Tarpon Boil
 

Wow ! I don’t know where to start with this review ! Atrocious would probably accurate describe the overall condition of this course.

Weeds all over the place, greens looked like a quilt with patches all over the place .

All of the holes on the greens were damaged and it looks like new ones haven’t been cut in a while .

Anyway, all I can say is that if you’re having out of town visitors in town and want to take them golfing as a guest DO NOT take them to Tarpon Boil ! It’s an embarrassment !

The only positive I can say is that the fairway on the par 4 finishing hole (#9) was in extremely good shape .

The “report card” rates this course a D and I wholeheartedly agree . They note that an “Aggressive Maintenance Plan” is to take effect…. When ? Would be my question !! ;)

More than likely what you’re seeing around the cups is where lazy people reach inside the cups with their “built for lazy people” ball retrievers and are damaging the holes.

I agree 100 % ! I personably chastise anyone I see doing that when I see something like that done …:

That said, the damage I saw on EVERY HOLE is old …. Meaning, they are not punching new holes every morning as they are supposed to do.

That is part of “appropriate maintenance” in my book …. Or lack of in this case …..

This is such a shame, but so true.

Can't bend over to pick up their ball but drop a $5 bill on the ground and wrestling match would break out. "Watch out Grammy needs her happy hour money."

Blah, blah... A friend who is an ardent, respectful golfer, after extensive back surgery has returned to the game. He was unable to reach into the bottom of the hole to retrieve his golf ball. He was extremely reluctant but we finally convinced him to use a "built for disabled" rubber suction cup on the end of the putter. It works beautifully and he is able to continue his passion, golfing.
He has never damaged a hole on the green using this method. I have witnessed healthy, limber golfers jamb the head of their putter into the hole to flop the ball out. Now that is a problem and may a bad back issue never be yours.

I agree …. If those suction cup devices are used PROPERLY, no damage will occur. Apparently your friend knows how to ….

However, I have seen folks with those suction cups rake the hell out of the edge of the hole because they are not careful.

Any incident I see where that takes place , I bring it to that person whether I know them or not !

Best way I recommend is once the ball is in the hole, take the flag out leaving the ball in the hole …. THEN the ball can be lifted straight up from the center of the hole. That way, no part of the putter grip will come in contact with the edge of the hole .

I’m sure you know that. My intent is to let those who DON’T know how they can avoid causing damage….

This thread started about the condition of Tarpon Boil. Suddenly it became a thread about the condition of the hole, and how the damage around them happens. If a lazy golfer does a putter in ball out move, that damages the hole. If someone removes their ball with a suction cup with the flag out, it does no damage.
That said, I took my family to play Tarpon Boil on Monday July 15th. The course condition then was decent, not what the OPs pictures show. The patchwork on the green looks like number 7, and wasn't like that two weeks ago. Must have been major maintenance neglect in the last two weeks.

The pictures don’t lie…. Those were the true conditions when I played the course this past Sunday !

The “major maintenance neglect “ goes well beyond the two previous weeks !!

If the "report card" rates the course a "D" and says that an "Aggressive Maintenance Plan" is forthcoming ... why is it a surprise that it's not in good condition?

If you understand what they meant by "D" condition ...

& have been told an "Aggressive Maintenance Plan" is "to take effect" ...

What's the point of the original post? To show that the Rating System is accurate? Or are you arguing it should have been rated "D-" ?

Are the grades of the executives on golfthevillages dot com?

I looked and cant fine them.

I’m not arguing anything . And there is no “point” to my reviews other than a comparison to the course conditions TODAY vs the “report card” ratings which are 4 months old. Current information benefits everyone.

No one is forced to read any of my posts…..

Please feel free to post anything useful to these discussions anytime you wish…

As someone WITH a bad back, reaching to the ground is tough. Reaching into a small hole is even tougher. I use a ball retriever on the end of my putter. Works like a charm, never coming close to the edge of the hole.
I’ve seen many reach in with their hand and damage the holes edge in doing so.
Either way works, just don’t touch the edge!

We played Tarpon this morning (7/31, Wednesday) and the course conditions were very good. However, OP was correct about some cup edge damage.

Well, folks, something amazing has happened. Between the 1st post and the 15th post, the course miraculously transformed itself into much better conditions. Wow!

Now if we could get the lazies to quit using their ball retriever devices or the end of their putters to drag their balls out of the cups (most looks like with the flags still in) that would also be amazing.