[ajbrown]

I played Bonifay on 1/20 and commented that the greens were really getting firm to my playing partners. I just finished playing there again today and they seemed a bit softer but still firm.

I LOVE IT.

I love a course in that condition, where you must consider spin on the ball and think about where to land it based on pin position.

I love this thread and am hopeful this will not be taken as argumentative, but if you love the challenge of flighting a ball and controlling spin, play Bonifay now.

Have fun out there

[schotzyb]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

I played Bonifay on 1/20 and commented that the greens were really getting firm to my playing partners. I just finished playing there again today and they seemed a bit softer but still firm.

I LOVE IT.

I love a course in that condition, where you must consider spin on the ball and think about where to land it based on pin position.

I love this thread and am hopeful this will not be taken as argumentative, but if you love the challenge of flighting a ball and controlling spin, play Bonifay now.

Have fun out there

I also like fast greens for putting but not for my approach shots. I don't hit the ball as high as most guys so I have to rely on distance control and that is tough with firm greens..
I also like this thread and let's keep it going.

[waynet]

aj, I'm with you the harder and faster the better. besides with the amount of people not fixing ball marks I don't have to fix 5 per green all the time. And talking about ball marks why can't ambassadors watch groups on the greens instead of worrying if I replace the rake in the bunker. If they see a group not fixing their ball marks a kind reminder is usually all that is needed.

[MrMark]

[QUOTE=

As of yesterday. Glenview- Stirrup Cup - Greens were pathetic!

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by MrMark

As of yesterday. Glenview- Stirrup Cup - Greens were pathetic!

That is disappointing, I have not been there for a while and I was going to try and play there Friday. Seems Glenview struggling is an annual thing. Was the other nine holes OK? In your opinion how would the greens compare to other courses you have played recently, i.e., Hacienda, Tierra, Havana or Bonifay, etc?

In general I have found the courses I have played (even executives) in much better shape than last winter.

Thanks for any insight for my Friday request.

[Mikeod]

[quote=MrMark;449511][QUOTE=

As of yesterday. Glenview- Stirrup Cup - Greens were pathetic![/quote]
Water, folks. No measurable rain for weeks coupled with aquifer restrictions plus increased draw due to new homes and landscaping. Also, the warmer weather has stimulated the bermuda early. Anyone notice the zoysia is greening up early? I would expect the greens to be hard and bumpy until we get more rain. Hopefully tomorrow!

For those south of 466, the water for both homes and golf courses/landscaping is drawn from a single allocation. The more that homes and home landscaping draws on the allocation, the less is available for golf courses and community landscaping. The better the homeowners conserve water, i.e., water appropriately, the more is available to maintain conditions on the golf courses and community landscaping. It's a limited resource right now. Can't just buy more.

[schotzyb]

We played Orange Blossom today and a totally different scenario of what we saw at Bonifay and Havana. Greens were extremely soft but also very slow, but at least you could leave a ball mark and they held. Didn't really care for the slowness of the greens but I did like being able to keep my approach shots on the greens.

[chuckster]

[quote=MrMark;449511][QUOTE=

As of yesterday. Glenview- Stirrup Cup - Greens were pathetic![/quote]



Sorry but have to disagree with this observation.....with exception of #3 Fox that has been and is still in poor condition, rest of fox and stirrup were in good condition on Sunday. JMHO.......

[spk7951]

Played Mallory Hill today Virginia to Amelia and thought the course was in pretty good condition. Fairways overall are not bad and greens are in great shape and quick. Pace of play for our group was 4hrs 10min.

[ajbrown]

I played Glenview, Fox Run to Stirrup this AM. I actually thought the greens on Stirrup were fine. If anything the greens were worse on Fox Run, but still playable. Glenview must be aware as they are sanding the heck out the problem areas.

My one complaint is that the greens were too slow. I understand why, as they are trying to fix them, so they leave the plant a bit longer, but IMO there are a few better choices right now in TV. This could change with a mower adjustment and be different next week as most of the greens have plenty of grass.

[schotzyb]

Played Havana Friday morning and the course conditions were totally different from the prior week when the greens were hard as concrete. We were first off Friday morning and it was obvious that they had watered the greens heavily. Slow and soft. But a very enjoyable round.

[ajbrown]

Played Havana this AM, Kilimanjaro to Kenya. I must say I was a bit under whelmed. I mostly judge courses by the condition of greens. Something about the greens do not look healthy, not dry, just not smooth. Almost like mold or disease in parts... said by a guy who has no idea how to grow grass

It is still on my request list. I only get to play twice a week and I am interested in what others see or how it changes....

Off to Tierra on Sunday if no rain.

[robertj1954]

The drought has caused many of the golf course lakes to drop to very low levels. I over heard a discussion yesterday regarding the lake levels. I am hopeful someone with knowledge on the subject can address it. The question: Can The Villages adjust the lake levels by moving water from one lake to another to maintain acceptable water levels? That is what some people believe. I am wondering, if this is true, how do they accomplish it?

[hedoman]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

Played Havana this AM, Kilimanjaro to Kenya. I must say I was a bit under whelmed. I mostly judge courses by the condition of greens. Something about the greens do not look healthy, not dry, just not smooth. Almost like mold or disease in parts... said by a guy who has no idea how to grow grass

It is still on my request list. I only get to play twice a week and I am interested in what others see or how it changes....

Off to Tierra on Sunday if no rain.

Noticed the seed heads of Poa Anna on a few greens and asked the maintainance guy (who was checking them) and he verified. It is the lighter green (almost white) and the seed heads tend to make the green bumpy. a few hours afer cutting they grow bck and stick up. It was a transitional grass back up north until the Bent kicked in after it warmed up to summer levels. It shouldn't be a big problem but I was amazed to see it this far south. Could explain your observations

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by hedoman

Noticed the seed heads of Poa Anna on a few greens and asked the maintainance guy (who was checking them) and he verified. It is the lighter green (almost white) and the seed heads tend to make the green bumpy. a few hours afer cutting they grow bck and stick up. It was a transitional grass back up north until the Bent kicked in after it warmed up to summer levels. It shouldn't be a big problem but I was amazed to see it this far south. Could explain your observations

I want to preface what I say with the fact Havana is in decent condition. I do not wish my comments to be taken as any but conversational and curious about what others are seeing. Some comments will be negative, but Havana is still on my request list.

Thanks for the info hedoman. I have played my share on Poa Anna greens and can empathize with the greens crew fighting it. Was that at Havana you saw a greens keeper?

To my untrained eye, the greens at Havana were not bumpy due to Poa Anna.
This was more like the grass was 'clumpy'. Clumpy sounds pretty severe, the greens are still playable, but it is like in large areas the grass is not filled in making the surface bumpy. If the pin was in that area it was hit or miss.

As I type this I realize my ability to paint a picture using words is non existent; likely why I work in the computer field. If I am going to post something like this I must include a picture

PSrant. I cannot state enough how bad people are at fixing ball marks. I would rather people NOT fix them then fix them wrong. All over Havana you see dirt spots the size of a quarter likely caused by fixing a ball mark by raising the center.