Time warp

[mike_beene]

today our closed clubhouse and driving range ended up having a good many show up for us maybe 60 or 70. The carts and bag services are closed , so every person carried his or her own bag. Family with a stroller walking. Bet we get a dog tomorrow.
In Waco the newspaper said Ridgewood CC was closed but the golf course was open to the public. People started showing up. Like the guy who showed up at Augusta for his practice round. That is what the ticket days

[jeffwarne]

Golf in its purest form, the way we grew up.
When I was a kid I think I played for 5-6 years before they even started making us check in-seemd draconian to me at the time-just went to the tee when you saw an opening.Minimal supervision if you were fast they let you through, if slower you let them through.
Stuck a coke and pack of crackers in your bag-much like you might on a walk in nature today.


Lots of winter golf has been played this way for years-no amenities, no nonsense, no over the top maintenance and service expectations.


Let's hope clubs and golf survive and silly expectations of what golf clubs "should be" the lone casualty of this.

[John Kavanaugh]

Let's hope clubs and golf survive and silly expectations of what golf clubs "should be" the lone casualty of this.

The people most hurt financially in this crisis are those that provide the silly expectations.

[jeffwarne]

Let's hope clubs and golf survive and silly expectations of what golf clubs "should be" the lone casualty of this.

The people most hurt financially in this crisis are those that provide the silly expectations.

100% true and I resemble that remark...
and it has been a big part of golf clubs steady financial decline, with the exception of rare pockets of the country.
The golf "recession" has cured a lot of this in places that are surviving and thriving (Mike Young's The Fields being a great example or my own Goat Hill and that survives on 5 figure budget)
Others that did not adapt and/or were built on the "high end CC for a day" model, have gone away...

[John Kavanaugh]

This would be a good time for private clubs to suspend their no tipping policies. I know my wolf buds have been taking extra care of the employees who have the dedication and courage to show up day after day providing silly expectations.

[jeffwarne]

This would be a good time for private clubs to suspend their no tipping policies. I know my wolf buds have been taking extra care of the employees who have the dedication and courage to show up day after day providing silly expectations.

There's never a bad time for that

[Peter Pallotta]

"Lots of winter golf has been played this way for years-no amenities, no nonsense, no over the top maintenance and service expectations."

Maybe that's because back then golf itself -- the playing of the game -- was the number 1 priority: not socializing or prestige or bucket lists or amenities or 'quality architecture' or status or corporate write offs or seeking/expecting 'the best of everything'.

Which is to say: maybe the *times* haven't changed, but *we* have.

A site like golfclubatlas.com is a double edged sword.   

[jeffwarne]

"Lots of winter golf has been played this way for years-no amenities, no nonsense, no over the top maintenance and service expectations."

Maybe that's because back then golf itself -- the playing of the game -- was the number 1 priority: not socializing or prestige or bucket lists or amenities or 'quality architecture' or status or corporate write offs or seeking/expecting 'the best of everything'.

Which is to say: maybe the *times* haven't changed, but *we* have.

A site like golfclubatlas.com is a double edged sword.   

+1

[Thomas Dai]

There are a few potential 'silver linings' for golf here within the dark clouds currently surrounding us.
atb

[John Kavanaugh]

Was NGLA every about golf only without luxury in mind? Did golfers back in the day need a break from their servants?

[Tim Martin]

"Lots of winter golf has been played this way for years-no amenities, no nonsense, no over the top maintenance and service expectations."

Maybe that's because back then golf itself -- the playing of the game -- was the number 1 priority: not socializing or prestige or bucket lists or amenities or 'quality architecture' or status or corporate write offs or seeking/expecting 'the best of everything'.

Which is to say: maybe the *times* haven't changed, but *we* have.

A site like golfclubatlas.com is a double edged sword.   

Peter-Winter golf might be my favorite of all. Those that play it regularly know that the only luxury is occasionally provided by Mother Nature in the form of a 45 degree day with sun and light wind. With the exception of a ball-peen hammer to get tees into the frozen ground there are no trappings required.

