Water usage

[guesst]

They don't oil it or water it . . . they just sweep the dustways.

I'm very upset.  Some shady developer has hired a hack architect and stolen my idea.  There is, however, room for improvement, especially in elevations, sand contour, and rock placement.  It's difficult to distinguish between the bunkers and the brown. No doubt the PC in the treehouse will approve of the trees.  

Do I need to be a panelist or know a member to get on?  Has anyone rated this yet?  Glib is always looking for hidden gems.  This has to be our next trip.  I love it.  

To quote Mike's fiance, "The bunkers look so natural!"  

[Rainmaker]

Thanks Andy,

We consult with clubs all over the country.  As I said earlier we are golf Course Irrigation consultants.  We design, manage construction, and help superintendents establish appropriate programming for their irrigation systems.

Paul

[Patrick_Mucci]

Darva,

I'm not referencing water hazards, but the "appearance" of the condition of the golf course.

Very few members can see beyond or through the green.

[guesst]

Thanks for clarifying.  It's not really water they are using as camo, but the color that water generates.  I understand what you mean, and how lush turf might be mistaken for fine conditioning. Good point.

Many things can be used to distract from poor architecture.  Part of what I'm trying to do is train my eye to see beyond such things as view, opulence, etceteras.  If I may generalize, I think women have a tendency to see the overall picture . . . an expanded awareness, if you will, and then the small details.  

I know that, at least for myself, I am first aware of the whole look . . . the drama of the green against the sky with the ocean below and Molokai in the distance.  My next awareness goes to the details . . . bunker edges, ground contour, the placement of the tees etceteras.  I especially enjoy when the ladies tees are placed not just closer, but in such a way that they thoughtfully give similar choices as the back tees.

The most difficult things for me to see involve the middle ground.  Routing, for example, is tough for me.  

That could just be because I'm directionally challenged. I usually can't FIND the next tee!  

The men I hear discussing architecture seem to be most taken with the details and middle ground first. They come last to the things I find most striking initially.  

Variety . . .  mmmmm.

[A_Clay_Man]

DD- When the time is right, sell gib on an mental vacation, here, similar to Kilmer's in "The Doors". We can channel the ancients, and you can learn the art of routing. Tom Paul is invited, but must bring the holy silver flasks.

The character of the terrain, in this region, makes snake hole look like a low-hole latrine, on flat ground. But I wouldn't discourage anyone from golfing there, as who's to say that's a bad thing?

Proseem?

[Cliff Hamm]

Pat  

No I'm not trying to compare climactic conditions between the British Isles and America.  Yet never having had the pleasure of playing golf overseas I suspect conditions are not as pristine.  I do view this as a difference between golf courses here and in the British Isles.  We need to water more than they, but do we really need to water as much as we do?  Couldn't we be a bit more environmentally conscious and accept less than perfection in every blade of grass?  Water is a precious commodity and as has been stated when it is excessively used does not help us with the general public.

From a purely golf point a view I don't claim to have the expertise that others do on this board but two experiences come to mind.  After playing a Ross muni (Triggs in Providence, RI) I commented that many traps were 30 yards or so in front of the green and did not present much of a hazard.  I was informed that many holes were designed with a punch and run as an alternative shot when the ground was hard.  Watering makes such a shot inefficient and changes the architecht's intent.  Similarly played Cape Arundel in the fall which also presents numerous opportunities to run the ball up.  The grass was to soft and lush, however, in front of the greens to play such a shot.  The clubhouse folks indicated that in the summer conditions are different but it had rained quite a bit.

My basic point is that Americans want everything to be the best.  That is fine.  I am not convinced, however, that the game would be any less if we watered less.  I do feel we like to brag that our course is in better condition than yours, etc.  The added benefit would be lower maintenance costs although to many cost is no object. Of course we need to water.  It would be ludicrious to argue otherwise.  But is it truly necessary to have every blade of grass green and perfect?  Is that what golf is really about?

Cliff

[JohnV]

For those who are interested in playing the course pictured above, it is on the eastern most outskirts of Mesa, AZ.  Just across the street from the Super 8 Motel where I stayed once.  As you can see from the first picture it appears to have a very restrictive guest policy.  I don't think they allow raters which might account for its failure to appear in any national rankings, especially Golf Digest's.  Those small greens should rank real high in the Resistance to Scoring category.

[Norbert P]

 Water usage?  I like just a splash of springwater with my whisky, thank you,  but I like my whiskey straight.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Cliff Hamm,

When you force golf courses into hostile environments, you need water.

Water isn't a luxury in the desert it's a necessity, and it fact, the obtaining of water rights is as important, if not more so then the land itself.

Members who pay considerable inititations to join clubs, and dues to maintain them, don't want to play on cow pastures, and I don't blame them, I don't either.  I'd like reasonable conditions as a playing surface.

Rather then speak in vague generalities, could you be course specific in your assertion.

What were the seasons weather an agronomic conditions prior to your play of Cape Arundel ?

Anybody can take a snapshot, or look at a single frame that may not be flattering, but view the single frame in the context of the entire film before passing judgement.
At least that would seem to be the informed way of analyzing the true conditions of the golf course.

I've played Newport frequently, and a few years ago it was more green, more lush then any course that I had played that summer.  And, as you know, Newport has no fairway irrigation.
But, they did get lots of rain prior to my arrival.
Another fellow, unfamiliar with the golf course, who was seeing it for the first time, said, "they must water the hell out of this place"  Well, his theory was "all wet".  You may want to re-examine yours.

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