Low budget courses

[Steelergolfer311]

Today I played a 9 hole course in Michigan. the fairways were cut how rough should look like and the rough was so long you lost your ball in it. Some holes didn't even have fairways. The greens were in perfect shape though. What's the reasoning for these courses to not cut there fairways short? The collars on the green were short. The tee boxes were pretty long. Any ideas ? 

[Chilli Dipper]

First: when it comes to conditioning, you get what you pay for.

Second: outside of greens and tee boxes, it's all through the green. There is no rule stipulating a golf course must have fairways or uniform rough.

[Steelergolfer311]

1 minute ago, Chilli Dipper said:

First: when it comes to conditioning, you get what you pay for.

Second: outside of greens and tee boxes, it's all through the green. There is no rule stipulating a golf course must have fairways or uniform rough.

Wow I didn't know that. It's definitely a fun little course to play for cheap. I work on 2 championship courses I could golf for free as well , so that was different for me. 

[Buckeyebowman]

It all comes down to money! How much money the course owner has to maintain the place. I play in a league at a little nine holer that's kind of out in the boonies. This place has been around forever. My buddy called me a little over a month ago saying he was out there, and was I interested in coming out and playing?

So, I went out and met him. I hadn't played this course in a coon's age. My Dad brought me out here 50 years ago, I'm 63, when I was just starting to play! I had long since dismissed it as being too short, which it's not. The greens were too flat and slow, they are definitely anything but. And every hole is bordered by gigantic oak or pine trees that make driving a challenge. A new owner has infused some new life into the place. Play is increasing.

It's not the cheapest place around to play, but it is far from the most expensive. And with the turfgrass improvements on the tees, fairways, and greens, as well as one the nicest practice ranges in the area, it's a bargain. These little nine hole jewels are some of the undiscovered wonders in golf!

[WUTiger]

Good greens, longish tee boxes and shaggy elsewhere... Could be any number of reasons ...

• Course got recent rain and hadn't had chance to mow.
• Someone on the greens crew is sick / or quit / and they're shorthanded.
• The greens rotary mower is working well, but the fairway mowing tractor is down for repairs.

If the greens were good, I suspect it's a spot shortfall in maintenance activity.

[SavvySwede]

8 minutes ago, WUTiger said:

Good greens, longish tee boxes and shaggy elsewhere... Could be any number of reasons ...

• Course got recent rain and hadn't had chance to mow.
• Someone on the greens crew is sick / or quit / and they're shorthanded.
• The greens rotary mower is working well, but the fairway mowing tractor is down for repairs.

If the greens were good, I suspect it's a spot shortfall in maintenance activity.

Greens mowers use reels FYI. All good examples though.

[gregsandiego]

On 6/19/2016 at 8:05 PM, Steelergolfer311 said:

Today I played a 9 hole course in Michigan. the fairways were cut how rough should look like and the rough was so long you lost your ball in it. Some holes didn't even have fairways. The greens were in perfect shape though. What's the reasoning for these courses to not cut there fairways short? The collars on the green were short. The tee boxes were pretty long. Any ideas ? 

Where in Michigan? (I came from 48180).

And how much was it?

[Steelergolfer311]

55 minutes ago, gregsandiego said:

Where in Michigan? (I came from 48180).

And how much was it?

It's a little east of lapeer. 

Its called Arcadia hills , cost me only 16 bucks with a cart.

[gregsandiego]

15 hours ago, Steelergolfer311 said:

It's a little east of lapeer. 

Its called Arcadia hills , cost me only 16 bucks with a cart.

Cool. It's a 9, but not an executive right?

http://www.arcadiahills.com/

 

Kind of like my National City GC in San Diego.

http://www.nationalcitygc.com/

Back to your original question I guess they just don't have the money to manicure. I find National City the ideal practice course. Slightly more than a large bucket to play real golf.

 

[dennyjones]

I live in Davison but have never golfed there.   There is a course in Mt. Morris called Beechwood Greens that is usually real rough like you described and Golfnow usually will have deals for $5.   The Jewel of Grand Blanc Onyx course is real rough and again has deals on Golfnow for $10.   With lack of rain it doesn't surprise me that some courses are hurting.   

Check out Lapeer Country Club.  They usually lists deals on Golfnow but is usually in good shape.   Holly Meadows is another nice course.   I play at The Captain's Club but have played most courses in that area.  

[Steelergolfer311]

15 hours ago, gregsandiego said:

Cool. It's a 9, but not an executive right?

http://www.arcadiahills.com/

 

Kind of like my National City GC in San Diego.

http://www.nationalcitygc.com/

Back to your original question I guess they just don't have the money to manicure. I find National City the ideal practice course. Slightly more than a large bucket to play real golf.

