Feckin weather!

youcancallmeal

Course was closed yesterday until 1pm so open comp cancelled. I'm actually really annoyed because I still went ahead with my 4pm tee time(casual only) and the course was perfect, I've played competitions with it in much worse conditions. Time running out to try get my handicap down this year

slave1

Just a little stat that I saw on Twitter from Slieve Russell, they had (and this was before all the rain fell) at one stage 22.4litres of water fall for every m2 of ground yesterday

prawnsambo

slave1 wrote: »

Just a little stat that I saw on Twitter from Slieve Russell, they had (and this was before all the rain fell) at one stage 22.4litres of water fall for every m2 of ground yesterday

Almost an inch of rain in other words.

Kiith

That's almost .00005 Pacific Oceans! :pac:

ronnie3585

First day of me Crimbo holidays, immensely looking forward to a round this afternoon. Course closed for the day due to flooding:(

rickis tache

Mine too. Until Wednesday at earliest.

Kiith

Feels warranted to bump this, at least down in Kerry. Feckin weather! Won't stop raining, and i'm desperate for a round.

Mantis Toboggan

In fairness the last few days have been nice in Kildare but it's still quite cold and windy. Lot of rain during the week too. Got out yesterday but the track was very wet once you got off the fairways.

plumber77

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120083375#Comment_120083375

Yes indeed here in North Kerry it's absolutely saturated and this week not looking great either. Not a member of a links either so no getting out now. Wind is just as bad

slingerz

I think this thread needs a bump.

I haven’t known a golf season like it. Preferred lies on the August weekend. Didn’t get summer rules until into May. And it’s not a ‘wet’ course it’s had sanding/drainage done very recently.

maybe 2024 will be better

youcancallmeal

Really questioning the value of my membership this year, missed so many rounds due to course being closed or otherwise not worth playing

RoadRunner

Word is my course has been closed from Sunday through to Wednesday (waiting to hear if it's back open today)

It feels like I've had to deal with mud on the ball situations all summer long (regardless of venue).

I remember a summer about 8-10 years ago that rained every single day for 40 days, but every night was clear. But I think courses were still playable.

Kiith

I can't think of a single instance of getting the ball to run on the fairway this year. Really has felt like winter golf rules throughout the year.

And no its not because i didn't hit any fairways smartass 🤣

benny79

It was a really sh*t season for golf! and with June been so promising I really taught it was going to be a good one!

OEP

And I thought when we got the brief spell of warm weather this month that it would extend our golf a bit longer - the ball had just stopped picking up mud and then the crap weather came back again. This weekend looks terrible too

IAmTitleist

Yea the season is over.

For the moment we are still qualifying but if you hit it in the rough at all its just mud ball city!

So i'm gonna sit out a few weeks until qualifying finishes...not worth losing scores over mudballs in wet thick rough.

soverybored1878

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121134531#Comment_121134531

Was actually a complete washout wasn't it? Can't believe it's almost October. I couldn't even get 9 holes in last night. So depressing it's over before it really began.

almostover

Got back to golf in 2018 and this has been the shortest golf season since returning. My home course has done extensive drainage and some new greens over the last 3-4 years but last weekend and this weekend have been non counting with placing everywhere. And coincided with me hitting some form. Had 40pts last weekend and no cut which is frustrating. Has been a woeful summer of weather, many jobs not completed around the house and garden either due to it.

Heading out in the morning for another mud fest just to get a few hours fresh air with a buddy. Bit annoying really.

pauldoo

Any links courses do a winter series or opens or might have to revert to virtual golf, summer has been brutal and the thoughts of playing in my mud bath of a course for the next few months is grim

Benicetomonty

Arklow are doing an open on Fridays through the winter. Too bad it isnt a weekend but will still be popular Id say.

dk1982

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121182773#Comment_121182773

Spoke on the blower to Pat Ruddy a couple of weeks back. They'll be doing Opens in The European from November to March. likely days are Sundays and Wednesdays and green fee looking like €100. None of that was set in stone yet though.

Pretty sure Seapoint do Opens every Tuesday through the winter for €45

Not links but Carton Monty doing Qualifying Opens thru the Winter every Friday for €55. played it middle of last winter and it was like a links, incredible condition and no dirt on the ball.

spacecoyote

Is that a jump for The European? They used to run a winter comp for around 50-60 didn't they?

benny79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121198790#Comment_121198790

Them days are long gone @spacecoyote it was €80 last year. Hard to justify €100 in winter even though its my favourite course.

slave1

€100 off-peak/Winter/whatever does appear to be taking the value and feel good out of it, seems like a "we don't want visitors" scenario.

