Golf Thread

[BLS]

Ha,ha Rory the rag has once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at the Irish Open

 

[give it to gordon]

Interesting read

Study reveals stark unsatisfaction levels among club golfers

A new study has revealed staggering levels of unsatisfaction among club golfers. And it's all about one thing.

www.bunkered.co.uk

Be interesting to see a similar survey amongst greenkeepers.

OK I left in 2012 after nearly 30 years as a greenkeeper, head greenkeeper, have things changed ?

Bunkers I would say 95% of club golfers can't play out of the bunkers. Nothing to do with the sand particles size, the depth, shape of the bunker. It's their lack of skill.

Fairways again when cut nice and short to enable back spin to be applied. 95% of club golfers hate short Fairways because they can't play the correct shot. They want the ball to be sitting up so it's easier to get under the ball but impossible to put back spin on the ball.

Semi rough or rough 95% of club members hate this and want nice wide soft fluffy Fairways. Most try to play the impossible shot for their skill levels.

Greens 95% would like soft greens and smooth. You can't have both as soft greens get damaged by pitchmarks and foot prints. Soft greens have weed grass and disease.

All of the above would be the fault of the greenkeeper !

When I started greenkeeping the highest handicap was 18 and classed as a hacker.

My club would moan about the 15th green at the bottom of a hill for pitch markers saying its club societies that damage the course not members lol.
One late Friday evening a colleague and me repaired every single pitch mark on this green.
First thing Monday we place a golf ball in each unrepaired pitch mark from the weekend. Stood back and took a picture of the whole green.
The club secretary reused to put the picture on the notice board as it would upset the members.
The green had over 200 unrepaired pitch marks from members over the weekend lol
Societies weren't allowed at weekends lol.

So ask a greenkeeper for his thoughts.

Unrealistic demands.
Rake bunkers and correctly
Repair pitch marks.
Employ more greenkeepers
Increase the maintenance budget
Update machines
Allow more time to carry out maintenance at the correct time of year.
Close the course in bad weather.
Respect the qualified staff.
Understand the level you play at.
Learn to play golf.
Understand how different grass receives the ball.
Understand how different course play.
American Golf course can't survive the British weather.

I'm so glad I got made redundant because the industry I loved and joined in 1979 is so different to the Industry in 2010. I stayed in the industry for another 10 years or so after.

I don't understand why club golfers expect their club to be as good as a multi million course. I never expect my local footy pitch to be like a premier league pitch.
Most pay less than 1k for 365 days of golf, less than 3quid per day or round !

But I so much happier now I'm away from the sports turf industry.

 

[Cityfan]

Interesting read

Study reveals stark unsatisfaction levels among club golfers

A new study has revealed staggering levels of unsatisfaction among club golfers. And it's all about one thing.

www.bunkered.co.uk

Be interesting to see a similar survey amongst greenkeepers.

OK I left in 2012 after nearly 30 years as a greenkeeper, head greenkeeper, have things changed ?

Bunkers I would say 95% of club golfers can't play out of the bunkers. Nothing to do with the sand particles size, the depth, shape of the bunker. It's their lack of skill.

Fairways again when cut nice and short to enable back spin to be applied. 95% of club golfers hate short Fairways because they can't play the correct shot. They want the ball to be sitting up so it's easier to get under the ball but impossible to put back spin on the ball.

Semi rough or rough 95% of club members hate this and want nice wide soft fluffy Fairways. Most try to play the impossible shot for their skill levels.

Greens 95% would like soft greens and smooth. You can't have both as soft greens get damaged by pitchmarks and foot prints. Soft greens have weed grass and disease.

All of the above would be the fault of the greenkeeper !

When I started greenkeeping the highest handicap was 18 and classed as a hacker.

My club would moan about the 15th green at the bottom of a hill for pitch markers saying its club societies that damage the course not members lol.
One late Friday evening a colleague and me repaired every single pitch mark on this green.
First thing Monday we place a golf ball in each unrepaired pitch mark from the weekend. Stood back and took a picture of the whole green.
The club secretary reused to put the picture on the notice board as it would upset the members.
The green had over 200 unrepaired pitch marks from members over the weekend lol
Societies weren't allowed at weekends lol.

So ask a greenkeeper for his thoughts.

Unrealistic demands.
Rake bunkers and correctly
Repair pitch marks.
Employ more greenkeepers
Increase the maintenance budget
Update machines
Allow more time to carry out maintenance at the correct time of year.
Close the course in bad weather.
Respect the qualified staff.
Understand the level you play at.
Learn to play golf.
Understand how different grass receives the ball.
Understand how different course play.
American Golf course can't survive the British weather.

I'm so glad I got made redundant because the industry I loved and joined in 1979 is so different to the Industry in 2010. I stayed in the industry for another 10 years or so after.

I don't understand why club golfers expect their club to be as good as a multi million course. I never expect my local footy pitch to be like a premier league pitch.
Most pay less than 1k for 365 days of golf, less than 3quid per day or round !

But I so much happier now I'm away from the sports turf industry.

Some people do like to moan about anything, from a personal point of view I always repair any pitchmarks I see as well as looking for my own, most people I play with do likewise and by and large the greens are not to marked. You're spot on about soft greens and pitchmarks generally our greens are pretty firm in the summer ( I live in Scotland )but lately we have had masses of rain for a couple of months and you see a lot more pitchmarks than normal.

I'm actually just in from 18 holes and saw our head greenkeeper out on the course and made a point of thanking him for keeping the course in good nick after all the weather. He has done a fantastic job, but I guess some will still moan that's people unfortunately.

 

[bluethrunthru]

not a fan of golf really nor Bellew but this has cracked me up

 

[jimharri]

Just got Sky Sports on in the background before I go out. And the LPGA golf is one. What I've always wondered is how Asians are seemingly so strong in the women's game. Yet, IN COMPARISON, they don't make as much of an impression in the men's game. Yes, there's been the occasional very good male golfer from that part of the world. But generally, it's Americans and Europeans who dominate the men's game. Any particular reason for the disparity.

 

[tweety]

Just got Sky Sports on in the background before I go out. And the LPGA golf is one. What I've always wondered is how Asians are seemingly so strong in the women's game. Yet, IN COMPARISON, they don't make as much of an impression in the men's game. Yes, there's been the occasional very good male golfer from that part of the world. But generally, it's Americans and Europeans who dominate the men's game. Any particular reason for the disparity

We've had a large intake of junior golfers for the first time in many years at my club. They weren't the usual intake of members children but kids who have seen the advert. To my knowledge there are no girls, maybe they're just not interested in this country.

 

[Dubai Blue]

Just got Sky Sports on in the background before I go out. And the LPGA golf is one. What I've always wondered is how Asians are seemingly so strong in the women's game. Yet, IN COMPARISON, they don't make as much of an impression in the men's game. Yes, there's been the occasional very good male golfer from that part of the world. But generally, it's Americans and Europeans who dominate the men's game. Any particular reason for the disparity.

Various factors. It's a much more popular and well-funded sport for girls and young women in certain (affluent) parts of Asia than it is in Europe. So there's a comparatively larger pool of players than is the case for men. And crucially, distance isn't as important in the women's game; it's more about precision. So the physical limitations that can sometimes impede Asian men don't have the same impact on women.

 

[meltonblue]

We've had a large intake of junior golfers for the first time in many years at my club. They weren't the usual intake of members children but kids who have seen the advert. To my knowledge there are no girls, maybe they're just not interested in this country.

Think it depends on the area. My daughter is part of a junior academy and plays golf sixes competitions most Sundays, it’s pretty much an even split between girls and boys.