When is the course too wet?

[louise_a]

This last week, we have had a lot of rain, yet again, however I have managed to play 3 times, on at least two of those occasions, possible all the 3 the courses were really too wet, Monday was an open, it rain quite a bit during the round and most of the greens is patches of water on, a least on green you could not get a dry route to the hole, but they had taken money from the teams and food was being provided too so if it had been cancelled there would have been a loss to the club and also the caterers,
On Friday I played it another open with a full field, the greens were ok but the was so much water around on the fairways on and rough, trolleys were allowed but they left tracks everywhere, but again there would be a big loss if it had been cancelled.
The other day was at my own course and although it wasnt as bad as the other two I played it probably should have been closed too, it had been for the pervious few days.

It got me thinking about when courses should be closed and so I thought I would ask for other opinions.

 

[CliveW]

Looking at the courses at the Dunhill, I would say it is borderline!

 

[rulefan]

This last week, we have had a lot of rain, yet again, however I have managed to play 3 times, on at least two of those occasions, possible all the 3 the courses were really too wet, Monday was an open, it rain quite a bit during the round and most of the greens is patches of water on, a least on green you could not get a dry route to the hole, but they had taken money from the teams and food was being provided too so if it had been cancelled there would have been a loss to the club and also the caterers,
On Friday I played it another open with a full field, the greens were ok but the was so much water around on the fairways on and rough, trolleys were allowed but they left tracks everywhere, but again there would be a big loss if it had been cancelled.
The other day was at my own course and although it wasnt as bad as the other two I played it probably should have been closed too, it had been for the pervious few days.

It got me thinking about when courses should be closed and so I thought I would ask for other opinions.

It would be a very subjective decision. What criteria would you suggest?

 

[Backache]

I don't know but as folk have been pictured canoeing on our streets I suspect our course is too wet just now.

 

[rulefan]

Virtually every year (some times twice) the river adjacent to our course overflows the 2 metre high flood protection bank.
For some reason the course is closed even if LCP is in force.

 

[Albo]

I think if there is laying water on the fairways it’s probably time to think about closing and if water on green definitely close

 

[Pants]

I've found that generally courses "close themselves". If it's too wet, water ponding on greens, puddles on approaches and fairways, etc, then any sensible golfer would walk off - partly as the course becomes unplayable and partly to protect the course.

 

[bobmac]

If your ball is on the green and there is no clear path to the hole because of standing water, then the course is unplayable.
But courses don't suddenly become waterlogged, there has probably been heavy rain in previous days and there's such a thing as weather forecasts* and if they say it's going to rain all day/night before an open then decisions have to be made before people travel.

*I know forecasts aren't always accurate

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I think if there is laying water on the fairways it’s probably time to think about closing and if water on green definitely close

This ^^^^^^^^

 

[IanM]

There's a pay and play not far from here, that would still take your cash if the whole property was under 5 feet of flood water!

 

[nickjdavis]

Criteria for closure due to wetness...

1) Standing water on the greens
2) Fairways where the level of standing water makes taking relief difficult
3) Fairways wet to the extent that playing a stroke would likely cause significant damage to the course. If you play a stroke and end up with a face full of mud and water then in all honesty you probably shouldn't be out there
4) Water that causes a health and safety risk to golfers...excessively slippery hills and banks for example...especially around teeing areas that dont have steps.

 

[Junior]

This last week, we have had a lot of rain, yet again, however I have managed to play 3 times, on at least two of those occasions, possible all the 3 the courses were really too wet, Monday was an open, it rain quite a bit during the round and most of the greens is patches of water on, a least on green you could not get a dry route to the hole, but they had taken money from the teams and food was being provided too so if it had been cancelled there would have been a loss to the club and also the caterers,
On Friday I played it another open with a full field, the greens were ok but the was so much water around on the fairways on and rough, trolleys were allowed but they left tracks everywhere, but again there would be a big loss if it had been cancelled.
The other day was at my own course and although it wasnt as bad as the other two I played it probably should have been closed too, it had been for the pervious few days.

It got me thinking about when courses should be closed and so I thought I would ask for other opinions.

Yeah, it's tricky. We only had 12 holes open today and people were kicking off. Tbh, it probably was too wet to open the lower holes, and, if we had have the last qualifier of the year like we were supposed too, people would have said it should have been closed. Committee's can't win.

I always think the course shuts itself. Standing water across fairways and no clear route to holes on greens etc.

 

[louise_a]

It would be a very subjective decision. What criteria would you suggest?

Not suggesting anything really, although I do think some courses are kept open when they are unplayable because the club has taken a lot of money in bookings that they don't want to have to refund, the Monday one being a case in point.

 

[chico]

https://x.com/hiltonparkgolf/status/1710600701384982851?t=eimrUDlWhqZTiN05ZW2csw&s=08

 

[Vikingman]

Played an open at Stockport last Monday, course was a little wet and the weather a little iffy but we got away with it. Should have been at Fairhaven yesterday but just as we came off the motorway at Blackpool we got a phone call saying it was washed out. Went back and played at my home course, probably 30 miles South and although it was wet it was perfectly playable.

 

[Jigger]

members at our course will go out and come back in saying it’s too wet and should be closed. The club always say you chose to go out but we never know until we get out there. The problem the club have is one of getting a rep of constantly being closed over the winter.

 

[Jimaroid]

Almost the entirety of Scotland is too wet today. Anyone playing golf in this needs their sanity assessed.

 

[CliveW]

Almost the entirety of Scotland is too wet today. Anyone playing golf in this needs their sanity assessed.

If they can get there!

 

[patricks148]

If they can get there!

You can get there around here, not sure why you would bother, it's wetter there any everywhere else

Not stopped raining here in at least 36 hours and showing no signs of stopping

 

[CliveW]

You can get there around here, not sure why you would bother, it's wetter there any everywhere else

Not stopped raining here in at least 36 hours and showing no signs of stopping

My son is in Oban and TomTom, which is pretty accurate, is showing the route to be via Inverness from Blairgowrie!