[Lou_Duran]

Mike B,


Put my ball in the rack for tomorrow.  Around 10 work for you?


After about 8" of rain over the past week including 4" overnight Tuesday, our course is flooded with water half way up the railings on the bridge to #1 and the lake stretching from near the cartpath on 18 to close to the backyards of the estate homes right of #14.  Mother Nature does not seem to have any sense of humor.


We'll see if there is any "silver lining"; I have my doubts.  I think that we tend to romanticize times past with near-contemporary rose-colored glasses- I've been part of a very small minority which walks ever since I moved to Texas over 40 years ago.  Nevertheless,  short of this virus thing being resolved quickly, I'd bet that those seeking refuge away from big city problems will have some great opportunities just 35 miles north.

[Tom_Doak]

Was NGLA every about golf only without luxury in mind? Did golfers back in the day need a break from their servants?

When I first went there just before Halloween in 1980, the golf professional told me that in the future, after Labor Day, I was welcome to just go out and play whenever I wanted to go out there, since none of the members were around.  Don't check in with him or anything, just go.


RIP  Mike Muller !

[Sean_A]

"Lots of winter golf has been played this way for years-no amenities, no nonsense, no over the top maintenance and service expectations."

Maybe that's because back then golf itself -- the playing of the game -- was the number 1 priority: not socializing or prestige or bucket lists or amenities or 'quality architecture' or status or corporate write offs or seeking/expecting 'the best of everything'.

Which is to say: maybe the *times* haven't changed, but *we* have.

A site like golfclubatlas.com is a double edged sword.   

Peter-Winter golf might be my favorite of all. Those that play it regularly know that the only luxury is occasionally provided by Mother Nature in the form of a 45 degree day with sun and light wind. With the exception of a ball-peen hammer to get tees into the frozen ground there are no trappings required.

Winter is certainly my favourite season for golf. There is nothing quite like a pale faced ex red head wishing for sun while golfing

Ciao

[Ira Fishman]

This would be a good time for private clubs to suspend their no tipping policies. I know my wolf buds have been taking extra care of the employees who have the dedication and courage to show up day after day providing silly expectations.

There's never a bad time for that

+1. My wife and are amazed when the staff tells us how few members tip during the year, and we are even more amazed how few give holiday cash gifts or any gifts at all. We have received some of the nicest notes from staff that we actually do not interact with regularly.

[John Kavanaugh]

Not a fan of the Christmas bonus. I once quit a club that mandated that national members and local members give the exact same amount for a Holiday bonus to be divided up amongst the employees. There are much more equitable ways to give your employees a raise. By mandate you could opt out if you personally notified the nice girl who kept the books. I knew the second I called her I could never go back.


All I was suggesting was a temporary suspension of the no tipping policy to help people through this crisis.

[Mark Pritchett]

Was NGLA every about golf only without luxury in mind? Did golfers back in the day need a break from their servants?

When I first went there just before Halloween in 1980, the golf professional told me that in the future, after Labor Day, I was welcome to just go out and play whenever I wanted to go out there, since none of the members were around.  Don't check in with him or anything, just go.


RIP  Mike Muller !

That was before it was “ranked” on the Top whatever lists.  As soon as a course is consider top 100, then the flood gates open up as every list chaser adds it to their hit list. 

[Mike Hendren]

We've all chosen to miss out on simplicity.  What you lament still exists in small town America.  That's why I make a 6 hours drive roundtrip on a Saturday each September when the cotton's in full bloom.  Any year now RHCC might close and break my heart.  At least monthly I dream they've made changes to it and I tear everyone in the bar a new one. 

Bogey
Rolling Hills CC Men's Champion
1974, 1976

[mike_beene]

Today we closed the practice putting greens so people won't congregate. The driving range is a five hole par 3 course. Finally a use for the bunkers on the range. All rakes have been removed. Lou: Not too wet but fairways haven't been mowed. Played it down but a few mud balls. The tees were too wet so we teed up behind some of the boxes.