Ever feel bad for a course?

[Mark_Fine]

Played in a GAP match today at an old 1960's track.  It was short on the card but sneaky long on certain holes, it had some quirk and some cool features but was over treed, had poor sight lines, and was simply tired.  It tries to defend itself with some very severe greens and tight corridors on the back nine but it could be notched up in many ways with even a modest budget.  I actually left feeling bad, even a little sorry for the course.  I don't play or see as many of these as I used to but I know they are out there and I wish they could be touched up without having to raise the green fees.  The golf experience for players of most levels of ability could be so much more fun and enjoyable.  On some I would almost volunteer to help but you still need some kind of budget.  Oh well.

[mike_malone]

When I see damage inflicted unnecessarily on courses with good golf hidden by additions usually trees that ruin the intended play area I weep.

[Greg Chambers]

Would be awesome if you volunteered to help lol.

[Thomas Dai]

Sounds familiar.
I seem to recall a fairly recent comment, apologies but I can't recall by who, that 80% of most course issues could be resolved through tree work and revised mowing lines.

atb

[Brett Meyer]

I felt pretty bad for the Woodlands course at Lawsonia. What I hear was for many years the premier course at Lawsonia is now having many of its bunkers filled in. To be fair, it looked like there were a few too many in the first place. But the management looked to be taking 'a few too many' down to 'way too few.'


I only got an evening walk-around having opted for two rounds on the Links but it looked to me like a pretty good course; Trent Jones-style architecture (big bunkers surrounding greens and landing areas but smaller greens) winding through an impressive forest with many mature white pines. I understand focusing on the clearly-superior Links course but this one looked plenty good enough to deserve to be maintained as it was. This will be a good candidate if we ever get a wave of Trent-Jones-style restoration.

[Mark_Fine]

Yes many times a lot can be improved with just tree work and modified mowing lines which is minimal cost. I was actually sincere about offering to help low budget courses.  Sometimes just a half day with the super and maybe the pro or a key decision maker can make a world of difference.  A lot of courses are still just trying to survive but they might do better and attract more golfers if they were made more fun and interesting to play. 

[Michael Blake]

Just send the club one of your free master plans.

[Thomas Dai]

Yes many times a lot can be improved with just tree work and modified mowing lines which is minimal cost. I was actually sincere about offering to help low budget courses.  Sometimes just a half day with the super and maybe the pro or a key decision maker can make a world of difference.  A lot of courses are still just trying to survive but they might do better and attract more golfers if they were made more fun and interesting to play.

Absolutely.
Folks at clubs can be reluctant to make internally thought of changes, lots of vested interests, egos etc involved, but advice from an outsider is often easier to accept. And short visits to give advice with the work then undertaken by the regular maintenance can be inexpensive for clubs and a nice wee revenue stream for outsiders. If I were Tzar at the course I play most often I’d like to have such an arrangement in place. Clubs often do have such arrangements with agronomists, why not with architects too?
Atb

[Mark_Fine]

Michael,
They don't need someone shoving a fancy Master Plan down their throats or some high pressure sales pitch.  Believe it or not, it is ok to give back in this business without the need to expect something for it.  As Thomas said, many of these clubs would appreciate some ideas and advice (without any hook included). 

[David_Tepper]

It is hard not to feel sorry for Lincoln Park in San Francisco. The course is a shadow of what it could be. All it needs is everything.

[Dan_Callahan]

I used to play Yale a fair amount, and I felt bad for the course pretty much every time I was there.

[Steve Lapper]

I feel bad for some courses that have members that have little clue what they have. Or bad for some courses that have rotten members. Do those count??

[Tommy Williamsen]

A few years ago I felt sorry for the course where I lived. It was the year the east was inundated with rain. Our super at the time, for some reason, was perpetually absent. One day we had a downpour, the temps went into the high 90's and we lost a bunch of greens (he was gone that day and not to be found). He didn't do the necessary work on the fairways and weeds were everywhere. I could barely go on the course. We fired the super and I interviewed a dozen applicants. The one we hired said, "Boy, would I like to bring this course back to life." He has.

[Mark_Fine]

I read about what happened to Yale last year and it was sad but the course has been resurrected and is coming back great. 


A course I played for years, Locust Valley, apparently is now mostly bulldozed under and is becoming a housing development. Lot of memories at that one.  I am hesitant to go see what it looks like. 

[Terry Lavin]

Only once. A nice enough high end club in Chicagoland hired a then-hot designer to renovate their course. He succeeded in making the course too hard for the members and not compelling enough for championship play.


Great piece of land. Affluent area. Phenomenal member experience in and around the clubhouse. The golf course looks great but is too penal for everyday play.

[Sean_A]

I don't feel bad for a course, but I do find poorly presented courses very frustrating. Addington, Beau Desert and Huntercombe are three cases in point. Addy and Beau have taken big steps to rectify the situation, Huntercombe has taken small steps. I am looking forward to what Addy has become.

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Whilst neglect (incompetence?) comes into the conversation so does the economic circumstances of the prevailing time. When £$ is scarce it's usually maintenance that's the first thing to be cut back on. Other factors should also be considered like manpower availability during and after wartime.
atb

[Sean_A]

Whilst neglect (incompetence?) comes into the conversation so does the economic circumstances of the prevailing time. When £$ is scarce it's usually maintenance that's the first thing to be cut back on. Other factors should also be considered like manpower availability during and after wartime.
atb

This is why in fat times clubs should be taking advantage of the financial good times and banking money. The second part is a long term plan that clubs use as a framework for priorities and spending. Right now is a surprise fat time. It's harsh, but clubs should be taking advantage by raising dues and fees.

Ciao

[Bill Gayne]

Metacomet deserved a better fate given the quality of the course and it's pedigree.

[MKrohn]

I have issues feeling sorry for private golf courses as opposed to public/muni courses.


We are in a pitched battle for hearts and minds in Australia regarding public golf. The inner city areas have green/left representatives who think attacking rich white men's golf is a way to win votes.


As always, the reality is significantly more grey than black/white, but it doesn't stop the people who are convinced of their righteousness.


Our governing body has been largely silent about course closures and its left to the clubs and champions like @jamogolf (Twitter) to take the issue forward.

[Jim Sherma]

I feel bad when the maintenance is just sloppy and evidence that someone just does not care enough to do a job well. Fringes that have no defined edge because the greens mower sloppily doesn't worry about it. Not smoothing the inner swirl part of the mechanical bunker raking. Stuff like that gets to me, it only requires someone to give a damn. Broader issues associated with simply not having budget is more excusable assuming that the work that is done is done with some care.

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