[Kalen Braley]

Don't know what the cost basis is, but these might be a nice option, especially in high traffic areas or ones that are prone to getting muddy, etc.


https://www.rubberway.com/rubber-trails

[Mark Chaplin]

Thomas have you seen the sprinklers in action? They use hardly any water and are used enough to keep the grass healthy.


What is your proposed natural solution?

[Thomas Dai]

Pathways seem to have become an industry within the golf industry with all the sales and marketing pitch and ‘keeping up with the Jones’ that goes with it. Indeed it sometimes seems that formal pathways are being built to enhance the look, cosmetic and photographic appeal rather than because they are actually needed. Same with bridges and lots of other course features and furniture.
The first question to be asked should be “is a formal pathway really needed at all?” I suspect that oftentimes it isn’t and that courses are falling for the hype highlighted in the paragraph above.
As to types I’ve seen loads over the years on links courses ranging from nothing to crushed shells to lattice style that the grass grows through. But the thought of having paths that need to be watered, even minimal watering, which over cumulative time can add up to a surprising number, is abhorrent to me. It’s just the kind of thing that gives golf a bad name in the public eye, which is not something we should be encouraging.
Atb

[Sean_A]

At Burnham we have been systematically removing paths. I will say that if a path needs to be in a prominent position of a hole I generally prefer grass. But if a prepared path is necessary I would like it to be sidelined if possible. If sidelined I am not so bothered about the material so long as its low maintenance. Of course, sometimes public paths invade courses, in which case I am generally all for making them a feature rather than trying to disguise them.


Ciao

[Ben Stephens]

Thomas,


I for one am of the opinion that TOC is a lesser course from a golfing point of view now compared to 30 years ago due to lower HOC on the fairways and a narrowing of the playing corridors.


Ben,


irrigation is certainly not a bad thing if used diligently but it should be used in conjunction with other measures. I am sorry to here the conditions at Lindrick are not so good as the turf there was usually top class.

I agree with you Jon re Lindrick - the fairways were rather patchy in places and it was hard to see the outline of the fairway on the long par 5 14th. Other than fairway conditions the course was reasonable for its own standards and the new bunkering has improved it one one part. However I feel there is a better course out there with the land they have at their disposal plus the two tunnels under the main road that bisects the course is a huge improvement cos crossing that road was quite scary a la Liphook.

[Ally Mcintosh]

On links courses, it’s a little bit of a balance with pathways.


In general, I agree with Dai in that rye grass formal pathways that need watered are not a great option. However, I do prefer native grass if at all possible. And that poses an issue in some areas of high traffic.


So my first aim is to spread exit points from a tee, thus reducing pinch points and thus avoiding erosion of compacted areas... on the holes this is not possible and you have to funnel players down one path, native grass fairways with no water can become impractical. Then there is a choice between going down the rye grass route (not for me when budget is an issue) or putting in one of the many options of hard surface...


Always my first aim is to get back to native grass (no water) where possible.

[Lou_Duran]

I can only talk about those that I have played, namely Brora, Wick, Tain and Fortrose but they were all decent. It is interesting that all the clubs you mention are top end and I do wonder if they have paid for the folly of over watering and inappropriate height of cuts.

Jon,


I played Tain once- nice folks there- and didn't see enough there to return.  Liked Golspie and Brora very much and will play both of those soon.  Should I make an effort to see Wick and Fortrose?  As long as the greens are reasonably good, I am not to fussy about conditioning.

[Mark Pearce]

Not a links but I was surprised to see the condition of the fairways at Walton Heath on Thursday.  Lots of areas where the grass coverage was patchy at best.

[Daryl David]

I can only talk about those that I have played, namely Brora, Wick, Tain and Fortrose but they were all decent. It is interesting that all the clubs you mention are top end and I do wonder if they have paid for the folly of over watering and inappropriate height of cuts.

Should I make an effort to see Wick and Fortrose?  As long as the greens are reasonably good, I am not to fussy about conditioning.

I’m not Jon, but my answer would be yes. Especially Wick.

[David_Tepper]

"Should I make an effort to see Wick and Fortrose?"

Lou -

I have never played Wick, but I have played Fortrose 4-5 times. It is one of the most remarkable settings/routings of a golf course I have ever seen.  I don't know if it needs to be played twice, but it certainly should be played once.

DT

[Jon Wiggett]

Lou,


as DT says Fortrose is worth it just for the setting which is spectacular. Be warned though it is a tight piece of land with public right of ways on just about every hole so can be quite busy with walkers in the summer. I really like Wick which is very much links golf in the classical style and also worth the trip. If you get up that far the Reay is also a nice side trip as is Durness though Durness needs to be done as part of a larger none golfing jaunt.


Let me know when you're up and we can get a game if time allows.


Jon

[Erik Mosley]

I can confirm that N. Berwick, TOC, and Elie are all in prime condition.  One Elie tee box was a little shaggy, and it's the only time I noticed any adverse conditioning in my 4 rounds over the weekend.  Perhaps the East Coast fared better than the West?

