Why no distance markers?

[Lord Tyrion]

I played a course yesterday that did not have distance posts. They had 150yd distance disks in the middle of the fairway but most of the time these could not be seen as the grass was higher than the disk. I can just about live with disks if they have them at 150 and 100yds as you may pick up one of them but 150 only is very limiting. Even if they have more they are still difficult to identify compared to wooden posts/stakes which are clear and easy.

I know many people now have GPS but I am sure the vast majority of golfers do not.

I can not think why courses would not use posts/stakes as they are clear, simple and effective but I assume there is one. Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[Slab]

Can only imagine that repeated thefts might make them not replace the stakes anymore, cant think of other good reasons (not that I can think of a good reason to nick them either!)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

This was a pretty new course that was nowhere near housing. I can't imagine people wandering around the course without being a golfer. There were also plenty of out of bounds and water hazard stakes so they were not averse to using them. I would have liked to throw some of them away but perhaps that had more to do with my own golf.

 

[drew83]

I have played a course that only has discs.

1)You are right, they are difficult to see if the grass is over the top
2)Being a high handicap I am not always in the middle of the fairway so having one on each of the rough borders would make life easier
3)Stakes are a lot easier to spot, so it seems crazy not to have them.

That said, I spoke with the greenkeeper mid-round & asked why there were no stakes. Sadly, the response was simply people nicking them. I don't get why they would, but some people out there seem to have a need for 3 ft tall 2x2!!

 

[Bratty]

Did you not ask anyone at the club once you'd finished?
Maybe drop them an email?

 

[pbrown7582]

Was there a fir tree instead couple of courses I know use these instead of marker poles.

 

[SugarPenguin]

Iv played a fair few courses that didnt even have any sort of markers what so ever.
Extremely frustrating - especially when you have gps etc etc...

every course should have 200, 150, 100 as standard. All it requried are a few different coloured stakes.

For me not having markers is just as bad as having poorly kept greens. Nothing worse than smashing a drive and then flying your approach shot over the back of the green or dropping it short.

 

[drew83]

Was there a fir tree instead couple of courses I know use these instead of marker poles.

Most of the course had fir trees around it....

 

[DCB]

I can think of lots of courses without distance markers. It's only recently we've put disks in the fairways on the longer holes. markers are not as common as you may think.

 

[bobmac]

I learned my golf in the 70s on courses that had no distances markers at all.
Just part of the skill you had to learn.
When 150s came in they were like cheating.

 

[shortstuff]

I played a course yesterday that did not have distance posts. They had 150yd distance disks in the middle of the fairway but most of the time these could not be seen as the grass was higher than the disk. I can just about live with disks if they have them at 150 and 100yds as you may pick up one of them but 150 only is very limiting. Even if they have more they are still difficult to identify compared to wooden posts/stakes which are clear and easy.

I know many people now have GPS but I am sure the vast majority of golfers do not.

I can not think why courses would not use posts/stakes as they are clear, simple and effective but I assume there is one. Can anyone enlighten me?

Old fashioned courses from the 1920s (like ours) tend to have just the 150 yard markers. There was probably a lot of resistance in getting those installed in the first place. As for a second post.... I mean, how much help do you want? lol

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I spoke to the Assistant pro when I came back in and also posted a card in a suggestion box that was in the bar. A little thing but it would help a lot.

I have never heard of trees being used as markers before. Lots of the courses near to me have too many trees to be able to distinguish unless they attached a neon sign to them and set it up like Blackpool illuminations.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We have fairway watering and yardages are marked on the sprinkler covers. These are easy to spot as the greenkeepers keep them so - for obvious (watering) reasons. No yardage posts.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

I learned my golf in the 70s on courses that had no distances markers at all.
Just part of the skill you had to learn.
When 150s came in they were like cheating.

I learned mine in the 1950/60's
Like you Bob I am amazed how we ever managed to break 70 without any marker posts or GPS

 

[garyinderry]

Much prefer marker posts as its visually easier to lay up when in trouble. More so on a course you have never played before.

Since getting a GPs I am less bothered but still find myself looking for the marker posts out of sheer habit.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I learned mine in the 1950/60's
Like you Bob I am amazed how we ever managed to break 70 without any marker posts or GPS

And you were using blades.

How on earth did you expect to play golf!!!??

 

[MegaSteve]

I believe marker posts can be a good aid to keeping the 'pace of play' to a decent level...

Less time spent pondering on just how long the shot actually is...

I am sure others will have a differing opinion...

 

[Lord Tyrion]

No marker posts is fine when you play a course regularly but on a different course they are very helpful. Trying to guess a distance using just your eyes can be tricky, particularly if a course lacks features, and it is easy to be out by 10-20 yards. Now at my level does that really matter? No, but it helps. If I am one club short or long it does not cost me my tour card but it does become an irritant that is easily resolved.

 

[bobmac]

And you were using blades.

How on earth did you expect to play golf!!!??

We didn't have electric trolleys, goretex waterproofs or GI clubs, but then the ball was smaller so the hole looked bigger, we only got 3/4s handicap in Knock-outs and it was a special occasion when you unwrapped a brand new Dunlop 65 on the first tee.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We didn't have electric trolleys, goretex waterproofs or GI clubs, but then the ball was smaller so the hole looked bigger, we only got 3/4s handicap in Knock-outs and it was a special occasion when you unwrapped a brand new Dunlop 65 on the first tee.

...and you knew where the HNSP was