[David Wuthrich]

I just got back from a wonderful trip to the Northeast part of the US.  It got me to wondering.  When is your favorite time to visit these classic courses?  I like the fall because the courses are firm and fast, the colors (green, brown, purple), the fescue and the temp's are great.  But some of my friends like to go in the spring and summer.  What are your thoughts and why?  Thanks!

[Rob Marshall]

You must have gone to a different part of the Northeast than I live. It’s never firm and fast in the fall in Rochester NY.

[Dan_Callahan]

With rain in the forecast for pretty much every day this week, there’s not much firmness going on in New England. But fall golf is still the best.

Spring is cold, muddy, windy and raw.

Summer gets blazing hot and humid and buggy.

But fall ... like ... at least two or three days in October and early November ... can be spectacular. Sadly, those three days don’t often fall on the weekend, so I sit in my office and look out the window and imagine how great the golf must be.

But every now and then, the stars align and the weather is perfect and the foliage is glowing and I don’t have to work and my kids don’t have games and I sneak over to the course and it’s unbeatable.

[archie_struthers]

 


September is the absolute best month to play at the Jersey Shore and I'm guessing its got to be pretty wonderful from D.C to Maine this time of year !

[mike_malone]

Now through early December in Philly. It’s firmest and cool.

[Bruce Katona]

Archie (he also) loves playing this time of year at The jersey Shore - weather is great, the tourists are gone and conditions optimal!

[Tim Martin]

May, October, November in and around Connecticut.

[Phil Carlucci]

Late September through the end of October has always been my favorite time to play on Long Island. 

[JESII]

I'm not so sure I agree...


Along the shore, where Archie hangs his hat, may be different but in the Philadelphia suburbs, the courses are rarely firmer than other times of year because they just don't dry out as well. Sure, with cooler temperatures, the greens can be mowed lower and with lower humidity, they certainly can get fast...but some of the superintendents in the region have gotten really good at drying out the course during the prime season. Give me 5:00PM on one of those courses in May or June and life is good.

[Peter Pallotta]

Not all superintendents are created equal.
For me, right now is the best: we've had a stretch of cool nights and sunny, 15 degree days (circa 65F). The too many trees that most of the time are just a nuisance are now at least a lovely and colourful nuisance. The grass doesn't grow as fast (either in the fairway or the rough) and so everything 'softens', i.e. the mowing lines blend together more, providing at least a patina of 'naturalness'. 
And I think for the supers/courses that throughout the hot humid summer do too much (mostly too much water), at this point they've all gotten tired after a long season -- and with many fewer golfers on the courses to try to keep happy, the crews seem quite content to do as little as possible.
Which is perfect.   
Plus I get to wear a sweater, which makes me feel that I'm playing in the Open Championship.
I think I look quite nice in a sweater. And I play better too.

[Tim Martin]

Not all superintendents are created equal.
For me, right now is the best: we've had a stretch of cool nights and sunny, 15 degree days (circa 65F). The too many trees that most of the time are just a nuisance are now at least a lovely and colourful nuisance. The grass doesn't grow as fast (either in the fairway or the rough) and so everything 'softens', i.e. the mowing lines blend together more, providing at least a patina of 'naturalness'. 
And I think for the supers/courses that throughout the hot humid summer do too much (mostly too much water), at this point they've all gotten tired after a long season -- and with many fewer golfers on the courses to try to keep happy, the crews seem quite content to do as little as possible.
Which is perfect.   
Plus I get to wear a sweater, which makes me feel that I'm playing in the Open Championship.
I think I look quite nice in a sweater. And I play better too.

Please provide a picture of your own self in said sweater striking a Captain Morgan pose while interfacing with your favorite architectural landform. We'll be the judge.

[Kalen Braley]

I think Sept-Oct applies to all "north" golf, as same is true here in Northern Utah when the summer heat finally relents.

P.S.  However in the PNW, summer and fall golf are both glorious...

[Michael Pelliccione]

Early Oct to Mid Nov for North Jerz

[Tommy Williamsen]

I'm at Hidden Creek for a fe days. It was a bit breezy this morning but got in 36 by 1:30 before the rain. I love this time of year at the Jersey shore.

