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Jeff Shelman

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Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« on: April 29, 2010, 01:26:00 PM »
I played at Windsong Farm (a Lehman/Fought outside of Minneapolis that has been discussed some on here) on Tuesday in preparation for this weekend's Big Ten championships.

It will be interesting to see what the young kids shoot. On Tuesday, the greens were quite firm and quite fast for April in Minneapolis. It does look like there will be rain in the next 48 hours or so that will soften the course.

The tournament is being taped by the Big Ten Network and will be broadcast at some point (not being shown live).

PCCraig

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2010, 02:19:19 PM »
Very cool. I happen to of checked out their website last week after seeing that they are hosting the Big Ten Tournament this weekend. Looks like a very cool low-key place to play golf.
H.P.S.

Nick Campanelli

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2010, 02:22:53 PM »
We Are....!           (Had to get my shameless plug in)  

I'm glad to see new Big Ten venues popping up. Windsong isn't associated with UMN is it?
« Last Edit: April 29, 2010, 02:27:08 PM by Nick Campanelli »
Landscape Architect  //  Golf Course Architect

Jason Topp

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2010, 02:25:19 PM »
It will be interesting to see how college players handle a course exposed to the wind, with little rough and difficult greens.  I find the course very difficult when it is firm and the greens are fast.  Hopefully, it will not rain too much.

K. Krahenbuhl

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2010, 03:33:27 PM »
The results of the Missouri Valley Conference championship...also played at a good venue were interesting.  Not a single round under par in the event.

http://golfstat.com/2009-2010/men/mtoursp10/M4502.htm?nav=&sty=

Jeff Shelman

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2010, 04:30:42 PM »
The golf course was playing difficult on Tuesday and I played it at 6700 yards rather than 7200 or 7300 like they will play it this weekend. I, like Jason, find the place to be tough when the wind blows.

Tony Petersen

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2010, 08:08:05 PM »
It will be interesting to see how college players handle a course exposed to the wind, with little rough and difficult greens.  I find the course very difficult when it is firm and the greens are fast.  Hopefully, it will not rain too much.

Trying to get some of those greens to hold when their firm is damn near impossible... still, what a fun place to play at ;)
Ski - U - Mah... University of Minnesota... "Seven beers followed by two Scotches and a thimble of marijuana and it's funny how sleep comes all on it's own.”

John Blain

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #7 on: April 29, 2010, 08:16:37 PM »
It will be interesting to see how college players handle a course exposed to the wind, with little rough and difficult greens.  I find the course very difficult when it is firm and the greens are fast.  Hopefully, it will not rain too much.

Why do the greens have to be running so fast? This may be a question in general. I would assume from past conversations 50 years ago greens were at much slower speeds. So are we to assume that only way to challenge players with skills of a high order is to have very fast greens?

Great question on why greens have to be running so fast. I honestly think a big part of it is pure ego on the part of the host club and often times the host superintendent. I think there is a general feeling that if the greens aren't crazy quick then it really isn't a championship event. I know it sounds crazy (because it is) but I honestly believe there is a lot of truth in it. I think you can blame a lot of it on the roller. Many of these clubs are double cutting and rolling, throw in some wind and the next thing you know you have a borderline unplayable golf course to go along with those five and a half hour rounds. It's nuts.

Steve Lapper

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2010, 08:43:17 PM »
I understand Windsong hit the club pro jackpot when they recently hired Jim Kidd (ex Friars Head and Sand Hills)...quite possibly the best (purest) club pro in the biz!!! CONGRATS!! ;) ;)
The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking."--John Kenneth Galbraith

Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2010, 09:56:44 PM »
I understand Windsong hit the club pro jackpot when they recently hired Jim Kidd (ex Friars Head and Sand Hills)...quite possibly the best (purest) club pro in the biz!!! CONGRATS!! ;) ;)

He took a long route to get back home.  Windsong Farm should be a nice fit for him.  Pretty low key and not far from the cities.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Jason Topp

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2010, 10:19:52 AM »
It will be interesting to see how college players handle a course exposed to the wind, with little rough and difficult greens.  I find the course very difficult when it is firm and the greens are fast.  Hopefully, it will not rain too much.

