I am a ESPN+ subscriber and we get 5 different feeds. 4 featured groups and coverage of 16, 17 and 18.
Just now it was mentioned that there is a system under each of the greens regulating their temperature, like a heated floor.
Is anyone familiar with this system? What is it called and how much $ does it cost?
I don't know the name, but I heard someone discussing installing it at another high-end south-central US club at a cost of $600K per green.
$600,000 per hole was the cost of the entire renovation of Southern Hill, $11,000,000.
I too think a HVAC system under each green is not something to be admired/championed. They also did this at Merion East. I’ve heard of other courses too but can’t remember well enough to list them here. I guess if the USGA or PGA suggests it’s a prerequisite for multiple future majors there is no choice.
Agree 100%.
Where does it all end?
Despite the expense and extravagance of the "restoration", 90% of the comments from press and players about the course have been about the condition of the course.
Sand is a hot topic everyone is being asked to comment on.Funnily eough, the sand IS resored and actually saved from the previous iteration of the course.
The reigning Masters Champon mentioned THREE times in his interview how chewed up the greens were in the afternoon-at a course where they just spent 11 million-playing in May!! not August when the PGA used to be played, or late June for a US Open.
My point is I hear more questions and comments about conditioning issues than ever, despite all the expense and extravagance poured into high profile courses.
Raising expectations to such a high level that a full field full of footprints is now a problem for players(to be fair Aimpoint certainly contributes but I digress....)
Every single 6 footer did not used to be a gimme. Greens weren't perfectly consistent.
That said, one could firmly strike a putt with inconsistencies without fear of it running another 6 feet by.
Every single bunker shot did not used to have a consistent type, color and size of sand grain to ensure high, "consistent" spin and experience from odd and variable lies mattered. To be fair, they weren't trying to stop the ball on greens rolling 13 either as they are now
(IMHO that's yet another problem/root of other problems-again I digress...but while I'm at it,how do you "restore" a course when you're maintaining the greens at more than DOUBLE the stimp speed they were from whatever period they are basing the restoration on.)
I had a very interesting, highly varied incredible week which really confirmed/cemented my ideas on green speed/redesign, and in some ways broke my heart. Can't really comment on it yet but hope to in some way when I get my thoughts together and figure out a way to comment without offense, as none is intended.