What's with these greens??

[BigGuy]

Lived here five years never seen exec greens this bad.
Play about three times a week both regulation and executives. I know they have aerated many greens but these are just in terrible shape. Heron looks likes some kind of fungus. You can count on one hand if any decent greens on most executives.
Anyone know what's going on?

[Polar Bear]

Don't normally complain about the conditions, but I played Heron tonight and must agree with your sentiments. Almost felt like a waste of time fixing ball marks. (But just for the record, I still fixed them. Heheh.)

[Mikeod]

I agree. This is the worst I have seen them at this time of year in eight years. For some reason it appears the bermuda is not recovering from dormancy like it should. The temps have been high enough. Played Hawkes Bay Thursday where they aerated about five weeks ago and it was like putting on cobblestones. Lots of bare spots. #5 had about a third of the green covered with sand.

[Rollie]

It's not just TV golf courses. It's bad all over. Spruce Creek is closing for 2 days to address their greens issues. Stonecrest is just awful. It must have been the harsh winter.

Rollie

[kittygilchrist]

It must have been the harsh winter.


There was no harsh winter here. It was the opposite..

Weather History for Lady Lake, FL [Florida] for January (http://weather-warehouse.com/WeatherHistory/PastWeatherData_TheVillages_LadyLake_FL_January.ht ml)

[nitehawk]

Forget about golf in the villages --- Price and conditions have me playing other golf courses -- we have heard all the excuses - too much rain, too little rain, too much traffic, fungus, disease, etc. Fix them -- we are a golfing community - we should have the best courses in the area -- in 9 years i have seen the courses go from a "8" to a "3" --

[Barefoot]

Forget about golf in the villages --- Price and conditions have me playing other golf courses -- we have heard all the excuses - too much rain, too little rain, too much traffic, fungus, disease, etc. Fix them -- we are a golfing community - we should have the best courses in the area -- in 9 years i have seen the courses go from a "8" to a "3" --

Perhaps it's a question of finances.
Amenity fees cover an awful lot of activities.
It seems more money spent on the Exec courses may be the answer.
Either a fee to play, or an increase in amenities.
Are you willing to pay a fee to golf the Executive courses?

[Polar Bear]

...Are you willing to pay a fee to golf the Executive courses?

Nope. Not I. Still a great deal IMHO, and I'm confident conditions will improve.

[CatskillBill]

Forget about golf in the villages --- Price and conditions have me playing other golf courses -- we have heard all the excuses - too much rain, too little rain, too much traffic, fungus, disease, etc. Fix them -- we are a golfing community - we should have the best courses in the area -- in 9 years i have seen the courses go from a "8" to a "3" --

I agree with you a 100%. Most of my favorite courses outside TV are back to normal within 2 weeks after punchimg them. Not here. For most it's been over a month and they're still showing bumps and holes?

Someone explain to me how the Glenview's practice greens are perfect and the rest of the course's greens stink? Played Palmer yesterday, Evan's Praire today and they were just OK, and forget about the hideous exec greens being in good shape anytime soon.

Go play World Woods, Stone Creek and Mission Inn to see what our courses SHOULD being looking like.

[rubicon]

Perhaps it's a question of finances.
Amenity fees cover an awful lot of activities.
It seems more money spent on the Exec courses may be the answer.
Either a fee to play, or an increase in amenities.
Are you willing to pay a fee to golf the Executive courses?

Hi Barefoot: The Villages claim was free golf for the rest of your life. Resident pay $141.00 for trail fees and also amenities. In addition they paid a premium component for the privilege of living here. In order to get a tee time they need to pay $8 per month to utilize the computer system. forget the free phone system its not user friendly. so free golf is not so free. Guests pay to play on executive courses plus they charge for pull carts...both acceptable practices.

I believe if TV attempted to begin charging fees for executive courses there would be an upheaval especially since this was the main calling card for many who bought here.

[Challenger]

Conditions of the greens on the Exec courses is the worst that I have ever seen - anywhere. We have lots of visiting guest and I am pesently embarased to take them to play.

These conditions do not meet the standards of what the Developer put in place and in most places the head grounds people would be fired.

I am usually defense of this beautiful, well managed , paradise, but these conditions stink!!!!!:22yikes:

[dbussone]

Perhaps it's a question of finances.

Amenity fees cover an awful lot of activities.

It seems more money spent on the Exec courses may be the answer.

Either a fee to play, or an increase in amenities.

