws are for

 

[thecraw]

That's what Craws are for

Your a right scallywag DCB!

 

[Scottjd1]

I know the course OS, havent played there loads but used to get the odd round in before i joined up at Altonwood. Always thought the championship course was a good track and in good nick so a shame to hear that its being neglected. Similar story at Selsdon Park over the last few years, I've always loved the layout there but its just not cared for properly, if they made it members only i would join!

Where you thinking of going, another muni or join up somewhere?