When should a course be shut?

[HRC99]

I rang up yesterday to see what kind of condition the course was in and was told, it's pretty wet but it is open.

Had a nose around and it was like a bog and I was surprised the course was open at all.

There was hardly anyone on the course and I just couldn't see the point of having it open and potentially causing damage to the course.

Now, I understand that I'm not that bothered about playing on a boggy course in the freezing cold so perhaps I'm biased as I'd like to see the course protected with the coming months in mind.

When do you think a course should be shut?

 

[Aztecs27]

Anytime that playing it will potentially damage the course.

I played two courses last weekend on opposite ends of the golfing spectrum;

Belton Park - a stuffy, snobby club (ask Bob), but a course of exceptional quality.

and

Sudbrook Moor Golf Club - A "pay and play" course. You can rock up in a mankini and they'd probably let you on. It's got great facilities but it's cheap and cheerful but the course is good quality for what it is.

I was shocked as to the condition of both courses after the bout of bad weather we've had. The greens at Belton were very slow and soft and there was a bit of rising water underfoot on the greens when you walked, but obviously (they thought) not enough to damage. But other than that the course was just "wet" but not nearly as much as I thought it would be after the big thaw.

Sudbrook's greens were firmer (probably due to the overnight frost) but every other aspect of the course was very playable. Even the bunkers were soft and sandy.

I expected terrible conditions after such bad weather. It was nice to be proved wrong.

 

[freddielong]

Agreed anytime its waterlogged or playing it would cause to much damage such as a severe frost etc

 

[pokerjoke]

I agree when it becomes unplayable,and is going to cause damage.However most courses want to stay open as much as possible so the members can get there moneys worth,its a catch two situation.Our course recently that is council run was said to never shut,of course players are not going to play in unplayable conditions.But what else can golfers do when the course is shut,go up the driving range and hit 50 or maybe a 100 sh-t balls into a field.Should courses that have a driving range offer members a free bucket full if the course is shut?

 

[GB72]

Anytime that playing it will potentially damage the course.

I played two courses last weekend on opposite ends of the golfing spectrum;

Belton Park - a stuffy, snobby club (ask Bob), but a course of exceptional quality.

and

Sudbrook Moor Golf Club - A "pay and play" course. You can rock up in a mankini and they'd probably let you on. It's got great facilities but it's cheap and cheerful but the course is good quality for what it is.

I was shocked as to the condition of both courses after the bout of bad weather we've had. The greens at Belton were very slow and soft and there was a bit of rising water underfoot on the greens when you walked, but obviously (they thought) not enough to damage. But other than that the course was just "wet" but not nearly as much as I thought it would be after the big thaw.

Sudbrook's greens were firmer (probably due to the overnight frost) but every other aspect of the course was very playable. Even the bunkers were soft and sandy.

I expected terrible conditions after such bad weather. It was nice to be proved wrong.

Surpised at Sudbrook, I have played that when it is nearly underwater and drainage was poor. That said, I agree that it is great for the price (£9.00 for the whole day last time I played). The greens are all temps at Stoke and I hope they remain that way for a bit as they are in the same condition as Belton. Fairways were wet but playable. Problem is a closed course means no income so most are getting them open asap.

 

[Fyldewhite]

A course should shut itself. If it's unplayable then nobody will play. If some lunatics do there will be very few of them and any damage caused will be minimal. In the past ours has been shut at the drop of a hat when it could easily be open.... just miss out a fe of the wetter holes etc. Shutting always means less revenue as people don't go near the club. This needs to be balanced against cost of any damage etc but 99% of that recovers itself well before the proper season.

 

[Aztecs27]

Anytime that playing it will potentially damage the course.

I played two courses last weekend on opposite ends of the golfing spectrum;

Belton Park - a stuffy, snobby club (ask Bob), but a course of exceptional quality.

and

Sudbrook Moor Golf Club - A "pay and play" course. You can rock up in a mankini and they'd probably let you on. It's got great facilities but it's cheap and cheerful but the course is good quality for what it is.

I was shocked as to the condition of both courses after the bout of bad weather we've had. The greens at Belton were very slow and soft and there was a bit of rising water underfoot on the greens when you walked, but obviously (they thought) not enough to damage. But other than that the course was just "wet" but not nearly as much as I thought it would be after the big thaw.

Sudbrook's greens were firmer (probably due to the overnight frost) but every other aspect of the course was very playable. Even the bunkers were soft and sandy.

I expected terrible conditions after such bad weather. It was nice to be proved wrong.

Surpised at Sudbrook, I have played that when it is nearly underwater and drainage was poor. That said, I agree that it is great for the price (£9.00 for the whole day last time I played). The greens are all temps at Stoke and I hope they remain that way for a bit as they are in the same condition as Belton. Fairways were wet but playable. Problem is a closed course means no income so most are getting them open asap.

I was surprised about Sudbrook as well. I was a junior member about 10 years ago when it was very new and they had next to nothing there other than the golf course.

Now they have a 12 bay driving range, a much better practice bunker and putting/chipping greens. A bigger (proper) pro shop and the course is actually quite fun to play. It cost us £14 per person, but that was for the whole day and we played 18, so got more than our money's worth.

I don't know if they've improved the drainage but there was next to no surface water on the greens and the fairways/rough were wet but not at all boggy or unplayable.

 

[chrisd]

A course should shut itself. If it's unplayable then nobody will play. If some lunatics do there will be very few of them and any damage caused will be minimal. In the past ours has been shut at the drop of a hat when it could easily be open.... just miss out a fe of the wetter holes etc. Shutting always means less revenue as people don't go near the club. This needs to be balanced against cost of any damage etc but 99% of that recovers itself well before the proper season.

Pretty much agree with Fyldewhite - it's a field and will recover. Greens need more potection, especially against use when frosty but otherwise it shuts itself



Chris

 

[richart]

We are lucky that our course drains well, due to a lot of drainage work being carried out a few years ago. If there is a frost we always play on temps, which as there are only 15 makes matches interesting.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Totally believe in shutting greens at the first sign of waterlogging or frost and moving to temps but the rest of the course will pretty much bear whatever traffic that is out there providing the weather hasn't been severe.

Might be a case for moving the white markers forward to the yellows to protect the comp tees (we can go off any markers we choose) and making the teeing area as small as possible to protect the greatest area. Of course if it has tipped it down, the bunkers are flooded and there is standing water everywhere then by the same token it manages itself and needs to be shut

 

[HRC99]

I do feel that some courses will shut at the drop of a hat and others will persevere no matter what. I suppose it depends upon the membership's demands and the committee's attitude.

I'm just a bit wary as our course wasn't in the best of nick last year and much was blamed upon the terrible weather over the winter. Yet here we are again, terrible weather and the course is still open.

 

[goldenbare]

I have stood on my course a number of times after heavy rain and thought to myself "this course should be closed"

We all like to play all through the bad weather in the winter and then moan when the course isn't in great condition come the spring.
we need to accept that we can't have it both ways.

 

[SatchFan]

Fifteen minutes after sunset.