Are you willing to pay a fee to golf the Executive courses?


No. We were guaranteed free golf for life.

[blueash]

Perhaps it's a question of finances.
Amenity fees cover an awful lot of activities.
It seems more money spent on the Exec courses may be the answer.
Either a fee to play, or an increase in amenities.
Are you willing to pay a fee to golf the Executive courses?

Yes. If that is what would help. All the "but we were promised free golf" complainers are correct. But the agreement never said "with nice greens and fairways" So if you are going to make the developer stick to the letter of the agreement don't complain. Your golf is still free.

There were nearly 2 million rounds of executive golf played in 2011

http://nancysheehanrealty.com/THE%20VILLAGES%20TRIVIA.pdf

So if the charge were a single dollar a round, that would be a lot of money and I don't see how it would break anyone's budget.

Something needs to be done and you can be sure it can't be done for free so the money is going to come from some source which ultimately means us. I'd prefer that the golfers, which includes me, pick up most of the cost rather than spreading it to everyone.

[Barefoot]

Hi Barefoot: The Villages claim was free golf for the rest of your life. Resident pay $141.00 for trail fees and also amenities. In addition they paid a premium component for the privilege of living here. In order to get a tee time they need to pay $8 per month to utilize the computer system. forget the free phone system its not user friendly. so free golf is not so free. Guests pay to play on executive courses plus they charge for pull carts...both acceptable practices.

I believe if TV attempted to begin charging fees for executive courses there would be an upheaval especially since this was the main calling card for many who bought here.

Exactly Rubicon!
We were all promised free golf for life.
So I doubt that anyone is going to gladly start paying a fee for executive golf.
Well, perhaps the really avid golfers wouldn't mind.
But there would be a huge public outcry by most golfers.

And I doubt the non-golfers would appreciate the amenity fees being raised to improve the golf courses.

So if the golf courses aren't maintained in pristine condition, which is the topic of this thread, what do you think the solution is?

Perhaps the situation will correct itself with grass seed, nurturing and lots of rain?

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Yes. If that is what would help. All the "but we were promised free golf" complainers are correct. But the agreement never said "with nice greens and fairways" So if you are going to make the developer stick to the letter of the agreement don't complain. Your golf is still free.

There were nearly 2 million rounds of executive golf played in 2011

http://nancysheehanrealty.com/THE%20VILLAGES%20TRIVIA.pdf

So if the charge were a single dollar a round, that would be a lot of money and I don't see how it would break anyone's budget.

Something needs to be done and you can be sure it can't be done for free so the money is going to come from some source which ultimately means us. I'd prefer that the golfers, which includes me, pick up most of the cost rather than spreading it to everyone.
There are almost 500 golf holes in The Villages. Two million dollars would be a drop in the bucket as far as golf course maintenance goes. I've worked at regulation 18 hole courses where the budget was $1.5 million. And unless you have an almost unlimited budget like Augusta National some things are just beyond your control as far as maintaining a golf course.
One thing I have noticed is that they're doing a lot of renovations on some golf courses. On some I've seen them totally rebuilding greens. This is a huge budget expense and may be what's taking away from the regular maintenance of the rest of the courses. I can't say for sure. I'm only speculating as to what might be a reason.
For the most part, I spent my career in golf in the north. I know of courses that haven't rebuilt their greens in over 100 years and the greens are fine. I don't understand rebuilding these greens every few years. I've heard of places that do it, but I've never actually seen it before. Maybe sand based bermuda greens need to be rebuilt more often. That was not my specific area of expertise in the golf business.

[Gat0r]

Why doesn't someone from course management reply on this thread and tell us what is going on with the greens? I have heard from other golfers that there are 5 different things wrong(fungus,critters,etc)

[kittygilchrist]

Maybe the courses are overwatered? I live on a course and nobody is stopping the sprinklers from coming on in the night on the same day there was a gully washer storm.
Combine that with overmowing. Nobody looks to see if the grass has actually grown since it was mowed last. Like clockwork. They mow bare soil in front of my house, making sure to mash the soil around every inch of what turf is left with the mower tires.

Just griping, don't really know...
http://gsr.lib.msu.edu/1990s/1992/920901.pdf

[DonH57]

I was on El Diablo yesterday and it looks like the sixth hole green is recovering slowly but surely.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I was on El Diablo yesterday and it looks like the sixth hole green is recovering slowly but surely.