 

Yeah that's the website. Not a bad place to go at all. Good practice and cheap. Also have food and beer. 

12 hours ago, dennyjones said:

I live in Davison but have never golfed there.   There is a course in Mt. Morris called Beechwood Greens that is usually real rough like you described and Golfnow usually will have deals for $5.   The Jewel of Grand Blanc Onyx course is real rough and again has deals on Golfnow for $10.   With lack of rain it doesn't surprise me that some courses are hurting.   

Check out Lapeer Country Club.  They usually lists deals on Golfnow but is usually in good shape.   Holly Meadows is another nice course.   I play at The Captain's Club but have played most courses in that area.  

I play lapeer quite often, good course..

[JonMA1]

On 6/19/2016 at 11:12 PM, Chilli Dipper said:

First: when it comes to conditioning, you get what you pay for.

Second: outside of greens and tee boxes, it's all through the green. There is no rule stipulating a golf course must have fairways or uniform rough.

This is probably true for the most part, but up here in Northern Michigan there are exceptions on both ends of the spectrum.

The only thing I've noticed in my limited experience is that beyond the rough is where there seems to be a consistent difference between expensive and cheap courses. Many of the cheaper courses don't have hazards or out-of-bounds marked and there are often branches and debris left under the trees - something I don't see as much of on better courses. But I've yet to find a course that has much better fairways than my home course which is as cheap as it gets.

On the other hand, I've played courses that have the reputation of being "a really nice course" with greens fee to match and left very underwhelmed.

I suspect the more courses I play, the more I'll start to see the differences.

[gregsandiego]

13 hours ago, Steelergolfer311 said:

Yeah that's the website. Not a bad place to go at all. Good practice and cheap. Also have food and beer. 

I play lapeer quite often, good course..

Sometimes these little less than pristine courses are less snobby, more fun. People seem to make a day of hanging out at National City with friends and family.Lots of beer and hot dogs getting served. 

[mcanadiens]

With the cheaper courses, I just want a course that is playable. A single cut is fine if I can find the ball I hit down the middle. Let's not have massive ant hills or gopher holes that someone could twist an ankle in. The greens have to be putt-able and if trap maintenance is too expensive, grow em over.

Just a bit ago, the course that couldn't do the above closed and is turning into houses as we speak. We,luckily, still have a number of other courses that manage both low prices and decent conditions.

    

[SavvySwede]

There's a little 9 hole course run by Ocean Township. Has 9 very small but immaculate greens and 15 small bunkers scattered around the course. The fairways and tees are longish and it gets fairly baked during the summer but they keep the greens green and true. Nothing special but it gets the job done.

[WUTiger]

One such nine in our area is St. Ann Golf Course, (a muny).

It's about 2 miles from Lambert International Airport. Par 34, comes in about 2,700 yards. One long par 4 and a couple of longer par 3 holes; rest require careful tee shots.

Course has lots of midsize trees bordering the fairways, and most of the turf is either fairway or first-cut rough length. Easy to find offline ball, but you need a recovery shot. A great place for beginners, or a fun walking round if longer courses have been brutal.

[Braivo]

On 6/19/2016 at 11:05 PM, Steelergolfer311 said:

Today I played a 9 hole course in Michigan. the fairways were cut how rough should look like and the rough was so long you lost your ball in it. Some holes didn't even have fairways. The greens were in perfect shape though. What's the reasoning for these courses to not cut there fairways short? The collars on the green were short. The tee boxes were pretty long. Any ideas ? 

My guess is that they simply have a lack of resources or staff to cut the fairways regularly. There are a few local courses I play here in Southeast Michigan that only mow once a week or so. The one closest to me mows the grass on Fridays so the course is in nice shape for the weekend. I have played there on Thursday evenings and things look pretty rough. 

Like others have said, you get what you pay for. A budget course barely makes any money and usually runs on a very slim staff, if a guy goes on vacation for a week then things just don't get done. 

Personally, I enjoy playing the budget courses. They are often fairly empty so I can get a round in rather quickly. They also tend to have adjacent fairways and fewer hazards which makes them more playable. 

 

[Aflighter]

I actually played one on wed mainly because I was playing solo and knew the course would be fairly empty.There was around 8 cars in lot. $19.when its forecast to be 92 or higher they close at 3.carts in by 2.Very nice layout and one of  my old favorites.Unfortunately theres just not enough buisness to keep  up.Greens are actually fine.Slow bent grass.The fairways are like rough maybe 2 inches high or so with some bare spots.bunkers are grown over.It was 10am and I was only the 13th player in the sign in book.Thats only around $300 in revenue with maybe another $3-400 rest of day.Very sad theres great layouts going  waste.If I hit lottery it would definately be a course  buy.Its out in the country and had young punks speed golfing driving carts right to tee markers.