Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - excessive use of rope on executive courses
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Old 07-21-2017, 01:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by genecruey View Post
if you have had or know someone who tripped on executive ropes I would like hear about it. my thoughts are below.

ROPES ON EXECUTIVE COURSE

With all due respect to those who keep our executive course in the best possible shape, I wish to make a few points concerning ropes by Greens and Tees.

First I must say I personally have seen several trips and falls due to these ropes. Today I played with a couple who knew someone who tripped over the rope and broke their shoulder. They thought he may have initiated a lawsuit. Another was pretty bad as a results of landing face first on cart path. This was someone who had to give up pickle ball due to a diagnosed “brain bleed” and a fall could have lead to death. We are a community of seniors and many must have handicap markers on their cart due to disabilities. I believe everyone can agree the ropes are a hazard without blaming the victim. .

I have made several observations that I challenge anyone to check out for accuracy.

1. I have observed that in the vast majority of cases the rope has blocked off dirt and sand areas which have no chance of recovering by simply limiting traffic on them. Grass does not magically sprout out on hard pan bare areas. (probably my strongest point other than safety which is enough in itself). Currently in many cases, this just funnels traffic to the ends of the rope causing more damage in areas that were not as bad thus extending not fixing any bad areas and slows play..

If it has grass seed or sod in an attempt to fix, by all means rope it off.
Grass will never grow just by limiting traffic. Typical example found on every course.

3 I started to take note when the campaign to enforce pulling to close to the edge of path and having one tire on the grass began. I have found very little evidence that this is a prevalent problem. There are bare areas near the paths but clearly not caused by this problem. Water erosion, because these ropes are lower than the tee or green funnel it into the bad areas or cause them.

4. In many cases the ropes make an impaired golfer have to walk quiet a bit more distance to tee off. I/we want them on the course, right, I admire them and pray I will have the same tenacity and will not have to walk a
n obstical to get to the Tee or Green.

5. As I mention in the opening, they are a hazard and slow up play.

6. We do many things to speed up play but the ropes do the opposite.


7. Seems obvious but the ropes by the tees are not in play hardly at all and those by the green are in play but you get relief from path or bad areas with or without them. Now the relief is from the rope unless, as some do, you pull up the rope hit and put it back... slows play yes. As I said, just a safety hazard.

I have repeatedly ask why the ropes and the brainwashed answer is it keeps carts from ruining the grass. Come on, just look. When a cart tire is on the path at all it is not touching the ground thus only when an ill informed handicapped player leaves the path is it a problem and me for one can live with that and I believe very little damages is done.

On behalf of me and my fellow aging golf nuts, I implore you to revisit the use of ropes. I have no doubt this was done in good faith to create a better course but sadly it has not done that but only created slower play and a safety hazard.
I would like to discuss this with the appropriate staff and know that it is receiving the proper attention.
I don't doubt it is possible but we have lived here and I have played the courses for more than nine years and I haven't seen or heard of anyone tripping. More than that, bad things usually appear on this forum and yours is the first about falling over the ropes that I have read in ten years.

As you may know, this forum is not an official place or connected to The official Villages or to the Golf courses in any way. Some good soul will soon read this and post the name and telephone number of the director of Executive Golf. Welcome to the forum. I hope you have been happy in this lovely town we have all chosen, for the most part, anyway..........
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