That's another thing. Grass is a living, growing changing organism. It will come back. Unless it is completely killed, it always comes back.

[mickey100]

Regarding over-mowing, I was told by someone who is familiar with the situation, that the golf course maintenance contracts are written up in such a manner that the fairways get mowed "X" amount of times per week. The contractors do that, whether or not the fairways need it, because its in the contract and they want to get paid. When you contract out the work, the courses aren't going to get the personalized care that our courses up north got from from dedicated greens keepers.

[graciegirl]

Regarding over-mowing, I was told by someone who is familiar with the situation, that the golf course maintenance contracts are written up in such a manner that the fairways get mowed "X" amount of times per week. The contractors do that, whether or not the fairways need it, because its in the contract and they want to get paid. When you contract out the work, the courses aren't going to get the personalized care that our courses up north got from from dedicated greens keepers.


Cutting grass costs a lot more up north and so does most golf.

http://mrrstats.com/wgccblog/

[fred53]

Good luck by all.

[Happinow]

We went "North" yesterday to play Briarwood and it was a whole different course. The whole course was in great condition! The greens weren't all sand and the fare ways were lush and green. Why is that? Why are the courses toward the Southern end of town in such poor condition? Played Bacall today and the greens were horrible. Maybe golfing the courses North may be the answer?

[newguyintv]

Lived here five years never seen exec greens this bad.
Play about three times a week both regulation and executives. I know they have aerated many greens but these are just in terrible shape. Heron looks likes some kind of fungus. You can count on one hand if any decent greens on most executives.
Anyone know what's going on?

When you build them on the cheap and maintain them poorly what do you expect. They are like they are because a vast majority of Villages "golfers" don't know the difference between good and bad.

[dewilson58]

When you build them on the cheap and maintain them poorly what do you expect. They are like they are because a vast majority of Villages "golfers" don't know the difference between good and bad.

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[waynet]

newguyintv said it all. Build them cheap and maintain them cheap.

[Mikeod]

We went "North" yesterday to play Briarwood and it was a whole different course. The whole course was in great condition! The greens weren't all sand and the fare ways were lush and green. Why is that? Why are the courses toward the Southern end of town in such poor condition? Played Bacall today and the greens were horrible. Maybe golfing the courses North may be the answer?

The maintenance contractor for the four courses up there decided to not use the usual large tines when they aerated during the transition from overseed to base bermuda. Instead they used the 1/4" tines which resulted in the greens recovering more quickly. They will use the smaller tines for the second aeration on all the courses later this summer.

[karostay]

When you build them on the cheap and maintain them poorly what do you expect. They are like they are because a vast majority of Villages "golfers" don't know the difference between good and bad.
:BigApplause::BigApplause::BigApplause:

[karostay]

The maintenance contractor for the four courses up there decided to not use the usual large tines when they aerated during the transition from overseed to base bermuda. Instead they used the 1/4" tines which resulted in the greens recovering more quickly. They will use the smaller tines for the second aeration on all the courses later this summer.
If you don't top dress it's a complete waist of time

[fred53]

If you don't top dress it's a complete waist of time

that have been aerated have been top dressed.

What's lacking is patience....on the part of the golfers(or non-golfers who play grass hockey ;-)

[jdguscinski]

I don't think the subcontracted maintenance companies for the golf courses have a clue what they are doing. How do you take a green, any green, from good condition to a burned up mess in a weeks time? Forget weather factors - nothing in excess, heat or rain. How long will it take them to learn how to grow grass on the fairways? Beyond incompetence I think it comes down to not re-investing back into the courses - both fertilizer and water. That is mostly all the courses need, period! IMHO

[mickey100]

We are all speculating here. We are not greens keepers, don't have the knowledge. But there is obviously something wrong when our greens and fairways don't stack up against neighboring courses, and supposedly a community of this size has the funds to adequately maintain it's facilities. I'd love to see someone in management take ownership of this issue and give us some answers.

[nitehawk]

that have been aerated have been top dressed.

What's lacking is patience....on the part of the golfers(or non-golfers who play grass hockey ;-)

Love it ------

[graciegirl]

We are all speculating here. We are not greens keepers, don't have the knowledge. But there is obviously something wrong when our greens and fairways don't stack up against neighboring courses, and supposedly a community of this size has the funds to adequately maintain it's facilities. I'd love to see someone in management take ownership of this issue and give us some answers.