The inflationary pricing of Golf in Ireland the last 18months bears no resemblance to cost increases

slingerz

I reckon we had 3 months of summer golf and the rest preferred lies. Depressing really and no facilities local to me for simulator options.

its plugged lies and heavy ground for me until next April

AlanWatts

Trying to plan trip to midlands area, is anything in good condition up there? Heritage? Carton Monty? Thx

coillcam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121314917#Comment_121314917

Anything that is parkland is going to remain a swamp if the recent weather continues. High chance of most Midland courses being shut.

You'll be looking for a VERY well-drained parkland (searching for a unicorn 😃). Esker Hills for me is probably the only one most likely to be playable in the midlands but it will still be quite soft, plus its a serious trek with the hills and undulations. Different story in the wet and lugging layers etc.

Not sure of Carton Monty (it's not Midlands tbh) but I've heard that it does drain well and remains playable. The Heritage was a bog when I played a scratch cup in August so I'd have little hope for its condition today.

Tbh, I'd recommend picking a links course on the coast and hoping the weather plays ball. It's your best bet.

spacecoyote

Millicent I think it is that claim they are the driest parkland course in the country?

billy3sheets

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121316003#Comment_121316003

Yeah, supposed to be over a gravel pit. I remember getting out there years ago when other courses were closed. Lovely course too.

plumber77

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121313967#Comment_121313967

Where are you based

swededmonkey

There's a new indoor golf facility that's opened up in Sandyford

Mantis Toboggan

I picked a good year to pack in the membership. Still played a few opens over the summer but only when the weather was somewhat descent. Most courses will be a slugfest until April.

Benicetomonty

I played the Monty at Carton today. Tee boxes and greens holding up well. Fairways and surroundings are very soft. Parts of the rough are saturated; if you miss on the wrong side on certain holes, you're very likely to lose your ball, particularly down the right of the 2nd hole which may as well be a water hazard. Theyre trying to maintain counting comps for their Friday open but with the amount of mudballs the rough produces, assuming you manage to find a wayward shot, it's a bit of a cod.

slingerz

West Cork, lovely scenery but sparse enough on golf courses

Ottoman_1000

I've been over privileged/blessed the last number of years where I've never had to really worry about winter golf. I lived in Oz for 10 years and then when I moved back home, I spent almost 7 years working for a company that had me down in Spain and Portugal a lot throughout the year, so come winter the clubs came with me on most work trips! Now unfortunately with more remote access and connections becoming more and more popular, work decided at the start of the year to pull the plug on most of my overseas jaunts, so I'm stuck home in Dublin for the winter 🤣

I've had 6 outing in the last 8/9 weeks at various clubs and it’s safe to say, I think I'm done until at least April. I'd consider myself a decent club golfer, I'm currently off 6.1, but I have been as low as 2 when I lived in Australia a few years ago. However, for the life of me I can't get anything close to a score in these conditions. It’s like a completely different game, you just can't trust any lie, even with placing as the ground can be so soft underneath in certain areas that even a slight miss hit can lead to a club head full of turf and with a nasty snap hook right, especially with any mid/long irons. As for the game inside 50 yards, a nightmare, everything must be lofted as there is just no run or bounce anywhere with the ground so soft, trying to commit to half swings with wedges from 50 yards in soft conditions is not for the faint hearted! The greens then naturally are more unpredictable then ever…

Is it just me or do people actually score well in these conditions?

OEP

The soft conditions (can) improve your ball striking. You have to make clean contact or else the club with dig into the ground.

dan_ep82

With soft bumpy greens unless your sticking it close and ramming the putts there’s not much chance unless your in luck on the day. I’d rather have slow greens in the winter so you can hammer it through the bobbles

fungie

For me, scoring improves due to placing. Takes any lie randomness out of it. Ball the turf, that's the key. It arguably makes you a better ball striker.

coillcam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121337529#Comment_121337529

I'm a "sunshine" golfer myself and I found it desperately difficult in the short game this winter so far.

Bunkers are fine, I just keep a square face on my LW and chop into the heavy packed sand for the most part. However my pitching and chipping technique was based on firm turf. I'd enter the turf slightly behind the ball as my previous lessons showed me to use the bounce against the turf.

For winter I've found I can't used my SW or LW for the most part. That technique I was using ends up with Chili dips/chunks and is very disheartening. Watched Dan Grieve's YouTube video on winter adjustments recently. It's been a huge help. I started hitting down on my pitches and chips more often, with much better results as I catch ball first.

I've also started to use my 9i, PW and GW for most greenside chips. This has proved to be very forgiving and I will actually putt more often than normal. The greens are slow and it's hard to get caught out.

