Bunkers Surrounded by Rough

[Pete Garvey]

@Pete Garvey....I certainly wasn't talking about Idle Hour but now I think about it I agree that many of the bunkers could do with a haircut at the entry points. What a great course by the way.
Ps. The way I played this year was definitely bad enough to insure my invite will get "lost in the mail" next year!!!

That would be our loss if you're not here next year.   

[Bradley Anderson]

I have started a program of expanding the 1 inch intermediate cut to encompass the fairway bunkers.

The ball isn't rolling very far on this cut just yet because it still hasn't tightened up to the density that you need at that height to get any significant amount of roll. But even at this early stage of the program we are seeing more kick and roll on a 1 inch cut, 3 times per week, than we had when it was being cut at 2.5 inches once a week.

It also just looks very cool - it really highlights the contours.

We are also expanding the intermediate in the landing zones and green embankments - every place where a slight miss was presenting a tough shot from the rough. This has generated by far the most positive golfer feed back I have ever experienced. This spring and summer we have had rain every week and with all the growth we have had in the rough we are getting no complaints about the rough.

The expanded intermediate cut is giving the golfers conditions that they haven't had playing golf since all the way back in the 60's and 70's when we used to mow rough with gang mowers at 1.5 - 1.75 inches.

[Paul Gray]

Bradley,

Interesting. And clearly that's a step in the right direction but can I just ask, why not cut it right back to fairway length?

[Bradley Anderson]

Bradley,

Interesting. And clearly that's a step in the right direction but can I just ask, why not cut it right back to fairway length?

Eventually some of the areas will be converted to fairway height with bent/poa plugs - budget permitting. But for now the bluegrass, at 1 inch, is working fine. In fact, the older players prefer to hit from 1 inch bluegrass than 1/2 inch bentgrass.