Q: I play at a fine old course that dates from the 1920s. A brand-new course was recently built in our area, and although I have always been pleased with my old course, the greens are much firmer, faster, and more consistently good on the new course. I never thought I would tire of my old course, but it just doesn’t seem to play as well anymore.
OK, stop right here. Take away this schlub's golf clubs, quick, before he hurts himself, and get him a handkerchief 'cause I think he has to blow his nose. A: I understand your complaint, (Wait a minute, you 'understand his complaint'? I suppose you also iron your BVDs?) but comparing the playability of a course built in the 1920s to a brand-new course built with modern techniques and planted with improved grasses is simply not a fair comparison. It is much like comparing the first personal computer witha top-notch new PC available today. They both may work well, but they have infinitely different capabilities.The old course in your example likely has soil-based greens that have been topdressed with sand. They may drain reasonably well, but their drainage would be inferior when compared to a green properly built to USGA putting green construction guidelines. Similarly, great progress has been made in turf breeding, and the grasses currently available are superior to what was available just a few years ago with respect to wear, heat and drought tolerance, and disease resistance. Your old greens can play well, but they will not play as consistently as properly built and managed modern greens.I couldn't help myself, when I read this exchange I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I'll bet these two guys don't like turkey either (sorry Jay, couldn't resist
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Above exchange from the most recent Turf Twisters. (bold is mine)