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Adam Clayman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Sand Greens Anyone?
« on: November 22, 2006, 09:54:45 PM »
Came across my first Sand Greens golf course, Cactus Heights, in Big Springs, Nebraska.

My reaction is that those who play here, must truely love golf.

For your viewing pleasure. I present Cactus Heights....



Note the annual membership dues.


The welcoming clubhouse complete with storage for the red tournament flags.


The intimidating opener.


Cactus heights is played on very little level ground off of the teeing...eh.. ground.


Guess the hole number?

You may be asking yourself "how are the conditions?" Well..



Or, You might be curious how one putts on sand greens???


While there are undoubtedly better rakers than yours truely, I was trying to avoid the following...



Each hole pole comes complete with the hole number and two rakes. One with teeth (as seen above) and one smooth to create the line of putt. Oh yeah, and a spoon.

More to follow based on the level of enthusiastic begging.


« Last Edit: November 22, 2006, 09:57:15 PM by Adam Clayman »
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"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Jason Hines

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #1 on: November 22, 2006, 10:25:13 PM »
Adam,

I am curious, what exactly constitutes ground under repair on hole #1 or #8?  (sign from the clubhouse)

Happy Thanksgiving,

J.
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Daryn_Soldan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2006, 11:24:27 PM »
Adam,

Got to love those photos... not to mention playing golf in November out here on the plains.  You may have inspired me.  I'm headed to Atwood, KS (SW of McCook, NE) for a wedding this weekend and know of more than one little sand greens course along the way.  Its been a while since I've played one but with the 70 degree temps I may have to take the clubs and make a stop along the way.

Sand greens courses really are their own breed. I remember playing Prairie Dunes a few days before the '95 US Senior Am and one afternoon all the USGA guys were headed off to play at a local sand grees course.  Can't say I've ever seen a group of grown men so excited to leave a top notch course to go tangle with the buffalo grass, thistles, prairie dog holes and oily sand greens.  :)

-Daryn
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Mike Nuzzo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2006, 11:35:48 PM »
Are you allowed to smooth out your chips?

Have fun.
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Adam Clayman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2006, 12:10:14 AM »
Jason, I'm curious too.

Daryn, I'm afraid the 70's are done. But even the 50's works when there's walking involved. Enjoy!

Mike,
 As I understand it, some players play by rules that allow for the placement of their ball on a clump of Buffalo grass when in the dirt.

Featured Hole-The Ninth

Here's the directional marker (what else could it be?) for the par 3 Ninth.



The semi-punchbowl green.



On approach from the right.



Looking back. The tree is just out of frame right.


 
Here's a long shot of the Ninth with eye lash grass in foreground.



« Last Edit: November 23, 2006, 12:21:53 AM by Adam Clayman »
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"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Ron Farris

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2006, 12:20:42 AM »
Adam, it broke my heart when I helped a club change from sand to grass greens last summer here in SD.  The put in an fwy/green/tee irrigation system, grassed the new greens (super small but big enough to handle their 40 members) for 150,000, mostly volunteer labor.

It is always a treat to play one of these courses.  I grew up near the Springview sand green course and we tried to play it once a year.

Keep the spirit alive Adam!
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Mike Nuzzo

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2006, 12:38:43 AM »
Adam,
When you are off the green - chipping distance, are you allowed to smooth the green to try and chip in the "hole"?
Cheers
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Thinking of Bob, Rihc, Bill, George, Neil, Dr. Childs, & Tiger.

astavrides

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2006, 07:58:35 AM »
Adam,
Thanks for that.  How is it to putt on the greens?  I guess they can't be contoured, so they follow the lay of the land?  What do they stimp at?  How does an approach shot react when it lands on them?
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Jason Hines

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2006, 08:52:58 AM »
Daryn,

If you already didn't know, off of highway 36 there is a sand green course in Scandia on the way to Atwood.   I played Atwood last month with my father, they have the in line, plug in sprinklers.  Not a bad little course for Atwood, KS.

J.
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Adam Clayman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2006, 12:36:50 PM »
Alex-
 I can't confirm the playability. I just went out to shoot these photos. I've heard that sand greens are slow with a velcro like miniscule form of ball creep. ;)


The greens seemed to have a slightly convex contouring to them. Undoubtedly for drainage purposes.
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"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Guy Nicholson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2006, 10:35:07 PM »
My first full summer playing golf (11 or 12 years old) was on flat sand greens, similar to the ones below, at Ojibway Golf & CC in Sioux Lookout, Ont., halfway between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg. There was no furrowed rake, but we did have the roller. Broke 50 on one of my last nines of the summer.

