[gomoho]

Go for it....

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

How can a post in July of 2012 of course conditions have any meaning today?
Maybe its time for a new thread?

I am not sure why a thread has to be started? It is just a running status of course conditions posted when folks play ..... I played today, anyone that hits new posts sees it. .....

[PaPaLarry]

Needs to be disabled by Monerator

[Fourpar]

Really, PaPa? Course conditions change constantly. Seems like this forum is just the place for golfers to pass info back and forth.
It's not like anyone has to look if they have no interest in the topic.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Fourpar

Really, PaPa? Course conditions change constantly. Seems like this forum is just the place for golfers to pass info back and forth.
It's not like anyone has to look if they have no interest in the topic.

I think PaPa meant - IF it were to be cancelled or closed it would need to be done by the moderator - but I agree with others, just keep it as a running conditions thread. Played Mission Inn (Las Colinas) the other day and I though the conditions were dreadful, hard pan everywhere. Over-seed dying out and new grass not in yet.

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

I think PaPa meant - IF it were to be cancelled or closed it would need to be done by the moderator - but I agree with others, just keep it as a running conditions thread. Played Mission Inn (Las Colinas) the other day and I though the conditions were dreadful, hard pan everywhere. Over-seed dying out and new grass not in yet.

Thats what I meant Russ!!! I like to read updates (if possible) of courses people have played in last 2 weeks or less, so I know to stay away for one reason or another. (Like Mallory doesn't have a practice putting green yet)

[mickey100]

We have been having good luck with conditions at Tierra. Not so good luck at Cane - we played Jacaranda last week and it was awful. Dry and hard, and if you were 2 inches off the fairway, there were large areas with no grass, just brown dried up dust/hardpan. I really felt they should have that course closed.

[collie1228]

Played Bonifay yesterday (Destin/Ft. Walton) and conditions were pretty good. Grass was in good shape on greens and fairways.

[mickey100]

Played Havana on Friday and conditions were pretty good as well. Nice grass on the fairways. One or two greens might have been a little skimpy on grass, but overall was nice shape. Off the fairways you do run into some patches where there is no grass, probably due to lack of water. We can use some rain!

[kimball]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

Thats what I meant Russ!!! I like to read updates (if possible) of courses people have played in last 2 weeks or less, so I know to stay away for one reason or another. (Like Mallory doesn't have a practice putting green yet)

Played Glenview this morning. Greens at Fox run, in a word, were "deplorable". Have been playing Glenview since it first opened and today was the worst condition I've ever seen on the greens.

[djl8412]

Course conditions seem to get a lot of attention when seasonal residents are here. Conditions are better overall, very few exceptions occur and rates jump way up. And, what a coincidence: Tierra Del Sol and nine holes of Hacienda Hills will be closed when seasonals are absent, leaving permanent residents with fewer choices. Add to this, the policies of running irrigation systems around the clock when the ponds receive large runoffs in heavy rains for "flood control." Having more water poured on to saturated ground with much of it draining back in to these ponds doesn't make much sense, especially when our rainfall has been less than adequate the past few years. I also believe it aids in bringing more fungal diseases to greens and fairways. Does it ever occur to management that maintaining higher levels in retention ponds would result in saving needed irrigation supply for future drought conditions? Before we know it, it will be cart path only travel because watering management is unfounded. The Villages continues to expand thus demanding more water. For once is it possible to be pro-active instead of reactive?

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by kimball

Played Glenview this morning. Greens at Fox run, in a word, were "deplorable". Have been playing Glenview since it first opened and today was the worst condition I've ever seen on the greens.

My spouse played there recently and had the same thoughts on the condition. What a shame - the course used to be so nice.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by djl8412

Course conditions seem to get a lot of attention when seasonal residents are here. Conditions are better overall, very few exceptions occur and rates jump way up. And, what a coincidence: Tierra Del Sol and nine holes of Hacienda Hills will be closed when seasonals are absent, leaving permanent residents with fewer choices. Add to this, the policies of running irrigation systems around the clock when the ponds receive large runoffs in heavy rains for "flood control." Having more water poured on to saturated ground with much of it draining back in to these ponds doesn't make much sense, especially when our rainfall has been less than adequate the past few years. I also believe it aids in bringing more fungal diseases to greens and fairways. Does it ever occur to management that maintaining higher levels in retention ponds would result in saving needed irrigation supply for future drought conditions? Before we know it, it will be cart path only travel because watering management is unfounded. The Villages continues to expand thus demanding more water. For once is it possible to be pro-active instead of reactive?