[JESII]

#jealous


#callArchie

[JMEvensky]

Not all superintendents are created equal.
For me, right now is the best: we've had a stretch of cool nights and sunny, 15 degree days (circa 65F). The too many trees that most of the time are just a nuisance are now at least a lovely and colourful nuisance. The grass doesn't grow as fast (either in the fairway or the rough) and so everything 'softens', i.e. the mowing lines blend together more, providing at least a patina of 'naturalness'. 
And I think for the supers/courses that throughout the hot humid summer do too much (mostly too much water), at this point they've all gotten tired after a long season -- and with many fewer golfers on the courses to try to keep happy, the crews seem quite content to do as little as possible.
Which is perfect.   
Plus I get to wear a sweater, which makes me feel that I'm playing in the Open Championship.
I think I look quite nice in a sweater. And I play better too.

Please provide a picture of your own self in said sweater striking a Captain Morgan pose while interfacing with your favorite architectural landform. We'll be the judge.

Don't encourage him or he'll go the full argyle swathed Walter Hagen.

[Peter Pallotta]

Gents, I wish I could honour your request for a photo/photos, but I can't - for two reasons:
1 - about the sweater (and how good I look in it), you'll agree that it's all a matter of taste: and, while I think that I myself have very good taste, I'm not so sure about you guys!
2 - about my interfacing with the architectural features: sorry, there's not much interfacing going on when I'm always in the middle of the fairway and the centre of the green!
 

[Mark_Fine]

It is a nice time to play golf in the Northeast but I wouldn't say conditions are ideal.  Lots of aerification of greens and rough underway, leaves everywhere, many start fall bunker reconstruction work (if needed), usually softer conditions,...  But the temperatures are great!

[jeffwarne]

At The Bridge spring is absolutely ideal conditionwise
The firmest we are all year-fairways still a  tawny yellowbrownish green in April.
Greens perfect, firm and fast, while most eastern LI clubs are recovering from aeration.
yet my phone blows up in the fall with silly season requests while the spring is amazingly quiet.
I've started limiting my charity Gift Certificates to April and May to encourage some usage then rather than the inundation of requests we get in the fall


The fall is beautiful no doubt, but Spring (weather permitting) is awesome for breezy firm fast golf

[archie_struthers]

 




The shore is different than Philly, our springs are awful its cold and damp but fall is glorious. The proximity to the ocean keeps us warm( fall ) longer and cold longer (spring). Soil temps follow suit. Pine Valley,  just fifty four miles from where I sit is two to three weeks  ahead of us every spring!


 As Sully said the soils tend to be lighter and dry out faster so we play all year. It could change at any time but we usually get lots of golf in right to the end of November....we die hards play in the cold. Winter leagues already getting ready to start the second season!

[Peter Pallotta]

Yes, the 'northeast' encompasses a surprisingly wide variety of climates & conditions
An eight hour drive from where Jeff is, our 'spring' doesn't really start until the 2nd week of May, and then the turf is far from firm and the greens far from fast... having just finished absorbing some million tons of melting snow!
I'd like to go visit Archie one day, around the end of November or early December: seems so much more 'natural' for a north-easterner to play 'winter golf' than to be shocking the system with a trip to Arizona or Florida. Though maybe visiting Jay M in the Pinehurst area at that time of year might be a good middle ground 

[archie_struthers]

 


I'd love to host a "Winter Classic" this year at the Jersey Shore Peter lets start doing some planning. Pulling out my farmers almanac as we post !

[jeffwarne]

Yes, the 'northeast' encompasses a surprisingly wide variety of climates & conditions
An eight hour drive from where Jeff is, our 'spring' doesn't really start until the 2nd week of May, and then the turf is far from firm and the greens far from fast... having just finished absorbing some million tons of melting snow!
I'd like to go visit Archie one day, around the end of November or early December: seems so much more 'natural' for a north-easterner to play 'winter golf' than to be shocking the system with a trip to Arizona or Florida. Though maybe visiting Jay M in the Pinehurst area at that time of year might be a good middle ground

Not to mislead anyone, our spring weather generally sucks and is 1-2 weeks later than an hour further west(especially if the water is cold from a cold winter), often being miserable until mid June.
But the course conditions are amazing and a nice May day is unbeatable.A nice spring day has such amzing light-a fall day tends to be depressing to me as the light is fading quickly...

[JMEvensky]

I'd love to host a "Winter Classic" this year at the Jersey Shore Peter lets start doing some planning. Pulling out my farmers almanac as we post !

I'm in and will bring The Lurker as my +1.

[David Wuthrich]

Jeff,
Good to know.  Your course was one that we were fortunate to visit and was probably in the best shape of all that we played.
I'll have to try May, thanks!

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