[Anthony_Nysse]

 I think that it's important to note that Seminole has a very serious caddie program and very minimal cart traffic, if any is allowed. This can certainly allow for turf to be pushed harder because there is less need to protect against that type of wear and tear.  Calusa Pines is the same.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tony,

Funny you should mention that.

I was thinking about that  as I examined the fairway on the  first hole.

I was thinking how good the fairway was looking  and how that would be impacted by cart traffic as the season got under way.

Seminole just began their cart restriction program last year and they just opened a few weeks ago.
They do enjoy cooler days and nights due to their proximity to the ocean but the critical factor would seem to be their culture, their desire to produce optimal playing conditions.

There's no question that cart traffic takes it's toll on fairway conditions

[Mark Chaplin]

Rather than looking at Seminole which isn't exactly main stream US golfing culture, as Mark says look over here where the better courses reflect the year's growing conditions. Not all links are F&F every year, if it's warm and damp you'd better hit it straight!

[Jim Hoak]

This was alluded to--but could some of you more knowledgeable than I comment on the interplay between the type of grasses involved and the ease of going browner?  Seminole is predominately Bermuda grass as far as I know.  Could West Coast courses which are heavy in poa go as brown without some conversion of their main grass through seeding?  Browning of poa results in some turf loss, rather than just a nice even browning.  Any solution?

[Andrew Buck]

This was alluded to--but could some of you more knowledgeable than I comment on the interplay between the type of grasses involved and the ease of going browner?  Seminole is predominately Bermuda grass as far as I know.  Could West Coast courses which are heavy in poa go as brown without some conversion of their main grass through seeding?  Browning of poa results in some turf loss, rather than just a nice even browning.  Any solution?

I would love to hear differently, but that sure seems to be the case.  Also, it's really difficult to keep Poa completely out of bent, blue or rye grasses.

I would assume this is why a lot of the northern courses want to use fescue if they can, easier to keep F&F, but that's just an assumption.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Rather than looking at Seminole which isn't exactly main stream US golfing culture, as Mark says look over here where the better courses reflect the year's growing conditions.

Mark, you may not realize this, but, it's difficult to "look over here" when one is playing Seminole.

Seminole is in the South, where conditions get warm, yet, they're maintaining their fairways F&F (when MN permits) and it's by design.
If Seminole achieve those conditions, then other clubs in Florida and the south should be able to aspire to achieve those conditions.

But, more importantly, it tells the visiting golfer/chairman that you can have superior playing surfaces and brown fairways.
That the two aren't mutually exclusive.

Not all links are F&F every year, if it's warm and damp you'd better hit it straight!

Why would you have to hit it straight if it's damp and not F&F ?

[Mark Chaplin]

Oh Patrick you have excelled yourself this time, you really do need to dust down the passport and get on a plane.

In a F&F summer Mother Nature makes the rough dry and whispy, which is rather easy to play out of. A warm damp summer allows the grass to grow healthily and thicker, if you find your ball, it's a mare to play from. That's why you need to be straight in a warm and damp year.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Oh Patrick you have excelled yourself this time, you really do need to dust down the passport and get on a plane.

In a F&F summer Mother Nature makes the rough dry and whispy, which is rather easy to play out of. A warm damp summer allows the grass to grow healthily and thicker, if you find your ball, it's a mare to play from. That's why you need to be straight in a warm and damp year.

IF it's damp, the ball won't roll far from impact, allowing for more erratic play..........no ?

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