Weeds! Am I a snob?

[Chris Wirthwein]

Played on a course the other day with more than few dandelions (not my home course).  Even the holes that had only a few yellow flowers on the weeds just seemed to distract me and take my eyes away from the design and architecture.

How far off base am I? Does this make me a snob?

[PCCraig]

Who gives a shit?

[Jason Thurman]

You may be a snob, but you're not an architecture snob.

[Chris Wirthwein]

Guilty as charged fellas. I'm a snob. Just wondered what some of the architects and superintendents thought about this.

[BHoover]

There was a video from Merion's superintendent prior to the 2013 US Open where he talked about preferring to have some clover and other types of weeds in the rough areas of the course. Seems fine to me. If you hit it way off line, what's wrong with facing less than ideal conditions? Bottom line, it doesn't bother me. I might feel different about weeds dominating fairways and greens, but not the rough (or my lawn at home).

[Jon Wiggett]

Played on a course the other day with more than few dandelions (not my home course).  Even the holes that had only a few yellow flowers on the weeds just seemed to distract me and take my eyes away from the design and architecture.

How far off base am I? Does this make me a snob?

Chris,

One of the great things about golf is that it gets you out into nature and all its splendour. This includes wild flowers, birds, deer, etc. I think if such things disturb you maybe you need to reconsider your priorities.

Jon

[Thomas Dai]

I can recall a time when UK fairways weren't cut very frequently when there were daisies present most of the time. Also daisies on the greens believe it or not! Damn hard to find a white ball amongst them sometimes.
atb

[Jon Wiggett]

I can recall a time when UK fairways weren't cut very frequently when there were daisies present most of the time. Also daisies on the greens believe it or not! Damn hard to find a white ball amongst them sometimes.
atb

Thomas,

the reason why there are fewer daisies about in the UK is due to herbicides. You can cut every day and still get them. I recon it will be another 15 years before there is a total ban on herbicides for sport fields here in Europe so you may need to get used to them again. Having said that many if not most courses up here in the Highlands have some wild flowers growing in semi rough and fairway areas. Me, I quite like them and they certainly are not out of place.

Jon

[Garland Bayley]

Daisies?

in The Spirit of St. Andrews,Alister MacKenzie suggests that proper agronomy eliminates such things. He suggests the industry for growing things is oriented to feeding and growing crops so it is entirely inappropriate for golf courses. He suggests that the more money spent on products from said industry results in worse course conditions including things like daisies and other weeds.

What do you all have to say about his claims.

[Steve Wilson]

Play at Reay and you are likely to see lots of small daisies.  I didn't see any on the greens, but yes they do make finding a ball difficult in the fairways as Thomas says.

And even worse than a snob Chris, you are a weedist.

[jeffwarne]

Played on a course the other day with more than few dandelions (not my home course).  Even the holes that had only a few yellow flowers on the weeds just seemed to distract me and take my eyes away from the design and architecture.

How far off base am I? Does this make me a snob?

Chris,

One of the great things about golf is that it gets you out into nature and all its splendour. This includes wild flowers, birds, deer, etc. I think if such things disturb you maybe you need to reconsider your priorities.

Jon

+1
What is a weed exactly?

[Buck Wolter]

Played on a course the other day with more than few dandelions (not my home course).  Even the holes that had only a few yellow flowers on the weeds just seemed to distract me and take my eyes away from the design and architecture.

How far off base am I? Does this make me a snob?

I'm Buck Wolter and I am a weed snob --at least when it comes to Dandelions. They aren't that hard to control, hell I can mange them in my yard. Sort of the broken window approach to policing, if Dandelions aren't controlled then what else isn't being looked after. Having Dandelions also makes you a bad neighbor -- who wants to live next to someone with dandelions (besides Pat) and when they turn white they make finding your ball harder. Spray a little 2-4D and knock 'em out --and spray something to deal with the mosquitos while you're at it.

[Jim_Kennedy]

An old friend of mine (non-player) read this topic and sent me several links on the importance of dandelions to the bee population in early spring. I won't post them here, they are easy to find.

I don't think I'll ever be able to Spackler one again.  

