How are the greens at East Lake?

[littlepingman]

Any Atlanta WRX'ers know?

I know this past summer was one of the worst I can remember. I've heard that many courses in the Atlanta area have really struggled with their bent grass, several have had to set up a few temporary greens.

Bartram Trail here in Augusta lost all their greens this summer and were forced to completely redo them with MiniVerde grass. The River Golf Club has had to set up temporary greens on several holes as well.

So I'm wondering how East Lake's greens are holding up? I remember a couple of years ago they were terrible and we didn't have nearly the summer we did this year.

[atlanta golfer]

[quote name='littlepingman' timestamp='1284125814' post='2689129']
I know this past summer was one of the worst I can remember. I've heard that many courses in the Atlanta area have really struggled with their bent grass, several have had to set up a few temporary greens.

Bartram Trail here in Augusta lost all their greens this summer and were forced to completely redo them with MiniVerde grass. The River Golf Club has had to set up temporary greens on several holes as well.

So I'm wondering how East Lake's greens are holding up? I remember a couple of years ago they were terrible and we didn't have nearly the summer we did this year.
[/quote]

That's a good question ..... the only greens in good shape here in Atlanta this summer, that I have seen, are the ones with fairly new Champion Bermuda. Tough year weatherwise for golf courses. First we had a lot of fairway damage due to the severe winter, and now we have a lot of green damage due to the severe summer! I sure am hoping for a mild winter...

[mesegrn]

I thought they changed to Bermuda a few years ago?

[littlepingman]

[quote name='mesegrn' timestamp='1284128458' post='2689207']
I thought they changed to Bermuda a few years ago?
[/quote]

I just looked it up and apparently they did change them to miniverde a couple of years ago. I know that is a very resilient grass so their greens are probably top notch right now.

Thanks for the info.

[PGAMBR2007]

East Lake is mini verde and besides them about the only courses in the Atlanta area that didn't have any problems are Atlanta Athletic Club Highlands Course, they changed to mini verde as well I believe but they may have went with champion. Berkeley Hills has champions, and Legacy on Lanier has mini verde and they are in good shape. The only bent grass facility to be in great shape is The Standard Club but they have subair at their facility. If you don't know what that is search it on YOUTUBE, it is an unbelieveable system. I know that Druid Hills has had problems, The River Club in Suwanee(which has a ridiculous budget) is in awful shape from what i have heard. Alot of courses are closed or have temp greens everywhere.

[atlanta golfer]

[quote name='PGAMBR2007' timestamp='1284138139' post='2689440']
East Lake is mini verde and besides them about the only courses in the Atlanta area that didn't have any problems are Atlanta Athletic Club Highlands Course, they changed to mini verde as well I believe but they may have went with champion. Berkeley Hills has champions, and Legacy on Lanier has mini verde and they are in good shape. The only bent grass facility to be in great shape is The Standard Club but they have subair at their facility. If you don't know what that is search it on YOUTUBE, it is an unbelieveable system. I know that Druid Hills has had problems, The River Club in Suwanee(which has a ridiculous budget) is in awful shape from what i have heard. Alot of courses are closed or have temp greens everywhere.
[/quote]

Sugar Hill in Gwinnett County has greens in outstanding condition, and so does The Oaks in Covington. These are both Champion Bermuda. I have played on both these courses within the past week. In particular, The Oaks greens are cut short and incredibly fast right now.
AG

[littlepingman]

I played Longshadow in Madison a few weeks ago and they were really struggling(bent grass). I loved the layout and really hope they get the greens together soon.

[hughfree]

White Water CC has champion bermuda and they are perfect! Greens are rolling anywhere from an 11 to a 13 depending on time of day and whether or not they have been rolled.

[mshills]

Longshadow's greens are close to unplayable.

Durham Lakes' greens ARE completely unplayable.

I understand why these two courses have issues - they are both out of money, and I would not be surprised if they are both closed in a year's time. Too bad, because they are great layouts, but broke is broke.

I don't understand other courses having issues keeping the greens alive. Has this summer been hot? Uh, yes. Guess what - it is summer in Georgia. It's supposed to be hot. Did golf not exist in Georgia during the summer before the last couple of unusually-cool summers?

I actually cannot answer the OP's question - lucky enough to play East Lake a couple of times in the last few years, but not this summer.

[dachtor]

[quote name='mrhills0146' timestamp='1284249758' post='2691522']
Longshadow's greens are close to unplayable.

Durham Lakes' greens ARE completely unplayable.

I understand why these two courses have issues - they are both out of money, and I would not be surprised if they are both closed in a year's time. Too bad, because they are great layouts, but broke is broke.

I don't understand other courses having issues keeping the greens alive. Has this summer been hot? Uh, yes. Guess what - it is summer in Georgia. It's supposed to be hot. Did golf not exist in Georgia during the summer before the last couple of unusually-cool summers?

I actually cannot answer the OP's question - lucky enough to play East Lake a couple of times in the last few years, but not this summer.
[/quote]


As a member of an atlanta club with champion bermuda that were running 13 on the stimp in late july, bent grass is soon to be a thing of the past when it comes to Atlanta Golf courses. East Lake will be very firm and very fast for the The Tour Championship and the players will be very happy so no need to worry about that. That said, many many courses in the area with Bent Grass have had a tough time this summer. Heck, even bobby jones and north fulton have pretty good greens right now (both with champion bermuda) while clubs like Ansley, St. Ives and others with Bent Grass greens are really hurting.

[mlamar]

[quote name='hughfree' timestamp='1284197352' post='2690639']
White Water CC has champion bermuda and they are perfect! Greens are rolling anywhere from an 11 to a 13 depending on time of day and whether or not they have been rolled.
[/quote]


Yes they are ... I played a couple of weeks ago and that's the best putting round I've had in a long time ... Line up and putt ... True Roll

[volrus]

I'm going to Callaway Gardens and also playing The Frog while I'm down there, any word on their greens? I'll be down there the first week of October.

[mgranato]

The Frog's are really struggling right now. Anything bent will be rough for at least another 4 weeks or so.

[Llortamaisey]

I played East Lake this weekend and the greens were perfect. Very firm and fast. I'm sure they will get them even faster for the tour championship. The new tee on 17 is a a beast (it's next to 6 tee over the lake), even for me. It was easier for me to hit the fairway from the angle of the new tee but the second shot becomes even longer. I'll post pictures tomorrow, I promise.

[smoky25]

How do the miniverde and Champion bermuda greens fare in the Atlanta area in the winter? I've heard there's a lot of winter maintenance involved.

[ntogolf]

The Reunion, White Water Creek, The Oaks, Brownsmill, and North Fulton are all courses in the Atlanta area that have greens in good shape.

[hughfree]

[quote name='volrus' timestamp='1284263344' post='2691855']
I'm going to Callaway Gardens and also playing The Frog while I'm down there, any word on their greens? I'll be down there the first week of October.
[/quote]

I spent a weekend at Callaway in early August. Greens are bermuda. You will find them in good shape...a little grainy, medium speed, plenty of grass. I played the Frog in mid August. Greens are bent. They were in better shape than most bent greens in the Atlanta area. However, they were spotty. Hopefully, Atlanta will continue with the cool mornings and the area bent greens can start to recover.