[Mark_Rowlinson]

Tom Williamsen, playing Bull Bay (WH Fowler) with me last Saturday, asked if gorse grew outside the British Isles.  Am I right in thinking that there is some at Pacific/Bandon Dunes?  For the record, there was enough spare gorse at Bull Bay to populate most of the world's courses without blinking.

[Ryan Crago]

yes, but certain species are considered exotic invasives.

[A.G._Crockett]

I'm sure somebody will know more about this than I, but I think I remember reading that a Scotsman had long ago brought gorse to the Bandon property, and that it eventually covered the place.  There was a fire some years ago that destroyed much of the gorse, but made somebody think of a golf course.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I believe that gorse, like heather, grows well after it has been fired.

[rjsimper]

Pacific Dunes #4

[Garland Bayley]

I believe that gorse, like heather, grows well after it has been fired.

That's right. The seeds are activated by fire so it soon repopulates. It is considered a noxious weed here in Oregon as it is almost impossible to get rid of.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Fabulous picture - OK, Bull Bay's quota would populate one fairway in Oregon, but it felt generous enough and has three or four Pro V1s of mine lurking therein. [NO, I didn't pay for V1s at UK prices.  One of my sons gets them at £1 each from someone he meets at a shady pub.....]

[Tom_Doak]

Mark:

It grows only in Oregon, Washington and up to Victoria, B.C.  But I daresay it grows better in Oregon than it does even in Scotland!  The gorse at Pacific Dunes is in some stage of bloom for 4-5 months from January til May.  It is one aggressive plant!

[Bill_McBride]

And it's just as nasty to look around in at Bandon as it is at Crail, St Andrews or even Porthcawl!

The gorse on the cliff behind the Crail clubhouse and above the terrace holes late in the back nine is absolutely incredible when in bloom.  Anybody have a photo?

[Jason Shanks]

A separate, yet related question, when is the height of the gorse bloom in Scotland?

[Bill_McBride]

It was very thick when I was there in May 2004, and gone by July when I returned in 2005 for the Open in St. Andrews.

[Ryan Farrow]

How are the root systems in the plant? One thing is for sure I don’t see Bandon eroding into the Pacific Ocean anytime soon.

[Steve Okula]

I saw gorse blooming in April at Royal County Down.

A few years ago, I interviewed for the position of golf course superintendent at Royal Links Golf Course in Las Vegas. For those who don't know, Royal Links is an 18 hole course meant to imitate 18 famous links holes, like the postage stamp hole, the road hole, etc.

Before I flew out to meet the principals, we had a telephone interview. The director of the golf course, (I'll call him "Moe") was explaining the links-type concept to me. Part of the conversation went something like this;

MOE: We try to present every hole in a manner in keeping with authentic links style as is possible.

ME: I see. But the climate and soils of Nevada are nothing like Scotland. What do you use for gorse?

MOE: (A few seconds' silence, then) Gorse? What's gorse?

ME: Well, it's a thick, thorny, prolific, low-growing, evergreen  shrub, common to links courses. It has showy yellow spring blossoms, and it's integral to the strategy, atmosphere, and appearance of links courses, and it's hard for me to imagine that type of course without it, or some reasonable facsimile thereof.

MOE: Well, we've got some tumbleweeds.

I eventually flew out for an interview, but I was never offered the job, not that I would have taken it.

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