[Jon Wiggett]

Played on a course the other day with more than few dandelions (not my home course).  Even the holes that had only a few yellow flowers on the weeds just seemed to distract me and take my eyes away from the design and architecture.

How far off base am I? Does this make me a snob?

I'm Buck Wolter and I am a weed snob --at least when it comes to Dandelions. They aren't that hard to control, hell I can mange them in my yard. Sort of the broken window approach to policing, if Dandelions aren't controlled then what else isn't being looked after. Having Dandelions also makes you a bad neighbor -- who wants to live next to someone with dandelions (besides Pat) and when they turn white they make finding your ball harder. Spray a little 2-4D and knock 'em out --and spray something to deal with the mosquitos while you're at it.

Buck,

and what exactly should you do if you cannot spray??? Hand weed the greens is possible but fairway and roughs what do you suggest? For mosquitos try 'Skin so Soft' from Avon. Works a treat and doesn't stink.

Jon

[Randy Thompson]

Played on a course the other day with more than few dandelions (not my home course).  Even the holes that had only a few yellow flowers on the weeds just seemed to distract me and take my eyes away from the design and architecture.

How far off base am I? Does this make me a snob?

Chris,
Sorry but yes it does! By stating this was not your home course only reinforces your snob status but no worries your not alone. Not sure how a little color contrast in the rough from a wild flower can distract from the design and architecture. The technical definition of a weed is something that grows where you donīt want it to grow and if a club for whatever reason decides not to spray with 2-4D or another one of the various herbicides, then they have taken the decisión to let it grow there, therefore it can no longer be classified as a weed. All kidding aside, during Tomīs recent visit to South America we went to a small course at the tip of South America. There claim to fame is the windiest golf course in the world and i think the second most southern golf course on the planet. We had a fairly calm day but the day we left they were predicting something close to 50 mph winds. Anyways we putted on greens that were 50 to 100% chickweed ( that shit that looks like mouse ears) and I had a very enjoyable round of golf and I think so did Tom and he still made birdies! Golf is like sex, you donīt have to be good at it to enjoy it and she doesnīt need to be a perfect ten!

[jeffwarne]

Played on a course the other day with more than few dandelions (not my home course).  Even the holes that had only a few yellow flowers on the weeds just seemed to distract me and take my eyes away from the design and architecture.

How far off base am I? Does this make me a snob?

I'm Buck Wolter and I am a weed snob --at least when it comes to Dandelions. They aren't that hard to control, hell I can mange them in my yard. Sort of the broken window approach to policing, if Dandelions aren't controlled then what else isn't being looked after. Having Dandelions also makes you a bad neighbor -- who wants to live next to someone with dandelions (besides Pat) and when they turn white they make finding your ball harder. Spray a little 2-4D and knock 'em out --and spray something to deal with the mosquitos while you're at it.

Buck,

and what exactly should you do if you cannot spray??? Hand weed the greens is possible but fairway and roughs what do you suggest? For mosquitos try 'Skin so Soft' from Avon. Works a treat and doesn't stink.

Jon

Further evidence of why I prefer golf across the pond or at the more simpler places here.
A dandelion in the rough-God forbid.
If playable and managaeable (no doubt a big if) I can't think of a better look (or even fairway areas) than having a few low lying wild flowers that sprout quickly enough to flourish and diversify the groundcovers between periodic mowings.
Uniform,irrigated, consistent rough is sooooooo bland, to say nothing of the environmental benefits of the natural approach.

[Mike_Young]

Weeds?

hmmmmm....I know of two golf supts who left Ga this year to move to Oregon to help set up weed plots....golf supts grow some of the best weed in the country and many of the same processes and fertilizers/chems used for turfgrass are used to produce thes products....THE WEED BUSINESS IS GOING TO GRAB SOME GOLF SUPTS....ON MAKES SENSE...

[A.G._Crockett]

Played on a course the other day with more than few dandelions (not my home course).  Even the holes that had only a few yellow flowers on the weeds just seemed to distract me and take my eyes away from the design and architecture.

How far off base am I? Does this make me a snob?

Lighten up Francis...

[Brent Hutto]

Weeds?

hmmmmm....I know of two golf supts who left Ga this year to move to Oregon to help set up weed plots....golf supts grow some of the best weed in the country and many of the same processes and fertilizers/chems used for turfgrass are used to produce thes products....THE WEED BUSINESS IS GOING TO GRAB SOME GOLF SUPTS....ON MAKES SENSE...

