Weekday pin positions

[Jeff_Brauer]

Do we still prefer blood letting to micro surgery?

Not relevant.

While a bit of an exaggeration, there is little doubt that most endeavors including golf are becoming more data driven and scientific over some of that black magic voodoo some seem to prefer, and we are generally better off for it.  In this case, while it is early, given how much complaints a single bad pin position generates almost everywhere, I believe we will specifically be better off for it.  Like high tech clubs and balls, bunker liners and almost everything else, this will take ten years to be adopted by all golf courses.  But, it is coming.

[Tim Martin]

There has never been more information available regarding temps, precipitation(past and current), wind, humidity and all things weather related. I don’t know what the issue is with also factoring in a computer generated model of pre selected pin positions to the mix of tools already available to the super. At the end of the day the super either takes the heat for bad placements or the accolades for picking the hole locations that make the design shine.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Tim,


I recently learned that it can be a legal issue to use older temp and precipitation guides for design.  Since most believe climate change has changed weather patterns, using a precipitation guide that Toro put out not long after WWII could be seen as Malpractice in irrigation design, and using older rainfall charts to design drainage would be similar.  I think a lawyer could have a field day if a gca pulled out an old, worn, paper copy of some design data.


Many agreements now have "resilient design" clauses and if your course floods or is brown part of the year, someone may think you are not doing your job.  I would hate to have back to back 100 year storms when I designed the drainage for a 1, 2, or maybe 5 year storm at most without contractual protection of some kind.  (BTW, I am currently combing multiple sources to provide such a clause for ASGCA members to use in any updated contract)


And I always joked that a golfer might sue an architect or super for losing a bet someday.  It might be a good defense to say you used the best tech available in setting that cup that cost him thousands of dollars.  I know of one CA club that sued its renovation architect over one green that they deemed didn't have enough cup setting areas.  (I don't know the outcome)