So, what should we wish for?

[Tommy Williamsen]

I played a course today that is nothing short of exceptional. The green sites, bunkering, and the movement on the greens are brilliant. The conditioning was poor. The green fee was reasonable for a resort course. So I thought, "Do I wish someone would spend a couple of million on the course or keep it the way it is at a reasonable price?" I decided to with the latter, but with a big investment, people would flock to see it.

[Ken Moum]

The first thing that comes to my mind is, "How poor?"


For me, the bar is pretty low re. conditioning, so as long as there's grass on the greens and fairways, I generally don't complain.


OTOH, half the people I play with wouldn't be happy with the average conditions on The Old Course, if it was in the US.

[Charlie Goerges]

Tommy, was the conditioning poor because they were striving for more than they (likely) had the budget to achieve? If so, then I think what we should wish for is just a change in expectations. If courses aren't expected to keep fairways under a half-inch and greens so fast, I wonder how much stronger their swards could be?

[Peter Sayegh]

I played a course today that is nothing short of exceptional. The green sites, bunkering, and the movement on the greens are brilliant. The conditioning was poor. The green fee was reasonable for a resort course. So I thought, "Do I wish someone would spend a couple of million on the course or keep it the way it is at a reasonable price?" I decided to with the latter, but with a big investment, people would flock to see it.

I agree with you Tommy.
Nothing wrong with unkempt alongside a pleasing nature.
It's how I felt the first time I played Southern Pines...but my wishes went ungranted.

[jeffwarne]

I played a course today that is nothing short of exceptional. The green sites, bunkering, and the movement on the greens are brilliant. The conditioning was poor. The green fee was reasonable for a resort course. So I thought, "Do I wish someone would spend a couple of million on the course or keep it the way it is at a reasonable price?" I decided to with the latter, but with a big investment, people would flock to see it.

I agree with you Tommy.
Nothing wrong with unkempt alongside a pleasing nature.
It's how I felt the first time I played Southern Pines...but my wishes went ungranted.

This.
My favorite type of course.

[John Kavanaugh]

It all goes back to that first golfer who wished his course was “better”. Then came the guy who wished it was like it was. Might have even been the same dude.

[Tim Martin]

I played a course today that is nothing short of exceptional. The green sites, bunkering, and the movement on the greens are brilliant. The conditioning was poor. The green fee was reasonable for a resort course. So I thought, "Do I wish someone would spend a couple of million on the course or keep it the way it is at a reasonable price?" I decided to with the latter, but with a big investment, people would flock to see it.

I agree with you Tommy.
Nothing wrong with unkempt alongside a pleasing nature.
It's how I felt the first time I played Southern Pines...but my wishes went ungranted.

Peter-Southern Pines definitely had that feeling before it was acquired and restored. The rawness of the site/land really stood out.

[Peter Sayegh]

I played a course today that is nothing short of exceptional. The green sites, bunkering, and the movement on the greens are brilliant. The conditioning was poor. The green fee was reasonable for a resort course. So I thought, "Do I wish someone would spend a couple of million on the course or keep it the way it is at a reasonable price?" I decided to with the latter, but with a big investment, people would flock to see it.

I agree with you Tommy.
Nothing wrong with unkempt alongside a pleasing nature.
It's how I felt the first time I played Southern Pines...but my wishes went ungranted.

Peter-Southern Pines definitely had that feeling before it was acquired and restored. The rawness of the site/land really stood out.

Tim, thanks. "Rawness" beautifully describes SP the first time I played it.

[Craig Sweet]

Budgets have almost always dictated conditions. And these days finding employees is difficult. Most courses and golfers would benefit from a higher HOC on the fairways. For me, green and firm greens rolling @10, and level, not all hacked up tee boxes, will make me happy.


Of course this year at Old Works we have greens that are horrible in places and we played preferred lies in the fairways during the State Am....go figure.