just curious...Royal Melbourne perfection?

[David_Tepper]

A good start would be if somebody other than TD (he can't) would post what it cost to put this course in this condition, and then we could all do the math what that would mean for our clubs.


Dave M. -

While I understand your questions, I am not sure what point you are trying to make. Be it Wimbledon tennis, the Super Bowl, the World Cup final, etc., don't world class sporting events deserve to be played under the best possible playing conditions?

While Royal Melbourne, as seen in the President's Cup, is a model of how a golf course can and should be presented, I don't think any rational person expects their local/home course to be able to regularly achieve the conditions seen at RM this past weekend. I doubt the members of RM expect that either.

DT


 

[Mike_Clayton]

Tom:


Does RM own Sandringham or is the grounds deal just a smart move for both clubs?  Isn't Victoria right around the corner?


Anthony

Sandringham is a public course owned by the local council.  They lease it to Royal Melbourne.
Victoria is right across the road from both RM and Sandringham.


Whilst the course was in great condition, it wasn't that much different from what the members play week to week.
The look of it was fine tuned to emphasise the contrast between fairways and the roughs and the bunkers were smoothed over to ensure no bad lies.
 I caddied in the big 72- hole amateur event in January on the West Course and played the club's senior pro-am in March and the greens were as hard and fast in both as they were last week.

[Thomas Dai]

Thanks Tom for the kind offer and Mike for some specific local insights.
I wonder what the regular crew size is at RM for the 3 courses they look after? I wonder too how much hand or even bowser watering takes place given the tight edges between the greens-bunkers and the complex nature of the bunkering, especially with the tongues etc, which presumably can't be easy to keep in good condition particularly in Australia's climate.

Prepping prior to a big event, let alone one of huge international interest, is going to occur. It's the degree of prep in comparison to the norm that's of interest.
atb

[James Bennett]

Thomas Dai
greens are hand-mown, not triplex.Greens are often hand watered, not always though.Rough grasses near the bunkers typically have deep roots, so are drought tolerant.  They aren't watered up winter grass.
Whilst we talk about the drought, Melbourne sandbelt is a maritime climate, and so gets rain to some degree year round.Adelaide (and Perth) are Mediterranean in climate, and can have summer droughts lasting several months.The roughs in Perth and Adelaide are drier and more sparse than Melbourne unless they are irrigated.
Sydney is sub-tropical, so summer rain isn't the issue (although the spring drought is causing devastation with the bushfires in NSW).Brisbane is tropical,

[Anthony Gholz]

Mike: 


Thanks for the info.  Another question: They "lease" it to RM.  Does that mean they run it as a part of their private club or for the Council as a public course?  Or is it strictly a maintenance issue? 


I assume for the PC all four courses/clubs made the traffic and accommodations for all parties work.  My question is for every day use.


Thanks again.
Anthony

[Thomas Dai]

Thanks James.
Atb