Category: Unusual and difficult lies

Somebody has to do it.

Still Working on the course

Sand scapes need work

In a previous post called The sand trap is on the green we looked at sand scrapes which are greens without grass. You need to rake a path from the hole to your ball and putt along the sand to get in the hole.
Okay so far but when there is a big storm, the rain and wind tend to mess up the sandscrapes. Some sections  become too deep in sand and others become bareish.

So a working bee is called and members come to replace the base and the sand. It’s a dirty job and you feel like a road worker in the hot sun.
Still it’s got to be done regularly throughout the year to keep the scrapes in good condition. And you don’t need to water scrapes.

Working for the Golf Club

Working like bees

Cleaning up the country course

I am currently playing on a regional or country course in Central Victoria and learning a lot about country people and their special ways of playing golf. In a previous post called The sand trap is on the green we looked at sand scrapes which are greens without green. You need to rake a path from the hole to your ball and putt along the sand to get in the hole.
However the scrapes need a lot of care and attention.
And at our course, a big wind or a flock of cockies can leave the fairway scattered with eucalyptus branches. To clear them the club captain asks for volunteers to give their time and energy to removing the debris.
This is a real demonstration of members’ contribution to their sport and to the club.

The sand trap is on the green

Sand-scrapes in the country

Path to putting

There are some large golf courses in rural Australia but most are small courses in small regional towns. The local golf club often cannot support the green keeping staff needed to look after grass greens, so they opt for sand-scrapes which are easier and cheaper to maintain.

I have been avoiding playing on sand-scrape courses even though they are closer to my place than the “proper” course complete with real greens that I normally play at. Snobbery I suppose!

Recently I played with these guys in the Twilight Competition at Avoca Golf Club. I am told that the greens are of a high standard for sand-scrapes…unlike my round where I just could not cope with the greens. Putting is not my forte however 3 putts were the rule for me not the exception!

Playing on the Gold Coast

Trevor plays Greensborough Greens

What fun!

A few days ago I visited the Gold Coast and Brisbane in Queensland, the Sunshine State. Well it was sunny alright in Autumn. A bit hot for me actually.

The state of the course was excellent and Trevor reports on the competition between the many courses resulting in very reasonable green fees for visitors.

However it was the latest golf carts that impressed me most. No need for a GPS finder because it shows distance to the green. It actually stopped when we got too close to the green. You needed to reverse out of the restricted area!

Hilly Courses

What the pro tells you

Not so accurate

Since I had a quadruple bypass some years ago, I haven’t wanted to play golf on hilly courses. I get too puffed.

I have an electric buggy at home and had we known (believing the pro) we would have hired a cart. We played only nine holes. Lovely course though. You can enjoy the scenery as well as getting out of breath.