Aren't the championship courses privately owned? In other words run and managed by a sort of leasing company? (The Morses still own the land?)

Who writes the checks for the golf pro's???????

[Barefoot]

They are like they are because a vast majority of Villages "golfers" don't know the difference between good and bad.

Assuming that what you say is true, and a vast majority of Villages golfers don't know the difference between good and bad,
then what's the problem?
Following your logic, I assume that a vast majority of Villages golfers are therefore satisfied with existing conditions.

[N44125]

Played Bogart this morning, 9th hole / green is back in play. All of the greens, including the 9th, were in good shape. Practice / putting area still under repair.

[zcaveman]

Greens were terrible. You hit the putt and watched the ball hop, skip and jump to where ever it wanted to go.

Z

[djl8412]

Aren't the championship courses privately owned? In other words run and managed by a sort of leasing company? (The Morses still own the land?)

Who writes the checks for the golf pro's???????

:shrug:I'm not sure of the technicalities of what the actual "ownership" is all about but I believe the job of managing the courses is with Golf Management Services. When I inquired a couple of years ago on employment with that company, I was told by some of the course employees that one needs to apply at The Villages Human Resource office at Spanish Springs. That leads me to believe that the management company is somehow connected to The Villages itself which would lend credence to some money circulating back to developer interests.:confused:

[mickey100]

:shrug:I'm not sure of the technicalities of what the actual "ownership" is all about but I believe the job of managing the courses is with Golf Management Services. When I inquired a couple of years ago on employment with that company, I was told by some of the course employees that one needs to apply at The Villages Human Resource office at Spanish Springs. That leads me to believe that the management company is somehow connected to The Villages itself which would lend credence to some money circulating back to developer interests.:confused:

I would be surprised if money was not circulating back to the developer.

[waynet]

most of the people who come to visit me say the same thing. They marvel at the flowers ,the cleanliness, the friendly people, the squares, the lifestyle but they want to know why the golf courses are not as good as they should be. I have no real answer for them.

[mickey100]

most of the people who come to visit me say the same thing. They marvel at the flowers ,the cleanliness, the friendly people, the squares, the lifestyle but they want to know why the golf courses are not as good as they should be. I have no real answer for them.

I couldn't agree more. There are so many great things about The Villages, but they just can't seem to get the golf right.

I looked at the posts and it appears the courses were in poor shape beginning in May when they aerated, and are only now back to decent shape. That's 2 1/2 months. And they're supposed to aerate again in August. That means the greens will be awful for at least another month after aeration. We will have had at least 3 1/2 months of poor playing conditions for the year. And that doesn't include the poor playing conditions that occur in the winter. I looked back at some of the posts from March of this year, and people were complaining about the poor conditions of the greens on the executive courses. Add that in, and you're talking 4-5 months of poor conditions. That's just ridiculous.

[dbussone]

I couldn't agree more. There are so many great things about The Villages, but they just can't seem to get the golf right.

I looked at the posts and it appears the courses were in poor shape beginning in May when they aerated, and are only now back to decent shape. That's 2 1/2 months. And they're supposed to aerate again in August. That means the greens will be awful for at least another month after aeration. We will have had at least 3 1/2 months of poor playing conditions for the year. And that doesn't include the poor playing conditions that occur in the winter. I looked back at some of the posts from March of this year, and people were complaining about the poor conditions of the greens on the executive courses. Add that in, and you're talking 4-5 months of poor conditions. That's just ridiculous.

One of the things that also bothers me is the pricing to play on the championship courses. As a "priority" member I paid $26 to play Bonifay yesterday. Last Thursday I paid $22 to play Harbor Hills and tomorrow will pay $18 dollars to play StoneCrest. Harbor Hills had aerated its greens but they were in much better shape than newly aerated greens I've played on in TV.

It seems to me that TV championship courses should no more costly to play than surrounding courses and should be in no worse shape.

[fred53]

One of the things that also bothers me is the pricing to play on the championship courses. As a "priority" member I paid $26 to play Bonifay yesterday. Last Thursday I paid $22 to play Harbor Hills and tomorrow will pay $18 dollars to play StoneCrest. Harbor Hills had aerated its greens but they were in much better shape than newly aerated greens I've played on in TV.

It seems to me that TV championship courses should no more costly to play than surrounding courses and should be in no worse shape.

isn't it?

