Portland area course conditions

[mallrat]

> @spud3 said:

> Langdon on Sunday.

>

> All of the bunkers they were renovating are done and back in play. Also, they removed the boards from the bunker on 6. Just noticed that this time around. Most of the rest of the bunkers have had their edges sharpened and generally spruced up.

>

> The filled in fw bunker on 18 is almost completely grown in, and there are still ropes to keep folks off the drain lines that are running across 18 fw

>

> Other than that, the course is in primo shape.

 

Had an interesting talk with the boss last week, he likes the fairway bunkers to play almost hardpanned. He thinks they are easier to hit longer irons out of but still likes more sand in the green side bunkers. Do you like 6 without the railroad ties? Long grass is getting cut tomorrow I believe. The grass every where is growing so fast we can barely keep up with it. I also like the elimination of the bunker on 18, now just need to get rid of the pointless one on 7 to the left of the ladies tee.

[spud3]

I liked the wood on #6. I thought it gave a nice visual. Kind of less interesting from the tee now.

 

I like the way your super thinks about soft vs. hard surface for bunkers. They have to follow through with keeping the greenside bunkers filled with sand, though, because there's nothing worse than expecting a nice whoomp when you hit the bunker but getting that clanky sound/feeling of hitting the "asphalt under the dust" and watching your bladed ball go flying across the green.

 

About that bunker on 7: a few years ago I was playing as a single with a threesome and was having a great round as we came to the tee on 7. I made some smart-a** comment about what's the point of that bunker, since it's so close to the tee it wasn't even in play and you'd have to really doink one to ever end up there. Sure 'nuff, I cold-topped my drive and the ball bounced lazily right into that bunker. Golf karma is a real b*tch sometimes...

[parmo99]

Any updates on Pumpkin Ridge? Heading into town this weekend and was thinking about giving it a try on Sunday. Sounds like most of you have had a pretty bad/wet experience out there. Playing Langdon and OGA on Saturday. Could do stone creek instead on Sunday?

[jpdx]

> @parmo99 said:

> Any updates on Pumpkin Ridge? Heading into town this weekend and was thinking about giving it a try on Sunday. Sounds like most of you have had a pretty bad/wet experience out there. Playing Langdon and OGA on Saturday. Could do stone creek instead on Sunday?

 

I suspect Pumpkin would be fine. we haven't had any rain for about 2 weeks and it's been warm.

[ruffellprefley]

hey all, not a course condition question but I know you guys might be the best resource for this question: I've got an uncut unprepared driver shaft and adapter that I need installed. Any suggestions on west-side (beaverton/hillsboro) club builders that could do this for me and not charge me an absolute ton? I've been to dick's for some adapter re-installs but I've always got a slight worry it wasn't done right..

[mallrat]

Club Champion in Tigard/Tualatin or look up Tour Van on Google, I think it’s called. His names Vince and he used to run the Tour Van for Nike, from my understanding. Now does club buildings and fittings out of the van at Pumpkin.

[PorkChopExpress]

Tourvan is run by Ben Guinta

He’s at pumpkin ridge ghost creek side

 

[PorkChopExpress]

Pumpkin is running fast. Greens should be running around a 11.

 

[mallrat]

> @desaille said:

> Tourvan is run by Ben Guinta

> He’s at pumpkin ridge ghost creek side

>

 

Does he do a good job?

[RobotDoctor]

Pumpkin Ridge Ghost Creek is my favorite course in the Portland area. Absolutely love the course!!!

[HercNav]

> @mallrat said:

> > @desaille said:

> > Tourvan is run by Ben Guinta

> > He’s at pumpkin ridge ghost creek side

> >

>

> Does he do a good job?

 

He’s the best around. By far.

[PorkChopExpress]

> @mallrat said:

> > @desaille said:

> > Tourvan is run by Ben Guinta

> > He’s at pumpkin ridge ghost creek side

> >

>

> Does he do a good job?

 

One of the best that was on tour, now a family man ?

He still does some events but goes back and forth from Pumpkin and Gallery in Tucson.

[Kernel]

Recently invited for a round at Portland Golf Club. Anyone played there? What can I expect?

[spud3]

Played Sunday at Langdon.

 

The course is perfect right now.

[mallrat]

> @spud3 said:

> Played Sunday at Langdon.

>

> The course is perfect right now.

 

Good to hear, especially from an avid golfer. We have had so many tournaments that we haven’t really been able to do what we want to do. In our opinion the fairways are still a little too wet and would like to get the greens a little firmer/smoother but it’s getting there.

 

PM me about the bunkers, might have some good news and we added sand to all bunkers on 8, 9, 16 & 18. Now just need a break to get the rest. Funny thing is we were checking bunker depth the other day and even the ones that feel like there is no sand have a good 4-6” but it is so compacted that it feels like hard pan on the base. Trying to get it fluffed up

 

[spud3]

Eastmoreland yesterday. The course is really in good shape. Greens are rolling a bit slow, but very true and the fairways are dry and running.

 

Time for the round was an easy 3:55. Very enjoyable morning!

