Uninspiring Use of Water

[GB72]

Having played the Lakes Course at Belton Woods on Friday for the first time I was surprised by how the unimaginative use of water can make a course a frustrating and uninspiring experience. Every few holes there was simply a pond stuck in front of the green leaving little margin for error and more than the odd lost ball. It was not as if these had lay up options either as many were mid to long iron approaches on par 4 holes. Now I am not in favour of getting rid of water on courses and the odd long carry to the green can make for an exciting round but simply dumping a pond in front of every third hole is to me, not good course design. Have some risk reward options to cut across water on par 5s or down the left or right of the fairway for variety but, in my opinion, over use of 'island' greens is lazy and frustrating course design.

OK rant over, needless to say I had a howler of a round an the course was in truly awful condition.

 

[RGDave]

It's not just water that frustrates me, I'm not overly keen on tricked-up bunkering and ditches (which there are plenty at Belton too).
We had three "trick" ditches at mine which have now all gone (thanks to underground conduits)
When I think of all the great courses I've played I can honestly say I've never played one where the design does not allow sensible play for the less able golfer.
Good design should be there to risk/reward the good player and to make everyone else think....no more....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think ponds in front of greens smack of lazy course design in a lot of cases. However the use of ditches can be strategic. The 7th at RA is a good case where it is prudent to lay up short of the ditch at around 230 and if you take it on the fairway narrows. Clear it and its no more than an 8 iron in and lay up short and it is normally a good 5/6 iron for the bigger hitters and a 4/5 for mortals like me (around 200 yards but its firm and the ball always runs).

Not a fan of hidden bunkers even on lins courses and like to know where the danger is on a hole before I make a club selection.

Its a shame you didn't enjoy the day but I guess its a lesson learnt if you ever have to play it again.

 

[GB72]

At the end of the day it only cost me a tenner booking a last minute tee time online so not major cost issue. It is more the fact that as I am playing more courses (into double figures now) I am starting to appreciate what makes a fun round and what sort of course design annoys me.

Another annoyance to me as a higher handicapper is blind drives to narrowish fairways with thick rough. No hope of finding a ball if you have no line on it.

 

[Imurg]

Especially at this time of year, blind drives are a menace to society! I remember hitting a blind drive straight up the middle - expected to see it 250 from the tee, slap bang in the short stuff. Never found it! We reckon it took an almighty kick into chest high rough 30 yards left. If you have a blind shot, what's the point of putting rough like that in the way?

 

[GB72]

Especially when you couple it with poorly maintained fairways where a drive down the middle can ricochet off in any direction. That is when a course stops being challenging and and becomes unfair and frustrating. No worse feeling than playing a perfectly decent shot and feeling 'cheated' by the course.

 

[bobmac]

GB, I know how you feel.
The problem at Belton is that they squeezed another 18 holes in the middle of the woodside course and had to trick it up with ponds.
If you go there again, Play the woodside, it's a much better course.
I'm surprised at the condition though, i've heard it's getting better lol.
Have you played Belton Park?

 

[jammydodger]

Especially when you couple it with poorly maintained fairways where a drive down the middle can ricochet off in any direction. That is when a course stops being challenging and and becomes unfair and frustrating. No worse feeling than playing a perfectly decent shot and feeling 'cheated' by the course.

Surely that is the essence of links golf , it's more about how you cope with these 'injustices' than anything else

Watch the Open this week and you'll see the ball bouncing all over the place

 

[GB72]

Especially when you couple it with poorly maintained fairways where a drive down the middle can ricochet off in any direction. That is when a course stops being challenging and and becomes unfair and frustrating. No worse feeling than playing a perfectly decent shot and feeling 'cheated' by the course.

Surely that is the essence of links golf , it's more about how you cope with these 'injustices' than anything else

Watch the Open this week and you'll see the ball bouncing all over the place

I agree and have no problem with natural undulations on the fairway. I have more of an issue with bad maintenance, cracks etc causing the bad bounce rather than deflections off the natural lay of the land.

 

[bobmac]

Plus the fact Belton Woods is supposed to be a parkland course

 

[GB72]

Another couple of points about the course:

1. There were no yardage markers on the whole course. Not easy working out the right club to an island green when there is not even a 150 yard marker to work from.

2. The tees on 2 holes were unusable simply because they were literally covered on goose droppings. Not talking the odd bit but so much that I would have been hard pressed to find a spot to put a tee in. Had to tee off from beside the tee box on both holes.

3. The greenkeepers had taken out the yellow markers to mow and not bothered to replace them on several holes.

 

[birdieman]

Sounds like they should've called it the 'Silly Ponds Course' rather than the 'Lakes Course'.

Not sure they'd sell as many rounds if they did that.

At least you've exposed them for what they are to us forumers who can now spread the word!

 

[RGDave]

Another couple of points about the course:

1. There were no yardage markers on the whole course. Not easy working out the right club to an island green when there is not even a 150 yard marker to work from.

2. The tees on 2 holes were unusable simply because they were literally covered on goose droppings. Not talking the odd bit but so much that I would have been hard pressed to find a spot to put a tee in. Had to tee off from beside the tee box on both holes.

3. The greenkeepers had taken out the yellow markers to mow and not bothered to replace them on several holes.

Should we have a GM forum day out here?

Sounds depressing.....

 

[justhitthething]

Ive played here a few times, off the whites. I absolutely agree, completely uninspiring. Those without water are 400yd plus par 4s with little definition. Driver long iron chip putts, driver long iron chip putts, driver long iron chip putts. Yaaaawn.

Bobmac is spot on though, Belton Park, little gem of a course. Many of the members used to be at the woods. Speaks for itself.

 

[GB72]

Will have to try Belton Park. Any comment on how it compares to Stoke Rochford where I play.

 

[mono217]

I love water on courses.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As a golfing god mono I guess you get use to walking over it

 

[Deleted member 1147]

I love water on courses.

We had plenty of it on our course last night - problem was that we only have a couple of ponds