Firm and Fast Players?

[iacas]

After all this talk about how fast and firm this course would play, I've gotta admit: I haven't seen it one bit.

Balls are taking a hop on the greens and stopping. Drives are taking a hop or two and rolling very little. The greens are putting more slowly than my home course's greens.

The only rain they got was some time on Wednesday, prior to the tournament's start, so that can't be blamed. Supposedly they're double-cutting and rolling, but I ain't seeing much proof of that.

Truthfully, I feel a bit ripped off. I wanted to see a firm, fast golf course and we're seeing some of the greenest, lushest, and slowest courses of the year. What gives?

[tartanjack]

I think I heard one commentator say that the lush conditions were the result of new grass. I can't imagine what that is supposed to mean except maybe that it's too young to roll or mow as closely as they would like.

Still, from watching the event this week, I would have to say their multi-million dollar re-do to get firm and fast was pretty much a failure.

[CG031]

  tartanjack said:

I think I heard one commentator say that the lush conditions were the result of new grass. I can't imagine what that is supposed to mean except maybe that it's too young to roll or mow as closely as they would like.

yea i heard that too..and i agree the firm and fast thing was a failure, w/e. good tournament still though with mickelson.

oh and tartanjack: your home course is architecs? i don't live far from there, about 10 minutes!

[tartanjack]

  CG031 said:

yea i heard that too..and i agree the firm and fast thing was a failure, w/e. good tournament still though with mickelson.

Cool. And given your sig with Bubba in it, you gotta play Architects. It is a bomber's paradise. But you sure have to hit some good irons and putt like you mean it.

[iacas]

  tartanjack said:

Cool. And given your sig with Bubba in it, you gotta play Architects. It is a bomber's paradise. But you sure have to hit some good irons and putt like you mean it.

Back to topic, lovebirds.

Having watched the final round now, yeah, I'm going to have to agree: all that money was practically wasted. I'm sure the course will dry faster now, but it behaved like it was wet all week, and for no real reason. There was almost no rain, and there was plenty of wind to help dry the course out on Thursday. I too heard the "new grass" comment, and thought it particularly dumb. First it was the thatch and the "old grass" buildup that made the course slow - now it's the "new grass"?

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

Yeah, I agree. I was a bit disappointed with the slow conditions. I really thought we were going to get a major championship type of feel (yes, I use that term loosely). On Thursday and Friday it looked like that might be the case and then when I tuned in on Saturday there was a whole mess of 66's, 67's etc which continued on to Sunday. Without the wind this course seemed very tame, and accessable. I'm not sure what good the changes did either. Sure looked like it played the same to me. Tough in the wind and not so tough in calm days. All this without really any rain. I also heard the "new grass" comment and that doesn't make a bit of sense to me. Of course I'm not a greens keeper and other than mowing the lawn don't know much about it but wasn't the objective to make it firm and fast? And it wasn't... so something didn't work. Bottom line is if they really want this tournament to be mentioned in the same breath as the majors then they are going to have to firm up the conditions. Maybe next year.

[CG031]

  tartanjack said:

Cool. And given your sig with Bubba in it, you gotta play Architects. It is a bomber's paradise. But you sure have to hit some good irons and putt like you mean it.

the last three holes are soo hard especially from the furthest back tees..

[Clubswinger21]

Thursday, it seemed like it was playing fast and firm. The announcers were talking about shots rolling out and not holding because of the new greens. I swear the course seemed to get softer as the week went on. But it could've been because the wind died down. Typically there is talk about all new greens on any course, being firmer and faster before they settle. I dont know if high humidity levels have anything to do with it. Or maybe, an outside sourse snuck on the course during the night and secretly watered the greens with super soakers?

I was a bit disappointed because those are conditions i like to watch and play under. But I dont consider this a major and trying to make it play more like a major just seems like they're trying to make the tournament in to something its not. Like they're hoping if it plays around even par, one year it'll sneak in there as the fifth. I dont consider it a major and to me it lacks the atmosphere of a major. I was entertained and thats all you can ask for nowadays.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

  Clubswinger21 said:

Thursday, it seemed like it was playing fast and firm. The announcers were talking about shots rolling out and not holding because of the new greens. I swear the course seemed to get softer as the week went on. But it could've been because the wind died down.

Yeah, I thought the same thing but I think it was just the wind. If the winds were like that all weekend then we would be talking about how tough it played.

  Clubswinger21 said:

But I dont consider this a major and trying to make it play more like a major just seems like they're trying to make the tournament in to something its not.

Well said. I couldn't agree more.

[Buckswin]

There was a program on TGC last night about the redo of TPC Sawgrass and they specifically mentioned that they wanted 1 big hop and then a check on the greens. Perhaps the course was playing as they wanted it to...

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

  Buckswin said:

There was a program on TGC last night about the redo of TPC Sawgrass and they specifically mentioned that they wanted 1 big hop and then a check on the greens. Perhaps the course was playing as they wanted it to...

They probably did that show

after the tournament and said that so they wouldn't look like idiots.