One effect of firm, hard turf

[TEPaul]

redanman;

I've got a set of Ping irons--i-something, I don't know anything about equipment really--never have. That's not what I wanted because I did'n't like the look of them but I actually agreed to one of those club fitting sessions from my pro and although, again, Pings weren't what I wanted he convinced me that's what I should have because they just worked better. I'm getting to be an old man, you know!

But it's amazing how fast clubs you don't like the look of at first can look pretty good if you hit them well. I found that out with an old set of Pings years ago. But I don't care how good Callaways work I'll not be buying that product again.

The pro stars must really laugh at the things that fans say about them!! And the kinds of things you say about them must make them really roar with amusement!

[Doug Siebert]

Tom H,

Re: sweepers versus diggers.  I'm definitely a sweeper, I often don't do much more than shave the grass down to the dirt on a full sand wedge.  But I never had any trouble over there on the hard ground, other than with my very bouncy and heavy lob wedge (plays basically like a 60 degree sand wedge)

In my mind the hard ground is easier for us sweepers, because we're not any more apt to catch the ball thin than we'd normally be, and our shallow angle of attack means that hitting behind the ball doesn't result in much upward bounce so it still comes pretty close to perfect contact, whereas a digger's descending blow will bounce the club up and be more likely to the catch the ball thin enough to make a difference (though on links courses a badly thinned miss can often turn out smelling like a rose...)

Where it really sucks to be a sweeper is on very soggy ground (like PGA Tour lift-n-place soggy) because the margin of error on such a shallow angle of attack makes what would be maybe 1/2" fat for a digger more like 2" fat for a sweeper.  2" fat doesn't work too well in soggy conditions, and it often gets your clothes a bit dirty as well!

[Dan Grossman]

Tom -

Just a question - were the courses the fairways at the courses you were playing FIRM or almost dead.  We played for 4 days in England where it was FIRM, but there was grass on the fairway.  When we got to the highlands of Scotland, it was so FIRM, that the fairways were pretty much dead and every lie was essentially hardpan.  I had an easy time in England, but a really difficult time in Scotland.  I am planning on posting some pictures of Fraserburgh, Cruden Bay, Lossiemouth, Golspie and Brora and you will see what I mean.  The difference between England and Scotland was unbelievable.

[TEPaul]

Dan:

The fairways I saw in Scotland and England were very hardpan and brown, other than in the dips and furrows of the fairways--but the grass was not dead. Some rain and in no time they'll be green again!

The most interesting fairways (and overall conditions) I played was Alwoodley. Although extremely firm and bouncy and fast, the fairways, greens, all of it was somewhat springy--just the way it's always reputed to be. I think that just must be the type of grass they have there. Don't know what kind it is exactly but my sense is it's unkillable!

Actually of the courses I saw over there this time the most natural of all in routing, natural landform holes and architecture, vegetation, condtion, basically all of it was Alwoodley.

[ForkaB]

Dan

I had a chat or two with the head greenkeeper at Dornoch in August and asked him that same question (i.e. "Is the grass dead?").  His reply, delivered with a wry smile was:

"Only the meadow grass!"

Those greens (in mid-August) were the best I have ever putted on.  At the edge of silliness, but just far enough on the side of sanity to really test one's nerve, imagination and putting stroke.  Of course, I'm biased......

[Dan Grossman]

Tom -

I think the conditions at Alwoodley were perfect.  It was hard and fast, but not overly severe.  That course was my second favorite on the trip, behind Lytham.

Did you see the pictures I posted?