Courses with works going on

My local course - Garons Park in Southend - is having landscaping works done principally I guess as they may have a free source of fill material from an adjacent site.  Parts of the course are festooned with plastic newt fencing that you have to play over / between / through etc.  Annoying thing is that if the ball goes into the area you are not allowed to go and retrieve it and have to drop in a drop zone (I presume at not penalty though I saw no posted local rule to that effect).

The same was happening at North Weald Golf Club last year and at Risebridge last year too. It is darned annoying and spoils the enjoyment somewhat.

Is this sort of thing going on all over the place?  Do these courses really need to be doing all this work or are they doing it to make money taking material that would otherwise cost a bundle to get rid of (landfill tax).

Stockley Park has had some work going on work a while now.  The 1st, 9th and 18th are the only holes effected by the work but its a pain in the arse.

The 1st hole is usually a par 4, but now its playing around 90 yards off a tatty mat with huge mounts of dirt either side of you as you tee off.. 9th and 18th are fairly uneffected as long as you don't drive into the mounts of dirt at the top the hill!!

 I jacked in my membership at Calverley Leeds for the very same problem, two of the best holes taken out for landfill, never a full 18 open for play (tho' that has been rectified). No matter because as of yesterday I'm a member at Moor Allerton. I wonder if I can keep my handicap at 11 there.

Nice to see you have joined a proper golf club, Patrick. You will not know yourself now and will wonder why you never did it sooner. because of the quality of the course you will be inspired and will easily play to your handicap because of the condition of the course overall. The greens will be superior and I am a little envious.

The reason these golf courses are doing this is money.

I know for a fact that Risebridge GC are being paid to take in the waste soil from the Olympic sites.

They get paid for each lorry load of spoil that gets tipped there.

Now if the course is improved due to the landscaping then that's all good and fine, if they just go for the most money possible and over do it then they will spoil the golf course.  Risebridge have probably gone too far.  One of their tees have a high mound all the way around it, and it probably goes back about 70 to 80 yards!  It feels like you are standing in a bowling alley when you tee off.

Russ

Agreed.  To be honest, with 3 loops, they should just take loop C out of play for the moment.  They won't though as it would affect income.  They should put a note on their website saying they are having work done but again they won't as it would put people off playing.  We just have to put up with it.

If playing there, ask to play A & C.  I have just finished a twighlight on same and scored 38 points.  It's just a shame it is only an SSS 68 so it won't see the handicap drop! 

and if you ever need someone to make up a four then PM me.