[collie1228]

One of the things that also bothers me is the pricing to play on the championship courses. As a "priority" member I paid $26 to play Bonifay yesterday. Last Thursday I paid $22 to play Harbor Hills and tomorrow will pay $18 dollars to play StoneCrest. Harbor Hills had aerated its greens but they were in much better shape than newly aerated greens I've played on in TV.

It seems to me that TV championship courses should no more costly to play than surrounding courses and should be in no worse shape.

What you say is true, and making arrangements to play off- campus is the logical thing to do. Maybe the developer and his golf staff will pay attention, but I doubt it.

By the way, I played Lopez yesterday after 11:00AM and paid only $18.00. Course was in nice condition.

[waynet]

the courses should be better than nice. With proper management they should be very good all the time. 3 and 1/2 months of awful conditions is stupid.

[graciegirl]

the courses should be better than nice. With proper management they should be very good all the time. 3 and 1/2 months of awful conditions is stupid.


Are you saying they are better? Huh? Huh?:BigApplause:

[waynet]

Gracie,I'm saying what I always have said....the place is beautiful with flowers on the circles, it's always clean, the ponds are kept clean, at times it looks like there isn't a blade of grass out of place. I just don't get why the golf courses aren't treated the same way. I would think the Morse family would expect their golf courses to reflect the rest of the community.

[mickey100]

What you say is true, and making arrangements to play off- campus is the logical thing to do. Maybe the developer and his golf staff will pay attention, but I doubt it.

By the way, I played Lopez yesterday after 11:00AM and paid only $18.00. Course was in nice condition.

Yes, it's cheaper after 11, but not everyone can tolerate the extreme afternoon heat for 18 holes.

If one is able, it certainly makes sense to go ff campus for better conditions and cheaper prices. The Villages golf courses just don't measure up.

[graciegirl]

Yes, it's cheaper after 11, but not everyone can tolerate the extreme afternoon heat for 18 holes.

If one is able, it certainly makes sense to go ff campus for better conditions and cheaper prices. The Villages golf courses just don't measure up.


But you gotta admit the courses are in much better condition. right? Huh? :BigApplause:

[jebartle]

Chula Vista Practice Putting Green has gone from worse to worse, and my putting has suffered MORE!

[wlou]

that we all sign a petition asking the villages to stop mowing the grass SO short . My hubby actually talked to one of the "One Source" employees mowing the dirt( yes, it was just dirt) and he said, "We have to mow once a week whether it needs it or not"..What a shame…..As far as the conditions go, I am not a greenskeeper but will say that most all of the Off campus places we have played in and around this area have all been in VERY good shape. It is after all the "rainy season " here so they can't blame it on no rain…So, what is it? I just can't figure it out….hmmm

[mickey100]

that we all sign a petition asking the villages to stop mowing the grass SO short . My hubby actually talked to one of the "One Source" employees mowing the dirt( yes, it was just dirt) and he said, "We have to mow once a week whether it needs it or not"..What a shame…..As far as the conditions go, I am not a greenskeeper but will say that most all of the Off campus places we have played in and around this area have all been in VERY good shape. It is after all the "rainy season " here so they can't blame it on no rain…So, what is it? I just can't figure it out….hmmm

No one seems to be able to figure it out and in August they're going to start aerating again. :grumpy:

[Baboon]

Are you saying they are better? Huh? Huh?:BigApplause:

The villages courses are a disgrace for the price. I have played in West Palm, Boca, Windamere (with a cart) for less than the villages charges and the greens are almost as smooth as a pool table.

[graciegirl]

I asked my excellent golfer how the courses were in the last week or so here , and he said, nice. Yesterday he played Juliet Falls. For forty dollars their group played 18 and got a hamburger and a beer. I asked him how that course looked and he said, great. I asked him why our courses looked nice and that course looked great and he said. They only have one course to take care of. He said that there was hardly anybody there.

Sweetie has played a lot of courses. Here are some of note; Doral, Medina, Pebble Beach, Spyglass, Pinehurst #2. The Golf Club, Butler National, Firestone South and St.Andrews in Scotland. He played in a pro-am with Tom Weiskopf. He isn't a duffer. He isn't a scratch golfer, but he plays well for a man of his age. Like everyone else he used to play better.

He said that the courses here are good for the price. He also said, I don't know why you let this stuff upset you. Golf isn't that important to you and those folks are anonymous. And I said, I don't know either. It feels like they are attacking my villages. He said...you don't know who's posting and why. Don't let it bother you.

