Kiel Christianson - Latest Comments on American Society of Golf Course Architects makes design recommendations to speed play

Wendy (UK) [Visitor] in response to: American Society of Golf Course Architects makes design recommendations to speed play

Wendy (UK) [Visitor] — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:37:19 +0000

Ah, we cheapstakes have a big bell on a tall post for that as the players in front are down in a dip on one hole and behind the trees on another dogleg - no tee-shot to be taken until you hear the bell ring for all-clear.

If the players in front are visitors and have missed the instruction to ring the bell, take great delight in ringing it as hard as you can whilst they are on their backswing on the adjacent fairway. (One victim only of course). If, however, you are the group in front and the group behind have been harrassing you, ring the bell as quietly as you can but truthfully claim to have rung it in the face of their indignation. Of course, I'm above this sort of behaviour, but my playing partners are not.

If you hit the post from the tee (damn fine shot - you'll hear it even if you don't see it), you MUST replay without penalty.

Kiel Christianson [Member] in response to: American Society of Golf Course Architects makes design recommendations to speed play

Kiel Christianson [Member] — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:48:16 +0000

Right you are, Wendy. There's a course outside
E. Lansing, Michigan, at which the final hole ends with a blind shot to a small green fronted by wetlands and ringed on the sides and behind by dense underbrush. HUGE back-ups would occur as groups searched for their balls around the green, and, being blind, following groups would hit their approaches, making for a very dangerous situation.

And hear-hear on the sticks!

Wendy (UK) [Visitor] in response to: American Society of Golf Course Architects makes design recommendations to speed play

Wendy (UK) [Visitor] — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:30:16 +0000

Blind shots can really slow play down. One hole on my local course had an avenue of trees just in front of the tee with a narrow gap to play through. You couldn't follow the flight of an errant shot, and no idea where the ball had landed, which would be in thick rough either side of the fairway. Calling the next group through just compounded the problem. (Causing either extreme anguish or hilarity to the next lot on the tee). Now they have cut one tree down either side of the gap. Result is that you're still punished for the errant shot but at least you have some idea where it landed, and this has gone a long way to solving the logjam on this hole.

This course has v. few of the amenities you are used to in the US, but yes, it does have vertical blue markers at the edge of the rough at 150 yds from the hole on every par 4/5, which I think is crucial for planning shots even though I can play this course in my sleep. How expensive can a few sticks be?

Kiel Christianson [Member] in response to: American Society of Golf Course Architects makes design recommendations to speed play

Kiel Christianson [Member] — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:33:36 +0000

6600 yards and wide fairways is great--
The Old Course at St. Andrews is another
example. I said 5000 yards. Most male golfers
would not seek out a course that short,
irrespective of their skill level. (Not saying
they shouldn't; just saying they wouldn't.)

Tom [Visitor] in response to: American Society of Golf Course Architects makes design recommendations to speed play

Tom [Visitor] — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:27:34 +0000

Kiel, there are plenty of 6600 yard courses that are 75 yards wide an d have plenty of play - Sand Hills, Ballyneal to name two. Remember, most players aren't stupid enough or good enough to tee it up past 7,000 yards.