[wingedfeetxc]

> @spud3 said:

> Eastmoreland yesterday. The course is really in good shape. Greens are rolling a bit slow, but very true and the fairways are dry and running.

>

> Time for the round was an easy 3:55. Very enjoyable morning!

 

I don't think I've ever had less than a 6 hour round at Eastmoreland. Tell me your secret.

[spud3]

Just hit it right, I guess. Never had a 6 hour round, but close to five a few times. Might have helped that I kept it out of the trees for the most part, and the folks I played with were in a cart and didn't take a lot of time looking for balls. Everyone was moving along well. It was during the final round of the Open, so that may have had some effect.

 

Now is the time of year to play Eastmo. I've always loved the layout, and they've taken out some more trees and cleared some of the understory bushes.

[spud3]

Quail today. The course is browning out a bit, in spite of the ton of water they are obviously throwing down out there. I like it when it burns a bit and starts running fast, which it was today. Greens were in really good shape and very receptive.

[mallrat]

Hey @spud3 what do you think of the planned changes? They started them on yesterday. Going to be real interesting.

[spud3]

> @mallrat said:

> Hey @spud3 what do you think of the planned changes? They started them on yesterday. Going to be real interesting.

 

I'm all for the bunker renovations. The ones that have been done thus far are great. That's really all I know of the plans. What are the others?

 

The blog mentions there's a copy of the plan in the shop. Any chance of getting a version of that put on the website so I don't have to drive all the way to the course to see it?

[Thornbrugh]

Anyone play Quail Valley recently? Curious about current course conditions. Note: added this post in the "Quail Valley in Banks" section too, but thought this section might have more followers...casting a wider net.

[spud3]

> @Thornbrugh said:

> Anyone play Quail Valley recently? Curious about current course conditions. Note: added this post in the "Quail Valley in Banks" section too, but thought this section might have more followers...casting a wider net.

 

We haven't had much rain yet, so it should be fine. It's when we get those weeks-long rainy periods that it starts to get soft out there.

 

@DFinch?

[Thornbrugh]

Played Quail Valley yesterday/ Oct 11. Course was in grest shape... dry and greens running pure and fast for this time of year.

[spud3]

Played Heron Blue today. Greens were tined and sanded last week, so were running somewhere between slow and inconsistent. The course looks like it has seen a long hard summer of play. Even considering it's a muni, the fairways were pretty beat up, as were the tees. Not an unpleasant experience, for sure, but it makes me really want someone to buy these courses from the city of Portland and drop a couple $ into giving them the upkeep they deserve.

[mallrat]

> @spud3 said:

> Played Heron Blue today. Greens were tined and sanded last week, so were running somewhere between slow and inconsistent. The course looks like it has seen a long hard summer of play. Even considering it's a muni, the fairways were pretty beat up, as were the tees. Not an unpleasant experience, for sure, but it makes me really want someone to buy these courses from the city of Portland and drop a couple $ into giving them the upkeep they deserve.

 

Do you play Langdon at all any more? Dying to hear your opinion on the changes.

[spud3]

> @mallrat said:

> > @spud3 said:

> > Played Heron Blue today. Greens were tined and sanded last week, so were running somewhere between slow and inconsistent. The course looks like it has seen a long hard summer of play. Even considering it's a muni, the fairways were pretty beat up, as were the tees. Not an unpleasant experience, for sure, but it makes me really want someone to buy these courses from the city of Portland and drop a couple $ into giving them the upkeep they deserve.

>

> Do you play Langdon at all any more? Dying to hear your opinion on the changes.

 

Langdon is still my home course, but I haven't been out there since you started all the work. Went over to Sunriver a couple weekends ago (right during that cold snap), and didn't play last weekend. I would have played there today but the whole day was booked with a private event. I have tee times for the next couple Sundays, so I'll get a look next weekend.

 

I did see the pics you guys put up on FB. Looks like quite a few significant changes! I think I read somewhere that Dan Hixson is involved. I definitely approve of that choice. Can you go through what's being added/removed/updated?

[mallrat]

I’ve got a ton of pictures but want to hear your opinion and not spoil it. I will say that I believe 40+ bunkers are being touched. The triangle (what we call Holes 10-15), is 2/3 of the way done. All sight line bunkers are being removed or bunkers that aten’t Really in play. Almost all are being shallowed out to hold sand better.

[spud3]

> @mallrat said:

> I’ve got a ton of pictures but want to hear your opinion and not spoil it. I will say that I believe 40+ bunkers are being touched. The triangle (what we call Holes 10-15), is 2/3 of the way done. All sight line bunkers are being removed or bunkers that aten’t Really in play. Almost all are being shallowed out to hold sand better.

 

Sounds very intriguing. I'll be out there this Sunday, going off at 10:06 and posting my decidedly non-expert opinions shortly thereafter

[ruffellprefley]

played 16 holes of reserve north last night. greens are still pretty bumpy from aeration but I was shocked at how dry it was out there. no rain in a week will obviously help that but I didn't step in a single soft spot.