Comments for edzellgolfclub

Comment on 4th May by Iain Gibb

Iain Gibb — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:55:45 +0000

Thanks for the update. Course is as good as it can be considering the weather in my opinion. Coldest May for 100 years apparently!

Comment on Course Feedback by Charlie Allison

Charlie Allison — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:35:25 +0000

I just wondered why we have no heather nowadays on our heathland golf course. Just like we all missed the floral displays at Augusta this year, I feel there is something missing at Edzell, which as a course satisfies in every other respect – both the challenge, shot-values and the scenic beauty of the area. I would like heather as decoration not necessarily in play, as I know its difficult to find the ball and play out of. I wonder if there might be a coupe of places it might be reintroduced – maybe that open area to the left of the 8th might have some heather? I have heard there is a designer at the club, but I would suggest money well spent would be to send 4 Edzell people in a car, with hotel expenses paid, to visit Ganton, Nots Club (Hollinwell), Sunningdale and the Berkshire – maybe Walton Heath too (though difficult to get to) all on terrain similar to Edzell. Sunningdale is particularly interesting with the New Course being deliberately being maintained as an open heath course. Even looking at the websites would show the heather!

As for suggestion re the course design I have two small suggestions.
1. 11th green I suggest a small extension to the left side (moving back the sprinkler heads) to allow a challenging pin position and a consequent change of appearance to a sweeping leftish curve rather than straightaway. This might only be used occasionally but it would look good as well as play well?
2. 16th hole I think a new tee back and left would restore the shot values for everyone. A lot of biggish hitters must be playing very short irons off the current tee (unless they are gong for the green)? I don’t think people would be hit on this tee and you would preserve the trak for vehicles above the tee.

Other than that, I think Edzell has evolved into a most challenging members course. I think it plays harder sometimes than Downfield and Rosemount (off comparable tees) because it is bunkered on both sides of nearly every green so there’s no choice of a bale out percentage shot. It has to be straight!

Comment on 8th Tee Update by greenkeeper

greenkeeper — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:41:16 +0000

Thanks Brian,
I have replied to Alistair about bunker rakes and hopefully you can read the reply to save me repeating the same post. I agree about pitch marks and will speak to the secretary about extra signage.
Graham

Comment on Course Feedback by greenkeeper

greenkeeper — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:31:33 +0000

Thank you for your comments about the course.
With regards to the bunker rakes, the rakes are being maintained at the moment and I will explain the delay. If the stain has been worn off the wooden shaft then we have to sand it down and let it the wood dry completely before applying the new stain, otherwise it would just peel off and we would have wasted our time. The reason we do this at the end of the winter is that if a nicely refurbished rake lay underneath frost and snow, then the stain would just crack and peel off and again I would have wasted our time, so I try and do the work as close to the start of the season as possible. The rakes should be all out before next weekend and I apolagise for any inconvenience. But no rake in a bunker is no excuse to leave the bunker with no attempt to smooth it.
Graham

Comment on 8th Tee Update by Brian W Beattie.

Brian W Beattie. — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 20:03:47 +0000

The missing rakes in the bunkers. A bit bemused to see that there are not a lot of rakes in the bunkers. Some people seem to go into the bunkers and play their shot or shots and don’t repair the mess. Having visited some bunkers reluctantly and have found footprints quite deep and not any attempt to smooth the surface over. Another point pitch marks still not been repaired on greens, we want a great course for the start of the season, a notice in the club information board about the missing rakes and pitch marks not being repaired should do the trick hopefully.

Comment on Course Feedback by Alistair Cormie

Alistair Cormie — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:26:53 +0000

Graham,

Course is looking great for this time of year. Congratulations to all involved. That said I have one “gripe” on the subject of bunker rakes or should I say, the lack of the item in some bunkers!!! For the last 3 weeks I have been in several which looked like something from a war zone, let alone a golf course. I accept members SHOULD tidy up after play but clearly with no rakes in some, this is not the case. It gives a poor impression and although this may only be seen as “winter golf” members and visitors at Edzell should not have this penalty to pay. If rakes are being maintained, this should be completed long before the latter part of winter when the weather is hopefully as we have had recently.

Comment on Course Feedback by greenkeeper

greenkeeper — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:47:09 +0000

Thank you for your comments and good luck with the rest of your challenge!
Graham

Comment on Course Feedback by Alan McPherson

Alan McPherson — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:33:08 +0000

I enjoyed playing the West Water yesterday as part of my continuing efforts to play every course in Scotland to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. The course was in great condition, but I particularly want to congratulate the club on its introduction of an interactive Greenkeeper’s page on the website. I’d wondered about the tree thinning on the 2nd when I played the course – now I know exactly why. Having played 477 courses now, this is the first time I’ve come across such an innovative and helpful link between members and greenkeepers. I’ll be recommending that my own club introduces such a page.

Comment on Course Feedback by greenkeeper

greenkeeper — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:20:28 +0000

With regards to the 15th winter green, I wish I could say it was something other than an operator error, but unfortunately that is what it was. Due to the hard ground conditions we have not been able to repair the damage as yet, but as soon as better conditions prevail it will be seen to.
Your comments about our other winter work was very much appreciated.
Graham

Comment on Course Feedback by Alan Kidd

Alan Kidd — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 10:43:00 +0000

I was very disappointed to see the damage to the 15th winter green at the weekend. It would appear to have been caused by machinery of some kind being driven over It.
Perhaps Graham, you would be good enough to provide an explanation to the membership via this thread?

That aside our course is in great shape, the work on the 8th Tee coupled with tree thinning round about it has enhanced this hole. The ropes and white lines, while inconvenient, are serving a purpose. The tree thinning through out the course is a bigger job than it looks and a lot of thinking and planning has gone into this, which is appreciated. All this work will be rewarded during the season, and seasons to come, when Edzell will have have a course that looks in tune with the surroundings.

We as members playing the course must be mindful that we are also custodians of the course. It is important to remember that our course requires to be maintained, however some aspects of this which do not impact on playability, will be judged by the legacy we leave behind.

Regards

Alan Kidd
Ordinary Member.