My putting is up/down as normal which I don't mind. However my irons have been as good as ever and anything catching the green will stick. If I can progress with the adjustments in my short game, I'll score well in the few comps ahead.

YouTube link for anyone curious on winter short game.

https://youtu.be/0iffBfVRJos?si=ib-0fGPIEovNhJlG

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121341280#Comment_121341280

Cheers Coill, these are the exact shots that are killing me in the soft ground. Like yourself, I use the bounce against the turf when hitting pitch shots from inside 50 yards. A complete non runner currently, I can get over the no run plugged ball off the tee, or the odd tugged,low struck long iron that gets double punished in these conditions, but the game inside 50 is where the scoring is at and at the moment I'm getting crucified. I'm going to just use the practice area the next few weekends and work on some of these techniques. Maybe there's is something to be salvaged playing in these conditions!!!

REFLINE1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121341280#Comment_121341280

yeh i watched this recently, i like his coaching vids he explains the concepts well. Detest winter golf but feel like i need to get out a couple of times a month to justify the membership fees if nothing else.

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121338887#Comment_121338887

I agree the placing makes for easier striking on longer shots, especially my 4i or 3 hybrid. My problem with these conditions is, I like to hit slightly behind the ball and use the bounce of the club for my wedges/chips shots within 50 odd yards as Coillcam also aluded to earlier. Especially the delicate chips around the green to attemp to get up and down. It's just the nature of the courses I was used to playing while overseas...Its simple a shot that can't be hit in these conditions now and I'll have to work on alternatives or it will be a very long winter for me 🙈🙈

big_drive

I'm thinking just leaving it off now till new year. I always try to play early to free up time later in day for other stuff but it's getting demoralising waking up early on a Saturday morning and then waiting to see if course is opening or not.

AyeGer

We’ve moved onto mats and winter tees. Guy won the comp at the weekend with 47 points. Hard to compete with that as a single figure golfer.

Nice to get out though and keep the swing going on a dry day in winter but I’m not interested in getting wet playing in rain and 5° temps.

brick tamland

This weather must be having a fairly negative impact on a lot of clubs. I imagine most parklands are seeing a huge reduction in Society/green/comp fees and you'd think a lot will see many members not rejoin next year if they didn't see value for money this year

IrishOwl...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121343978#Comment_121343978

Its going to be a tough time for a lot of parkland courses in the next few years, especially the small membered rural ones...These periods of heavy rainfall looks like its going to be the norm for the foreseeable and the costs of getting a course back to playable conditions after such rainfall is massive. If clubs are forced into course TLC more frequently, to go along with the reduced playing time on the course due to the conditions, it will be bad news for those places that don't have the deep pockets.

coillcam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121342588#Comment_121342588

Normal course management is to avoid short-sided shots, penalty areas or something you are bad at, eg bunkers for some folks. In winter I'm now extending this to be even more conservative. Those short game shots we both don't like on soft turf, I'll do everything to eliminate them or have a simpler alternative.

The best way to describe this is that I want full shot approaches in or at worst a 3/4 GW or PW. So that means no driver on short Par 4s - I use my driving iron or whatever leaves me with a comfy full approach. For Par 5 - Unless I'm comfortably in range for trying to reach it in two, my 2nd shot will be a shorter one to again lay up to that comfy full approach distance - it could be 2x PW shots. On the approaches to greens, I'm rarely pin hunting and aiming for the fattest/safest landing area. No lob shots or delicate pitches/chips please! It massively de-stresses the thought process and allows me to commit to a shot very comfortably.

The last thing I want is a 50yd pitch that I have been chunking and then have to think about chunking the follow up 40yd pitch I've left myself. I don't want to be in that headspace of considering wtf has just happened 🤣. There are probably negative shots gained for my winter golf so far when going for pure distance off the tee. Perhaps I'll improve on those problem shots but for now, it's ABC, simple, stress-free, conservative golf.

RoadRunner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121345937#Comment_121345937

The flipside is that trying to avoid them means you're getting no training reps in.

coillcam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121346201#Comment_121346201

To a point, I agree with you - reps are 100% needed. However, changing to a new technique should be practised off-course before being introduced especially for comps. If I draw the ball naturally and suddenly decide to try fading it, it's pretty clear to me I'd be wasting my time testing this in my only round which is also a comp. I'm here to try to score and build points in the winter league. If it's casual golf I'm dropping three balls every time I face one of these shots that I need to practice.

RoadRunner

In my opinion, developing a better sense of how the wedge interacts with the ground under differing conditions is a massive skill, developing that feel will not only let you play soft ground better, but it will improve your ability to play all ground conditions and assess lies better.