In reference to a previous post about the state of the greens at CB, I thought I might provide an update as of this past Saturday. I thought I had seen that several GCA'ers had be planning to play there last week, but I didn't see them offer up any impressions...
There has been unquestionable considerable activity down there over the past 4 weeks since I had last played in February. The new tees grading in on several holes are quite intriguing (I will post a photo of the new back tee on #15 later)--one in particular that I think will be a great addition will be the new back tee on #1 (that I believe can be used for #10, as well). It is just off the main practice green and behind and more to the right of the existing tee complex for #1. The effect, when #1 is played from there, will be to encourage a fade-shape off the tee, which might mean challenging the vast right-side waste area in order to catch the "speed slot" down the right fairway. The hole will be, I think, about 490-500 yds from that tee...
#4 is now played to a temporary green, which is 170 yds (according to the sprinkler heads) back downhill along the right side of the fairway from the original green. The right side of the new green is hard against the blow-out area right, and the hole will play 310-320 from the sand tees and 345-360 from the navy tees, etc...The temporary #4 green is already putting perhaps better than #13 green, and should be not noticeably different in another month or two...Noticeable work has not yet begun on the original 4th green, but there is some supposition that the dune to the right of the green will be altered to 1) allow more exitways off the green 2) expand the playable area back and to the right 3) something different altogether!
#7 and #13 greens have had weatherizing blankets placed on them in the evenings recently, and there has been some improvement in overall quality in the last 4 weeks. #7 seems to be a bit closer to bouncing back than #13, which still has some significant scruffiness to it, but both seem to be progressing...
#12 green is even further along the path to consistency...
The remaining 15 greens are, by and large, doing quite well, and in fact I would use the term "pristine" to describe #8, #11, #5 and #17, to name just a few...
Yes, there are slower than typical for most CCFAD or private club players, and uphill (or rarely "upgrain") putts need to be struck firmly, but the consistency and uniformity continue to advance...
To those who would argue that one must stay away because of the greens, I think that opinion may be terribly short-sided, as I would think that cost, travel ease and weather considerations would be far more important than the state of the greens. As an example, I would much sooner travel to CB to play right now than I would Riviera (a course I enjoyed immensely), only to find out #6 and #10 were on the "temporary rotation" there...
More later...