Big green green fans...

[Pat Jones]

Ummm...it's called air movement and it is critical to keeping ludicrously short grass alive in areas where the microclimate, landscape, trees, etc., don't allow natural cooling.  

I'm a friggin' English major and even I know that warm, wet turf means disease.  Without those fans, it's fungicide city and/or dead grass, boys.

Why does an extremely practical and relatively cost-effective solution offend your sensibilities?  If you weren't complaining (apparently) about aesthetics, you'd be complaining about putting on dirt.  Sheesh!

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Pat, The fans don't bother me. In fact they were actually nice to cool off by in 106 degree heat. what bothers me is when a course like Riviera only has a full 18 holes open 2 days a week, tops. Somedays it's only open 1 day a week. the rest of the time it's to the temporaries.

Hope all is well.

[John_Cullum]

... what bothers me is when a course like Riviera only has a full 18 holes open 2 days a week, tops. Somedays it's only open 1 day a week. the rest of the time it's to the temporaries.

Wow, How often does that happen?

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Riviera plays a full 18 like only on Friday or Saturday I'm told. Everytime I have been there, I've experienced at least one if not two greens closed. They are holes #6, 10, 16. In fact the first time I actually got to play #10 was the last time I was there. Every other time it has always been to the alternate green.

[John Kavanaugh]

Ummm...it's called air movement and it is critical to keeping ludicrously short grass alive in areas where the microclimate, landscape, trees, etc., don't allow natural cooling.  

I'm a friggin' English major and even I know that warm, wet turf means disease.  Without those fans, it's fungicide city and/or dead grass, boys.

Why does an extremely practical and relatively cost-effective solution offend your sensibilities?  If you weren't complaining (apparently) about aesthetics, you'd be complaining about putting on dirt.  Sheesh!

Pat,

Like I said above green green fans are fine on second tier courses just as  are pre-fab clubhouses.  When I go full tier I expect better.  Actually I think it is pretty simple to design a course with the proper turf and green location to avoid the use of fans.  Every course may need to be built but few really ever need to be played.

[JR Potts]

Riviera plays a full 18 like only on Friday or Saturday I'm told. Everytime I have been there, I've experienced at least one if not two greens closed. They are holes #6, 10, 16. In fact the first time I actually got to play #10 was the last time I was there. Every other time it has always been to the alternate green.

Played Riviera this April.   I paid $350 and was never told that holes were closed.  (In fact, hole #6 was closed).  When I arrived on the 6th tee, my caddie brought me a 9 iron and a pitching wedge.  I told him to go back to my bag and get my 7.  At first he balked...believing that 7 was way too much club...then he understood and got my 7.  Guess what, my 7 was too much club and I landed squarely on the left side of the green.  I fixed my ball mark, wrote a 3 on my scorecard and proceeded to hole #7.

[John Kavanaugh]

Ryan,

The caddie should have called you in and had you escorted from the course.

[JR Potts]

Ryan,

The caddie should have called you in and had you escorted from the course.

Maybe, but too bad.  What can I say, I caught it a little too pure.

[John Kavanaugh]

Ryan,

The caddie should have called you in and had you escorted from the course.

Maybe, but too bad.  What can I say, I caught it a little too pure.

Ryan,

Do you represent anyone other than yourself in the golfing world.  Why do you think just because you paid a few dollars to a private course you had the right to go against their wishes.  Will this continue to be your practice the rest of your golfing life...If you are a member of a club or represent any other organization I would say you have brought each of your fellow members or cohorts down a notch with your actions.

[JR Potts]

Well John, before you start throwing stones, at least hear the full story.  I had three foursomes out.  I called ahead, asked what days the full course was going to be open and scheduled my guests for that day.  I gave them my credit card, they charged me $4,200.  

Much to my surprise, 6 is closed.  In my opinion, #6 is one of the "must play" holes at Riviera.  They lied to me to take my money.  So I pulled a little too much club and ripped it over "the green" and onto the "the green."  And I would do it again and again if I was continually taken advantage of.

But let me say, I loved the course and the service was great.  And maybe I was wrong, but I felt justified at the time.

And in direct response to your question, I represent myself.

[John Kavanaugh]

Well John, before you start throwing stones (stones which I really don't care too much about), at least hear the full story.  I had three foursomes out.  I called ahead, asked what days the full course was going to be open and scheduled my guests for that day.  I gave them my credit card, they charged me $4,200.  

Much to my surprise, 6 is closed.  In my opinion, #6 is one of the "must play" holes at Riviera.  They lied to me to take my money.  So I pulled a little too much club and ripped it over "the green" and onto the "the green."  And I would do it again and again if I was continually taken advantage of.

But let me say, I loved the course and the service was great.

Thanks...That explains it perfectly.  I hope your clients took your actions in context.  Basically...If there is enough money involved ethics are out the window.  Obviously if you had been comped you would have respect the wishes of the club.

[BCowan]

Throwback Thursday...

[Carl Johnson]

At my club in piedmont North Carolina we have big green green fans.  I like to think we're first tier.  We have bent greens.  We've given the greens as much circulation via tree removal as reasonally possible.  The fans are only put out when it gets really hot - probably coming soon - and then taken down and stored in the fall.  They actually work.  In a way I think they're like electric poles and lines - they mar the landscape but after a while you tune them out.  All in I think they're the best solution in our case.  (They're also nice to stand in front of for a little while to cool off from time to time.)