JakaB . . . . er . . Barney,
This topic has been covered fairly well already, even though I deleted a long post about specific modifications and suggestions because I did not want to provide any grist for the rumor-mill at our beloved O-Club.
I'd be happy to send it off for your opinion of my "pussyosity" in supporting these changes.
Let me just state that the Lake Course is another one of those storied venues ruined by over-irrigation and the brainless "green-is-good" mentality.
Because the course is all poa, our ex-Super used to flood the course every few days in order to encourage deeper root growth. He was the first to admit that the course was too wet, but at the time there was a regime in power that did not buy into the prevailing Treehouse opinions. I do not blame him, especially with a couple kids in college . . .
You cannot reason with people afflicted with power-maddness. Finally, we have a guy in charge with the political acumen to navigate us past the Boo-birds.
I believe that the Lake Course will be a far more difficult test -and play truer to its architectural design intent - when we have dry fairways and firm putting surfaces.
The other problem - and Huckster is right about you catching it on a perfect day - is we never seem to get consistent density on our fairways. At least half the year, we are playing on sparse poa and thatchy mud. Personally, I am sick of trying to hit the ball off of glop.
Tree removal and some air circulation will not only dry out the fairways, but give us a far superior stand - and one that will not turn to mush at the first rain. The course played firmer when I was a kid and then gradually got more and more overgrown with sacrosanct trees that hung like vultures over our putting surfaces . . . drip drip drip drip.
By contrast, the (new) Ocean Course - like it or not - drains well. Because it is on the windward side of the hill, it is in better shape than the Lake through the wet months and beyond.
And as for your snotty remark about my ball flight (and you may as well make fun of my penis size), in my youth I played most of my golf on the Ocean Course, Crystal Springs and San Mateo Muni. All three of these are notoriously windy.
So, that partially explains those skull shots I play - that and an awful swing . . . . However, I am happy to report after basically abandoning the game 18 months ago, my case of the Sergio's is all but gone. I can't hit my ass with both hands anymore, but at least my playing partners have quit wondering if I've been snorting *Peruvian tap dancing powder.*
But back to the Lake Course:
The best example I can give is the weeks leading up to the pair of PGA Tour Champonships we had (I think) in 93 and 94(?). The golf course had rough, but the fairways were firm and fast. All the little humps, bumps and swales suddenly came into play. You had to think about every single shot because nothing would stop the ball if you picked the wrong line.
I never had more fun in my life on that golf course. It was literally a joy to play and I was out there every afternoon. The beauty was that I found it necessary to invent shots all around the golf course - similar to playing in Scotland.
I remember pulling out a 6-iron on #10 and watching the ball bound over the green almost to the 11th tee. After that, it was a 5-iron bump shot designed to land 30 yards in front the green. Watching it scamper along the ground and onto the putting surface was a thing of beauty.
Another example that comes to mind is #9. Nobody seems notice, but there is a wonderful little knob jutting out from the front of the putting surface on the upslope of a 4-foot swale. Depending on the angle in the fairway, it was almost like a mini-Biarritz approach with the addition of this nose that could be used to nudge the ball one direction or another.
The key here is that the Lake Course has so much more personality when you highlight its linksy landforms - instead of hiding them under a blanket of soaking wet mudgrass.
P.S. When you coming out Barney? We can bring Huckster and see how long it takes the Leprechaun to strangle you. The over & under is 11 holes. . . . good thing you are in Indiana and out of striking distance.
