Tug of war over the future of Triggs

[ShortStick]

The Boston Globe ran a piece on Triggs and some of the forces in motion as it’s lease with Providence expires next year … 
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/19/metro/battle-future-triggs-golf-course-providence/. I don’t feel I can post the content here, but I believe non-subscribers can sample access one or two articles behind the paywall.

 

Old news is the politician running for mayor that wants to close the course and build housing or simply extending the present management agreement. What I found new was The RI Golf Association looking to make a big financial commitment and what changes they are thinking of for the golf course, if any.

 

RIGA tried to buy Metacomet to rescue the course and provide RIGA a lovely home base. We now know that deal was wired all along for a developer to build a shopping mall. Assuming people smarter than me figure out the economics, I would love to see RIGA be headquartered at Triggs. They do great work and I can’t think of a better home for them than a top Donald Ross course.

 

The column spent a lot of space on fixing the parking lot and renovating the buildings. OK. Would they do anything to the golf course? I know it could use a couple of million dollars worth of irrigation and drainage at the low points on 12 and 15 could be better.  But is there anything else that needs to be done? I really like the rough and rumble look once you get past the rough, the greens are fabulous, bunkers well placed. Maybe forward tees for juniors and shorter hitters??

 

Hoping RIGA wins this match 1-up.

 

 

[crcraig]

I've only played Triggs once, last year. My recollection is that the grassy areas of the course were quite good, but the bunkers were very bad. I was in one, others in my group visited numerous other bunkers, and the unanimous verdict was -- hardpan everywhere. I don't know if they could just increase the maintenance budget/hours and fix them, or whether they need a rebuild. Another reason for a bunker renovation project is that it's a 90 year old muni. I suspect the bunkers are nothing like Ross intended anymore.

[jdl]

It's a great layout but I don't play there any more because of the people that run it. Hope they are able to keep it around though.

[1s1k]

I've played Triggs several times this year and it's in fantastic condition. Earlier in the year they replaced a lot of the sand in the bunkers and the greens are very consistent.

 

Playing from the back tees it's a good challenge.  Reachable par 5's, long par 4's and few long par 3's.

 

I'm actually seriously considering a membership for next year.

[mlbaker13]

Golf News RI posted that the current operators are going to be awarded the contract at a meeting this week.  Sounds like they saw an agenda for the meeting and are running with that. 

[ShortStick]

Enjoying GolfNewsRI - thanks for that reference.

 

FCG, who has been operating Triggs since the early 90’s, has indeed been awarded the next 10 years. Personally, I liked the RIGA bid and vision. But I can see why the city people would prefer to carry on with an oration they know. Here’s the scorecard comparing FCG, RIGA and Northeast:

 

https://golfnewsri.com/2022/10/25/city-of-providence-triggs-scorecard/

[jimb6golf]

I hope that Triggs survives as it's one of the hidden gems of Ross' design and still has a lot of the character from older times, with beautiful trees around the course that you can't see anywhere else in the area.  Terrific course and routing, granted with a muni feel at times though.  Really enjoy playing the course with it's longer par 4s and reachable (for some people) par 5s and terrain changes too.  I hope they can enhance the course some and fix the parking lots and clubhouse too.  Let's hope it all survives into the future.