Some Things Wisconsin Golf

[ode1]

That's a fabulous pace!

[zer0]

Call the pro shop and tell them you want to play all day. They'll suggest some tee times for you depending on if you want to stop for lunch in between.

I challenge you to go after my personal record of 51 holes played in one day. We would've gotten in more, but we stopped for shots with the cart girl during our last round and that turned into a 45 minutes of taking shots in the middle of the fairway while watching the sun set.

[rtraudt]

My only tip, unless you need a cart for medical reasons, would be to walk. It's a cart path only course that is clearly designed for walkers, and is a wonderful walking course. I don't even take my pushcart, because most of the routes are small footpaths. But I can certainly appreciate the fact that some folks do need a cart to get around 18! Just know that you'll still be doing a decent amount of walking with a cart, albeit not carrying your bag.

[Phreddy]

Walked a chilly 18 on the Lawsonia Links course this morning. All of the par 3 tee boxes were under repair and required teeing from temporary locations. Generally 10 +/- yards shorter than the card would indicate. Not a big deal to my mind. You come for the routing and the greens. The greens were in excellent condition and running true and quick. I probably should have played the Woodlands too while there. It was looking to be in pretty good shape. Can I blame four 3 putts on early season rust? Please?

 

Phred

[rtraudt]

I think you can blame the 3 putts on those greens! Also, got out to play Glen Erin this AM for the first time ever, and it certainly lives up to the sleeper hype that it gets. Greens were quite slow but true, but the course itself was actually firm and balls were rolling in the fairways, which is a rarity this time of year in WI! Also, the back nine there has some teeth! Dramatic difference compared to the front, and my scorecard certainly reflected that (including a total loss of my game over the last 6 holes).

[jcook10]

Will be in Madison Wed-Fri. Do any cheeseheads have updates on Sand Valley or U-Ridge conditions? (Aeration, top dressing, etc). Appreciate any info guys and gals.

[collje26]

My buddy played sand valley, said it was in wonderful shape, not sure on university ridge.

[dearth12]

Did your buddy mention what Sand Valley is using in the cups? Are they using pool noodles or PVC pipe that allows the ball to drop in some or do they have the cups raised?

 

I also saw someone on here that just played Lawsonia, what were they using in the cups?

 

 

We are still hoping to be able to do our golf trip in mid July.

[Phreddy]

Lawsonia used pool noodles in the cups. They are cut so that they sit about 1" below the top of the hole. The ball goes "into" the cup but sits up so that you are not reaching into the cup to retrieve it. Make more sense when you see it than it does to describe it.

[zer0]

My first round of the year at Lawsonia last year produced 8 3-putts. It's to be expected on those greens the first time you get a look at them.

[rtraudt]

Saw at Brown Deer yesterday that they had installed some plastic liner just below the level of the cup that was clearly manufactured exactly for that purpose. Seemed like the best option that I had played with thus far (everything from raised cups, PVC piping cut and dropped inside below the level, pool noodle below the cup, and pool noodle that stuck out above the cup). I personally much prefer anything that allows the ball to drop in slightly. On another note, the greens at Brown Deer were in spectacular shape given the time of year! Easily the best of the courses I've played thus far this year (trip to Bandon in February not included...just home in WI!).

[jwhite86]

That's what the Kohler courses did also. I played the Irish on Saturday and it was refreshing to actually have the ball drop into the hole.

 

When the courses first opened they did the raised cup... didn't really care for that... they've since gone with the pool noodle in the cup. It's not perfect, but it's better than not golfing at all

[rtraudt]

Yeah, I don’t much mind the cups where it at least drops. I would imagine the balls that would have gone in but don’t are still relatively minimal compared to normal cups. The oddest execution was definitely glen erin, which had normal cups but with pieces of pool noodles in that were elevated above the cup, so it just bounced off instead of dropping in...not sure why they didn’t just cut them slightly shorter than the cup like most do. But as you said, golf is golf, and don’t take a word of what I’m saying as complaining! I just thought it was an interesting observation to make playing different courses. I imagine something like what brown deer has will become the standard for quite some time.

[collje26]

Planning on playing either Thornberry Creek or Branch River this coming Sunday. Played chaska for my work league on Tuesday and was extremely impressed with the green condition/speed.

[ode1]

I've been out to Lawsonia x2 now.....last Thurs. and yesterday. Greens had been punched and sanded the week before my first round......rolled good but were slow.....yesterday they were pretty fast, and the course was firm, really firm. I love it like that is it adds another element/strategy. Wemt to Royal St. Patrick's Friday a.m.....great condition as always, then the the Orchards Friday afternoon (opening day there), which was good, they are always in good shape and it drains well....so I went there over Thornberry, as I was worried it might be cart paths only....lmk how the conditions are.....I like to get there a few times per year and is always an enjoyable round. Branch survived the heavy rains fairly well as and the typical low/wet areas are recovering and almost back.

[collje26]

Thornberry was in pretty good shape, extremely firm in some areas. One of the dumbest starting holes I’ve played. Finished bogey, bogey, bogey, double to shoot 82. I’ll be curious how it is mid summer.

