The footprint fiasco !

[Matt_Ward]

Have been traveling to a number of fine facilities in the great Northwest -- among them Old Macdonald and Martis Camp, to name just two. I will be opining on those courses and others shorltly, but I played a course today in the Bend area which is well done (no, it's not Tetherow and I won't be naming it) but the real bugaboo for me was the concept of having courses that are watered too much to the point in which footprints are made when stepping onto any tee box and even some of the greens -- ditto the fairways.

I have no reason to doubt that watering is essential to keeping grass alive in such arid and dry locations, but when done to excess they rob the course in having even the most modest of bounces and that results in aerial golf to the max. It's akin to having a plush carpet as the foundation of the ground you walk.

I understand that keeping grass alive is essential but when you get to the dreaded footprint presentation method then the core architecture is robbed and the sole intent is in keeping the picture of green grass centermost in all matters tied to the golf.

Be curious to what others think on this.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Matt,

I figured you were talking about the Legend at Giant's Ridge!  Not for    footprints from over watering (which it has had under former supers) but for its footprint bunker.

I hate the fp's for the probable disease pressure the cause, among other things.

[Paul Jones]

Like most things in life... not everyone knows when too much is too much.

I wonder if you just had bad luck and they forgot to turn the splinkers off that day.  Else, what are they trying to accomplish by having a soggy course?

[David_Tepper]

Matt -

I am not sure of the climate where you were, but it is not uncommon to find some courses in Northern California, outside of the immediate San Fran Bay Area, that play much softer in the summer than they do in the winter, especially early in the day.

Courses in the Central Valley can often receive no rainfall from mid-April till mid-October. They can often go for stretches of 5 or 10 days where the temperature will exceed 90F each day. Course superintendent have little choice but to saturate the course with water each night to keep it from burning out. This can result in some very soggy conditions each morning.

If the climate where you were is similar, that might explain why.

DT

[Mark Provenzano]

Matt -

I am not sure of the climate where you were, but it is not uncommon to find some courses in Northern California, outside of the immediate San Fran Bay Area, that play much softer in the summer than they do in the winter, especially early in the day.

Courses in the Central Valley can often receive no rainfall from mid-April till mid-October. They can often go for stretches of 5 or 10 days where the temperature will exceed 90F each day. Course superintendent have little choice but to saturate the course with water each night to keep it from burning out. This can result in some very soggy conditions each morning.

If the climate where you were is similar, that might explain why.

DT

You describe the situation at a 36 hole facility near my (NorCal) house perfectly. I have to wear sneaker-style golf shoes there for early morning rounds, or I leave heel prints on every green. They choose not to go anywhere close to the line between firm and burned out greens. Even with our unusually cool summer, they still water the greens as if triple digits are forecast every day.

The unintended consequence of that watering is that the area just outside the fringe grows in thick and lush, making for some touchy shots around the green. You're far better off missing the green by 10 yards than 2 feet in most cases.

[Jud_T]

I like to play a lot of early morning golf and this is the case on quite a few over-manicured U.S. courses unfortunately, particularly at that hour...In the afternoon you get a plush carpet with minimal roll and bounce and in the morning it's simply too wet to really enjoy...Not to mention the additional costs...

[Dan Herrmann]

Matt,
Sad, isn't it, that a course in Bend should be so soggy with their climate....

[Adam Clayman]

Matt, Couple of quick questions before I opine on posit.

What time of day did you experience these footprints?

When was the last time it had rained in the region?

Do you know what the expected ET rate was the day you played?

Thanks in advance.

[Garland Bayley]

The really bad thing is when you ask why the green fee is so large they say it is because of the lush conditions. I live in the rain belt. I can do without the lush conditions in the summer.

[Matt_Ward]

Adam:

My round was in the mid-afternoon time frame -- say 2:00 PM.

The issue of last time it rained is not pertinent to go as far as the turf cionditions I had to face.

I understand the need to water and keep grass alive -- to get footprints tees, fairways and even greens indicates to me a mega water effort prompted by a desire of that respective superintendent not to have any brown colors on the course.

In sum -- the priority is to show a green landscape first and foremost with the golf element a distant second.

Let me point out the design of the course is well done -- the issue is what is done by man's hands to undermine what was put there to start with is most disconcerting in my mind.

For some reason -- many courses iI have playued in arid conditions go to the extreme to avoid burnout when they don't realize it is the golf design that is completely undercut. No doubt there are many golfers who are oblivious to this and are in love with the footprint effect. Go figure.

[Sean Leary]

Matt,

Did you play Pronghorn Fazio. Curious to hear your thoughts on it if you did.

[Pete_Pittock]

    Have been traveling to a number of fine facilities in the great Northwest -- among them Old Macdonald and Martis Camp, to name just two. I will be opining on those courses and others shorltly, but I played a course today in the Bend area which is well done (no, it's not Tetherow and I won't be naming it) but the real bugaboo for me was the concept of having courses that are watered too much to the point in which footprints are made when stepping onto any tee box and even some of the greens -- ditto the fairways.
    I have no reason to doubt that watering is essential to keeping grass alive in such arid and dry locations, but when done to excess they rob the course in having even the most modest of bounces and that results in aerial golf to the max. It's akin to having a plush carpet as the foundation of the ground you walk.
    I understand that keeping grass alive is essential but when you get to the dreaded footprint presentation method then the core architecture is robbed and the sole intent is in keeping the picture of green grass centermost in all matters tied to the golf.
    Be curious to what others think on this.

Matt may not know where the course is, 'cause Martis Camp is not in the northwest    I agree with Matt about overwatering and footprints, but have never experienced it in the Bend/Redmond area in over 30 years. 

[Matt_Ward]

Pete:

I understand where Martis Camp is located -- I left there a few days ago and have been traveling with a photographer through other courses that ARE in the Northwest.

Thanks for the mapquest update.

Sean:

The answer is yes and I will opin on it and a few others when time allows.