[nitehawk]

///////

[mickey100]

The villages courses are a disgrace for the price. I have played in West Palm, Boca, Windamere (with a cart) for less than the villages charges and the greens are almost as smooth as a pool table.

A lot of people on this thread agree with you.

[ajbrown]

No one seems to be able to figure it out and in August they're going to start aerating again. :grumpy:

The rumor I heard is that most of the senior maintenance staff are snow birds. Things should get turned around in the fall, so hang in there...

[fred53]

The rumor I heard is that most of the senior maintenance staff are snow birds. Things should get turned around in the fall, so hang in there...

now it becomes obvious that at least some people who post just pass false rumors.

[fred53]

A lot of people on this thread agree with you.

that don't agree either don't frequent TotV's, or don't think it's worth while to respond to rumors.

[collie1228]

A few of random comments on TV golf:

(1) Yes, it seems to be cheaper to play off-campus, but I can't drive my golf cart there - the convenience here trumps price for me. (2) Conditions are not perfect in TV, but I haven't played a course yet that was "unplayable". (3) Each time I've played a course in TV where I thought conditions were not great, the next time I played the same course the conditions had improved - every time. (4) I agree with the comments on the Chula Vista practice green - it's crappy even when it has grass on it. Right now it has very little grass. (5) And finally, I enjoy playing with my friends and neighbors, and they all value the convenience of playing on-campus. Golf is a social game, and it doesn't get any more social when you play outside the gates. Bottom line - I'm happy with golf in TV.

[TheVillageChicken]

Number 8 at Briarwood. No qualified and responsible greens keeper would put the pin in the same location this often. The photo perspective does not show how close together these placements are. About a six foot radius. Imagine how much traffic that part of the green has had lately.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2QNinxgsEUbRsVSZNAAV5EOVxdqM6DjqYOjyXJCKaWE=w1044-h587-no

[fred53]

The Villages do not hire qualified pin setters for the executive courses...how do I know? I was one...a qualified pin setter.

[ajbrown]

Based on site policy and the fact I enjoy TOTV, I will not post the exact sentiment I would like to here...

I posted a fake rumor this AM thinking I was kidding around. It was Most of the senior maintenance staff are snowbirds? IMO, a rumor so ludicrous on its face I figured everyone will know it has to be made up. I never considered someone would think that it could be true.

Folks, for the record, I do not know any of the senior maintenance staff for TV golf courses, nor am I privy to their personal lives.

Phew, glad we cleared that up :oops:

[fred53]

Based on site policy and the fact I enjoy TOTV, I will not post the exact sentiment I would like to here...

I posted a fake rumor this AM thinking I was kidding around. It was Most of the senior maintenance staff are snowbirds? IMO, a rumor so ludicrous on its face I figured everyone will know it has to be made up. I never considered someone would think that it could be true.

Folks, for the record, I do not know any of the senior maintenance staff for TV golf courses, nor am I privy to their personal lives.

Phew, glad we cleared that up :oops:

in reading your post there is no way to tell you were just kidding and if you read some of the posts/complaints there are many that are foolish and unsubstantiated...so if you really want people to know you're kidding I'd suggest using an emoticon(:smiley:) or perhaps a "j/k" or even a "just kidding" at the end of a post. Since I can't see your face and I don't know you it takes a bit of extra effort to make sure you aren't misunderstood. Surely something like my explanation is ludicrous to those so educated...."j/k", "just kidding" :smiley:

[nitehawk]

The rumor I heard is that most of the senior maintenance staff are snow birds. Things should get turned around in the fall, so hang in there...

"Fact" the people who reconfigured Pinehurst, Southern Pines, and Aberdeen area
by removing most of sprinkler system and letting the courses go back to nature were recently hired by the golf management. The company does not think it will take much to complete as we are almost there.

[nitehawk]

Number 8 at Briarwood. No qualified and responsible greens keeper would put the pin in the same location this often. The photo perspective does not show how close together these placements are. About a six foot radius. Imagine how much traffic that part of the green has had lately.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2QNinxgsEUbRsVSZNAAV5EOVxdqM6DjqYOjyXJCKaWE=w1044-h587-no

Maybe TV can use this picture in their advertisements -"Free golf for life"

[graciegirl]

Now I understand. You are from Newark and these are your municipal courses. They are beautiful and very affordable. How do they keep their prices so low and the quality so high? Is it funded by taxes?

Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Affairs (http://golfessexcountynj.com/weequahic_rates/)