Commonwealth,Trees,Bunkers,Bangers and Stones.....

[NicP]

I had the pleasure of being invited to play in the Guest Day at Commonwealth on Easter Saturday and although CGC gets a fair hearing on this site, I thought it necessary to post as it was the first time I had seen the course for approx. two years.

So lets start with the positives:

Fairway conditioning. A marked improvement on my previous visits. The Super should be congratulated.

Now for the negatives:

Soft and Slow greens. I didn't check this with the member but I think the greens are still showing some signs of recent renovation? If so then I can understand the conditioning... if not then they were ordinary. I had no problems stopping a couple of 4 irons within 10 feet of where they pitched which undermines the strategic elements of the design. The greens at CGC are some of the best on the Sandbelt as they force you to putt from the correct spot to score well..... when they are fast. Saturday they were slow which also takes away any really thought about where to hit the ball on the green. (The member even commented that the greens were much faster than previous weeks....!!)

Trees. No need to go to the Styx Valley in Tassie to see a forrest.... just go to CGC! I had heard reports of a tree removal program but failed to see any meaningful evidence of it on Saturday (taking evey second limb of a pine tree near the 11th. green does not constitute a tree removal program!) I have said this before.... CGC feels like a prison cell. I am amazed at the number of overhanging trees on greens and tees and the amount of scrub that form "shutes" around the tees. A few notable examples:

2nd: Single file for the first 150m of the tee. LHS fairway unker obscured
3rd: Overhanging tree on the tee
6th: RHS and LHS obscured of the tee by trees
9th: RHS greenside bunker obscured by shrubs
11th: Fairway to narrow... need to take out 10m's of trees.
15th: Can't see about a 1/3 of both the RHS and LHS greenside traps for shrubs!
16th: Best water hole going around.... but trees just of the tee block the view of both the green and the lake! The trees doesn't allow the hole to tease a player in having a crack of hitting over the lake for the best angle into the green.
17th: Shrubs block the view of the green and are placed right at the driving length... this forces players to hit it right with a 3 wood or 2 iron (the safe play) but a great short par 4 needs to give the player a hope of busting a drive close to the green or on but if they miss your in trouble. The 17th. at CGC has this potential (a very tough shot from the LHS if you miss the shot) but with the trees this isn't an option!
18th: A much better hole if you could see the green from the tee.... shrubs and trees down the left don't add to the hole.

Bunkers. In my opinion the 3 new bunkers at 5 are very ordinary. They lack any strategic merit and the construction and general "look" of them is below a standard I would expect at CGC. The new fairway bunker at 14 looks like it comes from another planet... totally out of line with the feeling of CGC.

Bangers. After the round we had lunch in the clubhouse.... a very nice menu indeed. The "Bangers and Mash" seemed the logical choice... however when I arrived to place my order I was shocked to learn that the Bangers were not available! There was only about 15 people in front of me and they had run out! Poor Banger management.

Stones. In another clubhouse shock, I was informed that the bar does not stock Stones.... what kind of place is CGC I ask you???
 

[Jason Mandel]

For give this American for asking, but what are Stones?

[Mike_Sweeney]

For give this American for asking, but what are Stones?

A definition of Bangers would help too.

[NicP]

For our American friends.

Bangers = Sausages

Stones:

Produced in England since 1740, Stone’s Original Green Ginger Wine has been made in Australia to the same ancient formula since the early 1960’s. Stone’s is believed to be one of the oldest registered wine or spirit brands in continuous production since its initial launch.

Ginger is one of the oldest herbs known to man, and is popular in oriental cooking and confectionary. Ginger has also been linked with many therapeutic values. The ginger used for Stone’s is grown in Queensland at Buderim. The character of the ginger is drawn out by infusing it in spirit for an extended period.

[Jason Mandel]

We have giner ale, which is non-alchoholic  and is often used to mix with drinks such as Jack and ginger.  Ginger is also very common in our food.  I guess stones havent made it over hear this way yet.

Mike Sweeney,
for a guy that is thinking of joining a club in Ireland, you haven't heard of Bangers and Mash?

Jason Mandel

[hick]

Nic and mike, Made Bangers and mash tonight after a round of golf in Rhode Island. One of my favorite meals. I do use the old yankee brown gravy as well, and a few cold buds.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Nic,
I love my bangers and mash! One of the best meals in Scotland, and so far, the many that have answered this thread shows how many go out of their way to sample Scottish or English cuisine while abroad. (Or in this case, Aussie Cuisine!) I like Shepard's Pie also, and if given the chance would eat haggis too, but I would admit to having my eyes closed while doing it!

