A picture is worth 1000 words

[Garland Bayley]

Nice counter point picture. However, I believe both courses were in playing season with my picture, whereas yours shows a course out of playing season.

[Mark Bourgeois]

What if the point taken by some of the first picture was to differentiate between maintenance practices optimized for playability during a peak period vs those optimized for playability across all periods?

[Garland Bayley]

What if the point taken by some of the first picture was to differentiate between maintenance practices optimized for playability during a peak period vs those optimized for playability across all periods?

They are welcome to that opinion. I haven't argued with those that expressed that opinion.

[Bill_McBride]

Mark, do you dye the greens, or are they overseeded?   We stopped ruining ours twice a year with poa trivialis and now leave them alone and spray some green colored stuff on them.   Bingo, no transition screwing things up twice a year. 

Greens are bent so they are naturally green. 

Fairways and rough are bermuda. 

I'm impressed the greens are bent.  Do you use a lot of fans in the summer?

[jeffwarne]

Definitely worth a thousand words.

Which course would you rather play tomorrow or better yet in early April, when the bermuda's dormant, thin,compacted and  threadbare after a full winter or traffic and zero growth?
and the rye is perfect, firm and fast, yet grass.
(not saying it's the way to go for every club, or that it's sustainable,or that dormant can't play wonderfully, or that there isn't a grow in period in October, but to deny that the conditions the course is in in Spring are anything less than fantastic would seem a bit silly)

I love Augusta CC, one of my favorite courses, but it's not even close, in the spring, in the years they don't overseed.

and GJ, the picture does NOT depict two courses in "playing season" , unless it was taken in mid April, when Augusta area's playing season begins.   only freaks like me played all winter

[Garland Bayley]

Jeff,

When I zoom in, there are clearly players playing both courses.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mark, do you dye the greens, or are they overseeded?   We stopped ruining ours twice a year with poa trivialis and now leave them alone and spray some green colored stuff on them.   Bingo, no transition screwing things up twice a year. 

Bill,

I've never been a fan of over seeding but sometimes Mother Nature can have a major influence.

But, why the need to DYE the grass ?

When did that start at your club, and WHY ?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Not really. 

You see a course grassed for play in the winter and a course grassed for year round play.

Jason, you hit the nail on the head,

But, it goes beyond the seasonal aspect you pointed out.

One course is put on center stage, globally, by conducting a major shortly after winter ends.

And as such the visual aspect of the televised broadcast is a critical element.

[Bill_McBride]

Mark, do you dye the greens, or are they overseeded?   We stopped ruining ours twice a year with poa trivialis and now leave them alone and spray some green colored stuff on them.   Bingo, no transition screwing things up twice a year. 

Bill,

I've never been a fan of over seeding but sometimes Mother Nature can have a major influence.

But, why the need to DYE the grass ?

When did that start at your club, and WHY ?

If you don't put some color on the greens everything blends together.  We stopped overseeding when I was golf and green chair, one of my proudest accomplishments as there were some strong personalities opposed.  I brought in a major turf grass guy from Mississippi State.  One of his recommendations that helped carry the day was dyeing the greens.  We haven't stopped as there seems to be no downside. 

[Patrick_Mucci]

Bill,

Has there been any effort to "soften" the green dye ?

How often is it applied ?