Best Firm & Fast Turf Transformations

[PCCraig]

Within the recently released (and excellent) Chicago Golf Club history book The Prairie Raynor there is a section titled "The Journey to Firm & Fast" detailing the practices the club implemented from 1990-on to prioritize firm & fast turf.


Chicago was certainly ahead of their time in an era when Golf Digest was awarding conditioning points for "aesthetics" and rewarding wall-to-wall green playing surfaces.


CGC has led to a wonderful trend in Chicagoland of creating the firmest conditions possible. Clubs such as Shoreacres, Old Elm, and Glen View Club have followed suite and benefited from the practices immensely.


Which made me think, what are some of the best transformations in the US of previously perennially soggy playing conditions into firm & fast? And what are the practices implemented that helped them get there?

[Joel_Stewart]

Bel Air is ridiculously fast due to the hills and slopes.  The superintendent keeps it dry and firm but in certain cases the ball can move 20 to 50 yards with just a slight miss. They softened it up for the Womens US Amateur last year.

[Ian Mackenzie]

I know it pops up sometimes too often here, Pat, but 15 years ago Old Elm was a soggy, over-treed club where "old men play with their fathers".


Now...?...holy crap...fast, firm, no rough, incredible tree remediation and, arguably the best course in the state with unique GCA pedigree as Adam L. knows well.


This is from 9 years ago: https://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/a-legendary-collaboration-at-chicagos-old-elm-club


This is Freid Egg from 4 years ago: https://vimeo.com/408571428

[Eric Smith]

This is Freid Egg from 4 years ago: https://vimeo.com/408571428

Wow. I would say you, sir, are very fortunate. Lovely video. Old Elm looks very special.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Orinda Country Club (SF Bay Area) under the care of Josh Smith (following the restoration of Todd Eckenrode) is a great example.


The entire course is built on clay, but it plays firm and fast virtually all year long.  The vast majority of cart paths have been removed.  $$$ spend on regular sanding, plus drainage system enhancements, has resulted in a consistent firm playing surface from tee to green.


Took years of learning and fixing.

[Kyle Harris]

The keystone for this should always be Huntingdon Valley Country Club in the 1980s.

[John Emerson]

I am not sure who'd be labeled "best", but I believe that the 2 biggest factors to arrive at, and consistently maintain fast and firm conditions is proper water and fertilizer (specifically nitrogen) management. You MUST have your finger on the growth rate and soil water content at any given moment. There is a lot nuisance to it, but those 2 are the most impactful to fast and firm imo