[Tommy_Naccarato]

I forgot to add:

About the Commonwealth, its painfully obvious that they don't have a clue there when it comes to both the Bangers or the Bunkers, as well as what architect to hire.

[ForkaB]

Jason (and Mike S. and Tommy N.)

Sausages are called "sausages" in Ireland (and Scotland).  "Bangers" is an Englishism, and one is not advised to use the word when dining in Celtic countries.

I shall confirm these truths tomorrow when I arrive in Donegal.........

[Tommy_Naccarato]

And may you have a safe journey!

The reasonwhy I call them Bangers was because Mr. McKenzie at the Yorkston in the Grey Auld Toon called them that when he fixed them most every morning for me for breakfast!

[ForkaB]

Tommy

Mr. McK probably mistook you for the bastard son of some English minor noble, rather than the Emperor which you are.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Actually Rich, he reminded me of Gordon Urquit in Local Hero, albeit a much older one. Maybe I just visualized him that way!

Stella! Boy are we going to be rich!!!!

[ForkaB]

Urquhart

[Shane Gurnett]

Nic,

Sounds like you had a good day at Commonwealth.

I agree with you in relation to the course conditioning which continued to improve through the summer months this year. The legend couch seems to work well on the property, and also works well in conjunction with the winter grasses. Winter conditions at Commonwelath have been terrific for the past few years and have far exceeded those courses which have santa anna as their single grass. The fairways continue to improve each year, and the slight inconvenience in spring and autumn as the grasses move in and out of dormancy is a small price to pay for good year round conditions.

Your comments on the greens are spot on. If the surfaces were maintained to be just a touch firmer, the true strategic elements of the course would really shine. As it currently plays, the greens remain approachable from the "safe" sides of the fairways which negates the strategy of the tilted and sloped greens. I'm sure the current conditions are a minor distraction, and soon the firmness of the greens will return.

Cant really say much about the bangers.

If you are looking for a bottle of Stones at Commonwealth, just look in the bags of most members under the age of 40. Stones has a cult following at the club and is consumed in large quantities both on and off the course. At $8 a bottle, you just cant go wrong.

I wont add anything to your comments on the new bunkers, as I am under orders to refrain from saying anything controversial in public internet forums.

[NicP]

Shane,

          I was informed on Saturday at the apparant "gagging" of members views on this website... in my experience controlling powers who censor their members (governments and citizens) are only trying to protect the failures of their perceived "perfect" system. My suggestion to the committee at CGC is to get it right and they wont need to censor members coments..... I don't hear the VGC Board being attacked over the golf course......

Nic

[Danny Goss]

Nic,

I also heard that Commonwealth had "gagged" its members from saying anything contoversial in public (aka. GCA).
So we wont expect too many of the boys to jump all over this topic if that rumour is true.

[Andrew Summerell]

Nic,

How does the over hanging branches affect the grass growth on the greens ?

Andrew

[Matthew Delahunty]

Tree issues and censorship issues aside, could someone please explain to me how the big gum on 3 has any impact on the tee shot? And (re 18) since when is it a prerequisite of a great hole for you to be able to see the green from the tee? I didn't see a width issue with 11 but I'm sure the wiser heads  can enlighten me.

[Mike_Cirba]

So, Commonwealth is "gagging" its members from speaking about the course in public, huh?

I must say, I'm somewhat relieved to see that such inane, short-sighted, defensive, small-minded, regressive, and intolerant thinking isn't simply an American shortcoming.  

[NicP]

On the issue of overhanging trees and turf quality. I am no expert on this topic but from observing various greens and tees that have overhainging trees or shrubs / trees in close proximity, the turf quality is normally of a lower standard than those areas without trees and shrubs "choking" the green. The 1st green / 2nd tee at Victoria is an excellent example of this. Prior to the removal of the boundry pines on Park Road, the 1st green and 2nd. had the lowest quality of turf. The 1st green was soft and thinly grassed and the 2nd. tee was also thinly grassed. In my mind overhanging trees and close shrubs do not promote quality turf.

There is no pre-requisite that a green should be seen from the tee on all holes. However, in my opinion, if the option is there (ie no dogleg, hills etc) then most holes present much better if the player can see the green from the tee. Creating holes with a corridor like tee shot takes away the decision making statergy from the tee (16th. and 17th. at CGC fall into this category as well).... take the trees down on the left of 18 so the green is visible to the player on the tee... then a decision needs to be made.

The problem on 11 is that no matter what club you hit of the tee you tend to finish in the same spot, left rough. Another 10m of fairway would, in my opinion, help the hole.