[Jeff Schley]

Heading to London and SE England for a week and looking forward to it.  I'm bringing sunscreen and rain gear! I'm sure I will use both.

[Thomas Dai]

Whilst it may not be the case everywhere in the UK grass growth, although occurring, seems to be a couple of weeks behind this time last year. And when coupled with last summers drought there's a bit of a double-whammy effect. The nature of the weather and its effects.
atb

[Garland Bayley]

"Should I make an effort to see Wick and Fortrose?"

Lou -

I have never played Wick, but I have played Fortrose 4-5 times. It is one of the most remarkable settings/routings of a golf course I have ever seen.  I don't know if it needs to be played twice, but it certainly should be played once.

DT

Or, you could just stop by and hike out to the lighthouse and back at Fortrose.

[Mark Chaplin]

I guess it’s a new one for me on GCA grass getting criticised over rubber, concrete, etc. You learn something new everyday!

[Richard Fisher]

I fear that some of the worst impacted courses by last year 's drought were some of the celebrated inland venues of  England, and Walton Heath (see above) is absolutely not alone: the Berkshire had a very tough time, as did numerous others, and Huntercombe still desperately needs a good soaking and some warm weather to encourage growth. I played 36 holes at the 'Combe on Sunday and the greens were superb, but through the green it was distinctly shaggy, with several uncharacteristic bare patches. The Sacred Nine likewise still needs a lot of growth (although the greens superb as always). At Lindrick in March we were told we could prefer lies in the rough, such was the state of things, and I am glad that things have clearly improved a lot since then.

The joys of Harlech, Silloth and Seascale to look forward to in the week to come, and it will be very interesting to see whether the west of Britain (which tends to get more rain anyway) is shaping up better for this new season. I'll report back.

[David_Tepper]

I have been in the Highlands for over 2 weeks now. I have played Dornoch multiple times, played Golspie twice and played Brora & Tain once each. I have been pleasantly surprised with the current condition of the courses, especially considering the state they were in last October.
On the other hand, I have heard from two people that the conditions at Moray (Lossiemouth) are still in a very poor state. Preferred lies are in play throughout both courses there.     

[Ira Fishman]

We played Kilspindie today. The turf was wonderful. Not a bad lie except as the result of one of my bad swings. It was our first play there and to pick up on a couple of other threads: no need to think Par or Distance are relevant if the goal is to have fun navigating around a beguiling course.


Ira

[MClutterbuck]

Played 9 courses from May 18 through May 25, from south west to north east Scotland. All tees and fairways were in very good conditions, including Cruden Bay where preferred lie was in place, but not needed.


Scotland is awesome!

[Richard Fisher]

Just back from three days of foursomes in Wales, where the rains have come just in time, and at Harlech you could hear the rough growing...RStD, Aberdovey and Borth all looking for better fairway coverage after last year's pounding, and this past week or so will certainly have helped. Winter Rules still in place at both Aberdovey and Borth, and will be throughout the summer, I suspect. Greens at all three absolutely fine, in different ways.

Of the various UK courses sampled this spring, Woking was in the best nick of all, by a mile. Superb condition last week, with greens at about 11 or 12 on the stimp and fabulous fairways.

[Mark Pearce]

Of the various UK courses sampled this spring, Woking was in the best nick of all, by a mile. Superb condition last week, with greens at about 11 or 12 on the stimp and fabulous fairways.

I played Woking last week and agree that the greens were fabulous.  The fairways, however, clearly had significant bare areas and had clearly suffered, though they were better than Walton Heath a couple of weeks before.  Huntercombe on Wednesday also had a few ragged areas on the fairways.  The best conditioned courses I have seen this year were the St Andrews Links Trust courses (Old (walked, didn't play) and New).  Pretty much everywhere else has had issues with fairways to some extent or other.

[Adam Lawrence]

Of the various UK courses sampled this spring, Woking was in the best nick of all, by a mile. Superb condition last week, with greens at about 11 or 12 on the stimp and fabulous fairways.

I played Woking last week and agree that the greens were fabulous.  The fairways, however, clearly had significant bare areas and had clearly suffered, though they were better than Walton Heath a couple of weeks before.  Huntercombe on Wednesday also had a few ragged areas on the fairways.  The best conditioned courses I have seen this year were the St Andrews Links Trust courses (Old (walked, didn't play) and New).  Pretty much everywhere else has had issues with fairways to some extent or other.

Huntercombe doesn't have fairway watering so obviously got hammered in last year's drought. You can see in lots of places on the fairways where they have been overseeded, and the plants are starting to come through in straight lines.

[Thomas Dai]

Relatively speaking it seems this year has been quite a cold Spring-early Summer by U.K. standards. This can’t be helping any recovery issues from last year.
Also I believe, and perhaps a Course Manager or Greenkeepers could further comment, that various items and substances Greenkeepers were previously able to buy to help recovery are no longer available due to environment restrictions that have come into place this year.
Atb

[Mark Chaplin]

Thomas it’s been bone dry this spring that’s been the problem. First rain in weeks was on Tuesday, I got drowned at Sandwich.

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