It's a pretty decent little course, considering its origins. They have real greens now. The old ones were quaint, but I don't think any of the members miss them - the two closest alternatives were about an hour and a half down the highway, and one of those had artificial turf greens.  :-*
 
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Daryn_Soldan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2006, 05:17:58 PM »
Jason-

Just got off the course at Atwood.  It is a nice little course.  I played it for the first time in mid-October with some locals and really enjoyed it.  Went around 3 times this morning/afternoon in shirt sleeves and barely over 3 hours.  Got to love that.  

As for those in line plug in sprinklers, they were using them this morning but he was only making it around every couple hours to change them.  As a result a few fairways ended up partially submerged.  The ball plugs in the fairway and runs 60 yards in the rough.  Guess where I hit most of mine.  ;D

Time permitting I'm going to head back to Manhattan along 36 on Sunday afternoon and try to play 9 along the way.  

-Daryn
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Jim Sweeney

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2006, 05:27:57 PM »
 A new course for my "must play" list. Really. Bring out the hickories! Looks like a blast. But why "preferred lies?"

The course is over 3,000 yards; does it have a slope rating?

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"Hope and fear, hope and Fear, that's what people see when they play golf. Not me. I only see happiness."

" Two things I beleive in: good shoes and a good car. Alligator shoes and a Cadillac."

Moe Norman

William King

Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2006, 05:43:51 PM »
Played Baldwin City Muni (KS) in 1969. It is still a sand green 9 holer to this day

http://tinyurl.com/ybtxfg

More info on sand greens @ pasture golf:

http://www.pasturegolf.com/courses/coursesframe.htm
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Marty Bonnar

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2006, 06:15:36 PM »
Wonderful stuff Adam.
Genuine American minimalism.
Am I alone in thinking I would LOVE to play here?

Ground under Repair!?!?! Eh?

$3 Green Fees!?!?!? HEY!

AND

What is with the Box of Tissues? Maybe for the exclusive use of visiting GCAers??? :o

Seriously-ish, this place certainly speaks of WHAT a Golf Course actually is, can be and of what golfers will do to find a game. Brilliant. The Soul of the GAME...

FBD.
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The White River runs dark through the heart of the Town,
Washed the people coal-black from the hole in the ground.

Jason Hines

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2006, 06:58:06 PM »
Marty,

At today's close in New York, that $3 green fee is 1 pound, 55.  We got you covered if you make it out this way.

Daryn,

Atwood does need some tree work, but after building their new clubhouse, I think they are strapped for cash.  My dad lives north of Colby a couple of miles, I think he pays $100 per year to play in Atwood.  When I was there last month, that was the only place you could play in the 35mph wind because the course is in down in the draw with lots of trees.

The sand green course in Scandia is right in town on the north side of the highway.  It looks like a little city park with some iron or steel artwork in it.  You will probably drive by it at first.  Travel safe.

J.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2006, 07:00:06 PM by Jason_Hines »
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Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2006, 09:39:06 PM »
My cousin learned to play in Egypt in the early 1950's.   To this day he is an awful putter but good ball striker.  We used to call him "Motorboat" - putt putt putt.

Cactus Heights should be featured on pasturegolf.com

But it's golf! 18 tees, 18 greens, where's the first tee?  ;D
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Bill Gayne

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2006, 10:03:03 PM »
Mcintire Park in Charlottesville, Virginia is a sand green golf course. It might be lost with the extension of a parkway.

http://www.readthehook.com/Stories/2003/09/10/newsUnswungMcintireBootsSu.html
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Andrew Summerell

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #18 on: November 25, 2006, 05:35:03 AM »
Adam,

There are many sand green courses in rural Australia, especially in the extremely hot & dry regions. I’ve played a few of them & generally have fun, although it’s not something I would want to do more than once every 2 or3 years.

I have a friend who is Captain/President/Treasurer/Club Champion & Secretary Manager of a 9 hole course called Ariah Park that has about 60 members. It’s a par 70 (twice around for 18 holes) measuring just on 6700 yards. This included a 465 yard par 4 & a 230 yard par 3. Man, those sand greens look small when you have a 16 degree recovery club in your hands.
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Jay Flemma

Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #19 on: November 25, 2006, 07:22:14 AM »
Nice Adam!  So Cool!  See, this is deep research, adventurous conceptually and a real benefit to historians and purists alike!  Great discovery.  There's a reason why you are one of the great lions of the site...and its not just because of the long mane of tawny hair :D
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Adam Clayman

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re:Sand Greens Anyone?
« Reply #20 on: November 25, 2006, 04:19:04 PM »
Martin, Glad the soul could travel to you, in your little corner, from mine.

Jay, Adventurous Minimalism!

Ron Farris, Springview was featured on PGA Tour Sunday when Rosie threw a dart at the map and it hit Sprinview.  The whole town meeting concept is truely wonderful and should be modeled.

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and places!

Here's some parting shots







« Last Edit: November 25, 2006, 04:37:17 PM by Adam Clayman »
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"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle
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