I would think an on-course Weed cultivation initiative would be a natural fit for clubs with a caddie program. Just sayin'

[A.G._Crockett]

Weeds?

hmmmmm....I know of two golf supts who left Ga this year to move to Oregon to help set up weed plots....golf supts grow some of the best weed in the country and many of the same processes and fertilizers/chems used for turfgrass are used to produce thes products....THE WEED BUSINESS IS GOING TO GRAB SOME GOLF SUPTS....ON MAKES SENSE...

Mike,
A timely thought, given that it was announced yesterday that Willie Nelson is going to start producing a signature line of weed, "Willie's Reserve" in Colorado and Oregon.  Given that he has a 9 hole golf course which presumably has a supt already, he has a built-in cost savings for his new operation.

A possible business model for golf courses in weed-legal states might be cultivation on unused acreage, which I'm sure has already occurred to golf course operators. The equipment and labor force is already in place; the only issue would be keeping the golfers from stealing the crops.

I'm only half-kidding here...

[Mike_Young]

Weeds?

hmmmmm....I know of two golf supts who left Ga this year to move to Oregon to help set up weed plots....golf supts grow some of the best weed in the country and many of the same processes and fertilizers/chems used for turfgrass are used to produce thes products....THE WEED BUSINESS IS GOING TO GRAB SOME GOLF SUPTS....ON MAKES SENSE...

Mike,
A timely thought, given that it was announced yesterday that Willie Nelson is going to start producing a signature line of weed, "Willie's Reserve" in Colorado and Oregon.  Given that he has a 9 hole golf course which presumably has a supt already, he has a built-in cost savings for his new operation.

A possible business model for golf courses in weed-legal states might be cultivation on unused acreage, which I'm sure has already occurred to golf course operators. The equipment and labor force is already in place; the only issue would be keeping the golfers from stealing the crops.

I'm only half-kidding here...

A.G.,
There are guys that are way ahead of you    you r correct some of these supts are the logical choice for growing weed...and the organic frilizer companies are on to it also...

[Randy Thompson]

Were really getting off topic here but in the states where it is legal your only allowed to grow a minor quantity for personal consumption. Major production is controlled by big brother which means you will need political connections to get such permission and then comes the normal corruption. There still having a lot of issues since big brother is involved and the only thing clear from day one is how big brother TAXES the trade! This is a silly post and I tried to give Chris a half serious answer but its getting way off topic. This should be eliminated and someone should start another Steamsong thread in its place!

[A.G._Crockett]

It's hard to be serious in a thread about whether or not dandelions are acceptable on a golf course.

[Mike_Young]

Were really getting off topic here but in the states where it is legal your only allowed to grow a minor quantity for personal consumption. Major production is controlled by big brother which means you will need political connections to get such permission and then comes the normal corruption. There still having a lot of issues since big brother is involved and the only thing clear from day one is how big brother TAXES the trade! This is a silly post and I tried to give Chris a half serious answer but its getting way off topic. This should be eliminated and someone should start another Steamsong thread in its place!

Randy,
Trust me, there a golf supts going west to grow for profit legally.  Basically there are groups of businessmen in Oregon etc who are growing for personal consumption as you say.  That part is correct.  What happens is that each doctors prescription for personal consumption can be filed with a grower who combines the presriptions and grows for such.  The two I am familiar with have purchased about 500 acres and are preparing the land as small 4-5 acre plots which are ready and either sold or managed....you might also find it interesting to see how much farmland Coors Brewery has purchased in the last year or two ......  I'm not being funny....this is a business that is attracting some supts....legally...

[Randy Thompson]

Mike,
I hear ya and if things donīt improve quickly here in S.A. there maybe an architect in the near future that makes the switch. I have a four year degree in plant and soil science and a friend living in Colorado with also a four degree in the same and X superintendent of a course with a PGA tour event and we are in conversation discussing the possiblity of doing something similar to what you outlined but my understanding in Colorado is, that it is a little more difficult. But with all new programs, one fnds roads around the bueracracy and then eventually they close the road and the process continues.