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Howard Riefs

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Re: Assessing Medinah
« Reply #75 on: October 04, 2012, 08:31:33 AM »

1 and 18 have had the run-off feature for 4 years.  Those will remain.  The members have played with reduced rough for over a year now.  I presume it will stay but I, alone, will not make that decision.

Thanks, Ryan.  

Anyone notice how the misses on the par 3's over water were either short right or long left?  Seems like we went over this somewhere else before.

Of the nine matches that came through #17 on Sunday, nearly all misses were long left. The exception was Bubba going long right.  As Phil notes, the hook wind had a definite impact.

"Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: Taking long walks and hitting things with a stick."  ~P.J. O'Rourke

Adam Clayman

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Re: Assessing Medinah
« Reply #76 on: October 04, 2012, 08:39:17 AM »

OK, I get it.  Isn't that more aptly described as grass colors?  Different ground texture, to me, sounds like differing firmness or porousness or a different feel to the actual dirt.  I wasn't quite understanding how that would necessarily be a good thing.  Most poa greens have multiple colors in them - and it looks lousy.  I also understand that different grass types have different feels and playing characteristics.  But to me, I'm not quite understanding this, still. I was there. It seemed to me that the greens and the fairways and the rough were all different colors, ie, ground textures (by your definition).  Is that not enough?  And wouldn't this same criticism apply to pretty much every course except those lucky enough to be in the sand hills or the Oregon coast?

Dave, I'm not speaking for Bradley, I'm just relaying what I understand the term texture to mean.

Looking down at the grass is not what I would call texture. The blotchy look of Poa, might not appeal to people's aesthetic, but it rarely, if ever, affects play. As an FYI, it's becoming common to plant multiple strains of grass (i.e. fescues) to see what type, each specific micro climate will suit best. The strong will take over the weak, and as I understand it, that's the goal.

Textures work best when looking out on the long views. My suspicion is that it acts like undulations, in it's ability to trick the mind. Making judgement more of a challenge. Cutting the same grass type at differing lengths, creates a tiny bit of different color contrast, but on a spectrum, they are very close. Starker contrast towards browns and reds are more natural looking and NOT just in the sand hills.

While I've never been, I've seen countless photos of heathland courses where this contrast is positively delicious. Examples in every region I'm sure are available.

"It's unbelievable how much you don't know about the game you've been playing your whole life." - Mickey Mantle

Mark Johnson

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Re: Assessing Medinah
« Reply #77 on: October 06, 2012, 09:54:39 AM »
Anyone notice how the misses on the par 3's over water were either short right or long left?  Seems like we went over this somewhere else before.

For 13 at least, the hole always feels about a club and a half less than it actually is.   It is one of those holes where I think you just have to trust a number.   That is why I think you see so many misses there.   Personally, I am not sure I have ever hit that green in the 4 or 5 times i've played it.