When would you prefer they close those courses for necessary refurbishment? During the high season? What effect do you think reducing available tee times when demand is the highest would have? The spring/summer is the best time to do these things. I don't buy a conspiracy to make the courses better for the high season when rates are higher and/or limit availability for full-time residents during the summer.

Regarding water management, I would suggest you contact golf administration to learn more about water management in TV. You will find it is far more extensive than you imagine. And far more involved than you think. As far as being proactive, think about the fact that they have constructed the ability to move water between the retention ponds so that there is equal distribution of a limited resource and can move water from ponds nearing capacity to those that are lower. Watering during periods of heavy rain is done to prevent ponds overflowing and flooding nearby residences. Yes, the water EVENTUALLY gets back to the ponds, but it's not quick. Much does soak through the porous soil beneath the fairways and greens. And some of that watering is on the common area landscaping where it won't just drain back. Don't forget that, for most of us, our irrigation water comes from the same source as the golf courses. So, the more we use on our lawns and shrubs, the less is available for the golf courses.

[djl8412]

Originally Posted by mikeod

When would you prefer they close those courses for necessary refurbishment? During the high season? What effect do you think reducing available tee times when demand is the highest would have? The spring/summer is the best time to do these things. I don't buy a conspiracy to make the courses better for the high season when rates are higher and/or limit availability for full-time residents during the summer.

Regarding water management, I would suggest you contact golf administration to learn more about water management in TV. You will find it is far more extensive than you imagine. And far more involved than you think. As far as being proactive, think about the fact that they have constructed the ability to move water between the retention ponds so that there is equal distribution of a limited resource and can move water from ponds nearing capacity to those that are lower. Watering during periods of heavy rain is done to prevent ponds overflowing and flooding nearby residences. Yes, the water EVENTUALLY gets back to the ponds, but it's not quick. Much does soak through the porous soil beneath the fairways and greens. And some of that watering is on the common area landscaping where it won't just drain back. Don't forget that, for most of us, our irrigation water comes from the same source as the golf courses. So, the more we use on our lawns and shrubs, the less is available for the golf courses.

I don't recall claiming a conspiracy theory but I won't split hairs. My claim is that attempts should be made at refurbishments taking place at all times of the year unless weather dictates otherwise. The heat of the summer is never an ideal time for new grass growth. It would be subject to more diseases and require more water. Weather in Florida allows for construction/excavation all year.

I don't see how the retention ponds on the golf courses would flood nearby residences. It's almost comical to see irrigation heads that are below standing water in the middle of a fairway actively spewing more water or standing water in the valleys along Buena Vista Blvd. that doesn't drain due to clogging with irrigation heads adding more water to the situation. Yes, there have been instances of back yards of residences being flooded but not from golf course retention ponds but from constant silt build up in larger pipes in the storm drain system. If there is ability to move water from pond to pond, that luxury would negate having to keep irrigation systems running needlessly. What it boils down to is re-evaluating irrigation practices versus the theory "that's the way we've always done it."

[Mikeod]

[QUOTE=djl8412;658412]I don't recall claiming a conspiracy theory but I won't split hairs. My claim is that attempts should be made at refurbishments taking place at all times of the year unless weather dictates otherwise. The heat of the summer is never an ideal time for new grass growth. It would be subject to more diseases and require more water. Weather in Florida allows for construction/excavation all year.

/QUOTE]

That's where you're wrong. These golf courses use bermuda turf for tees, fairways, and greens. Bermuda loves heat. That's why it goes dormant when ground temps drop in the winter, necessitating overseeding with annual ryegrass. Summer is the best time to address turf issues since the grass loves the heat and there usually are frequent rainstorms to provide moisture and promote new growth.

Sorry if I misread your post, but it seemed to imply that course conditions were intentionally optimized for the high season when rates are higher, and allowed to deteriorate when the seasonal residents and renters left.