[ode1]

Ouch.....tough way to end. 1 and 18 are difficult holes. Gotta be 1and 2 hcp holes (definitely the hardest par 4,s). 16 and 17 can sneak up on you. I forget 15....the par 5? That hole has a lot of risk reward!

 

Played Glen Erin on Sat. with my dad and brother. Hour frost delay so our 1240 time was pushed back to 140.....we got notified upon arrival...no big deal, enjoyed a few beverages with my family. Got paired with nice guy from Chicago area and got around in 4 hours. Nice pace of play, typically is there......I think one cart each can make things go quick. I walked, everyone else rode.

[collje26]

Preach on 1 and 18. You have to take it so much further right on 1 than anticipated. My buddy and I played in 2 hours, there wasn't a soul on the course. Look forward to playing it in warmer conditions and not from all the way back haha.

[TBone0576]

Headed up to NagaWaukee today to play with a supplier from out of town. I wasn't sure where else to play up near Pewaukee and thought I had heard some good things about this one. Sure wish this weather would finally break but I'll make the most of it.

[zer0]

Pretty cool special at Lawsonia now. On Tuesdays, the rate is "pay what you can". Goal is to help out the golfers who are struggling financially and are currently out of work. Give them a chance to play some golf without feeling bad that they aren't spending that money on Ramen noodles instead.

[TBone0576]

Enjoyed Naga-Waukee quite a bit. Nice muni with a lot of elevation change. Large and undulating greens. Course was in nice shape. I might have done a few things differently but overall it was a fair and enjoyable course. Played the tips for the par 4's and 5's and moved up one for the par 3's. We walked which was very enjoyable until the last 4 holes or so. That was a bit of a death march. ha ha We got around as a twosome in less than 3.5 hours and that was with a two some in front of us for three holes on the front. I'd definitely play again. Could see that being a blast as a scramble tournament course.

[Dashfast]

Played Geneva National on Friday. Trevino was designated the members’ course for the day, so the two open courses were Palmer and Player. We teed off at Palmer in the AM and it was a beautiful round replete with beautiful weather. Lots of interesting holes and really great conditions. We got done with that round in less than 4 hours. Then, in the afternoon, we teed off at Player and it was a world of difference. There was a 12-person crew in front of us who was on their fourth day of a stay-and-play and they could not have been more inconsiderate. They were playing a bizarre scramble and taking FOREVER. It took us 3.5 hours to finish 9 holes behind them. One of the members of our group had to leave because of how long it was taking. The ranger was kind of receptive, but it was brutal. Conditions at Player were good, but not as good as Palmer IMO. Palmer’s greens rolled faster and all of its holes were complete. Player’s 18th hole is under construction and it was a disappointing way to finish. Oh, and two of our carts ran out of battery mid-way through the round, which was annoying.
Great facilities, but pace of play for our second round was atrocious.@mci711

[mci711]

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately the wedding I was attending has been postponed, so no golf for me there.

[ode1]

Haven't seen much discussion on Bullseye. Played Glacier Woods on Friday a.m......what a great course, super nice greens that are pretty quick. Went to Bullseye in the afternoon and had a blast. Nice mature pines, dog legs, strategically placed bunkers in the fairway, and small sloped greens that run quick! My buddy and I really liked it. Public this year, so you don't need to beg to get on! Poa Annua is causing a problem with the greens...they have been putting in small sections with new sod, so it will be interesting to see how they tackle the problem long term. Greens still rolled good and it was a really good experience, fun course. Nice layout with several holes on the river!

[collje26]

Played glacier a couple times. I'd love to blow up the 15th. Some really good holes down the stretch of both 9's.

[ode1]

Is that the semicircle shaped par 5? Reminds me a little of Woodlands 18. Definitely extreme. Last two times I played it I thought my drives were dead (too much fade) and they were near perfect both times. Getting on that green in two would be a feat! It's a hybrid/fwy wood, 7i, wedge hole. Don't even think about driver if you can't fade on demand?

I like a lot of the holes out there. #2, 10, 11.....blind doglegs. Especially like #11 with that huge speed ramp on the right side.

[Phreddy]

There is wet. There is saturated. There is super-saturated. And then there is this...whatever this would be called. At least in my corner of southeast Wisconsin it will take more than a day of sunshine to make courses playable. I have areas of lawn with an inch or two of water just sitting on them. No where left to run off and with the ground so saturated it can't soak into the soil. I feel thankful our house stayed dry. Many in the area have not been so fortunate.

[jwhite86]

I'm scheduled to play in league tonight and the course we play at sits very low. It's usually wet during August, I'm not sure it'll be playable tonight. I haven't experienced rain like this since probably 1998. Our rain gauge in the yard filled up on Sunday (4+ inches) and then we had another day of rain yesterday, and woke up to more rain today.

[klebs01]

I'm playing at 2pm today and I'm curious how the course is handling the water. I'm guess most of it will be ok, but one hole might be underwater.

[mci711]

Has anyone been to Sand Valley yet this year? I see they have their main restaurant open for take out, but I was wondering if they had quick options available between 18s.