Why do the greens have to be running so fast? This may be a question in general. I would assume from past conversations 50 years ago greens were at much slower speeds. So are we to assume that only way to challenge players with skills of a high order is to have very fast greens?

These greens are designed to be played at very fast speeds.  Whether or not such design is a good idea is another question.

Jason Topp

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #11 on: April 30, 2010, 05:09:25 PM »
It will be interesting to see how college players handle a course exposed to the wind, with little rough and difficult greens.  I find the course very difficult when it is firm and the greens are fast.  Hopefully, it will not rain too much.

Why do the greens have to be running so fast? This may be a question in general. I would assume from past conversations 50 years ago greens were at much slower speeds. So are we to assume that only way to challenge players with skills of a high order is to have very fast greens?

These greens are designed to be played at very fast speeds.  Whether or not such design is a good idea is another question.

Are they flat or very gently sloped?

I would not say gently, but they are playable at very fast speeds.

Bruce Leland

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2010, 09:13:04 AM »
An interesting comment by the leader of the tournament on the distance college players are able to hit the ball.

"He and (Matt) Hoffman both hit it 70 yards past me," Barlow said, a little wistfully. "(DeForest) carries his 3-wood 300 yards in the air. It's just ridiculous how far they hit it. I don't have that luxury."

There are some nice comments about the course from the player's perspective as well in this article courtesy of the Minnesota Golf Assn.
Here is the link:

http://www.mngolf.org/press_release.cfm?id=3596

"The mystique of Muirfield lingers on. So does the memory of Carnoustie's foreboding. So does the scenic wonder of Turnberry and the haunting incredibility of Prestwick, and the pleasant deception of Troon. But put them altogether and St. Andrew's can play their low ball for atmosphere." Dan Jenkins

Shane Wright

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #13 on: May 01, 2010, 10:02:05 AM »
IMHO - Windsong is a wonderful course for the Big 10 championships.  I think the course is underrated.

I've had the privelege of playing 3 or 4 competitive rounds at Windsong and there are usually 2-3 options off of every tee.  It is awesome.  I love having the opportunity to try and think thru each shot.  There is great width on the course, however, you must be on the correct side of the fairway to score.  I dont compare the course to GB&I courses, but what  I do like that is similar is that it can eat your lunch if you are not playing well, but you can also score if you have your game that day.  A high handicapper could probably get around in a reasonable time without losing many if any balls. And probably very high on my scale, it is a great walking course.

Yes, the greens are fast, but if you approach from the correct side of the hole, it isn't an issue.  The greens are very interesting but not crazy.

I just think it is flat out a great course.  And manyof the best players in the state of Minnesota are members.

By the way, the comments in the article about the 635 par 5 9th being reached by a few of the golfers, isn't completely crazy.  It does have a pretty big hill to give a kick if you can get there (long shot but doable) 

Just because they can hit is 350 doesn't mean they are going to score, as shown by some of their scores.

Jeff Shelman

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #14 on: May 01, 2010, 10:12:16 AM »
I'm looking forward to seeing the scores from today. The greens are probably a little softer after rain last night, but it is blowing hard right now. The forcast says 25-30 mph later today and there isn't a whole lot out there to slow the wind down.

Bill Satterfield

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #15 on: May 05, 2010, 03:22:09 PM »
Shane, I agree with you.  I think Windsong Farm is underrated.  The setting is relaxing and the layout is really quite good.  Minneapolis is more well known for their historic courses, including several Ross designs, but for a modern course I think it can really hold its own.  My Dad and I walked it the day we played and faced 30 mph winds on the front nine and it was dead calm by the time we walked up the 18th.  The driveable par four 3rd hole is fun and the par five 18th is a stunner.  I felt that the fairways were wide enough to accomodate windy play and that the greens offered intrigue and challenge.  John Fought has been putting out some great work and Windsong Farm is right up there with his best - plus he is a BYU guy so I'm partial to him!   

Mark Smolens

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Re: Windsong Farm hosts Big Tens this weekend
« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2010, 04:42:20 PM »
Go U NU! Congrats to Mr. Lipsky. . .  ;D

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