and guess what BHCC just had a conversation with Hargrave and LaBar about?
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Is the entire city changing over to Billy Bunkers™ in the span of three years?
lordy please no.
I thought most of the higher tier places had already gone the Billy Bunker route 5+ years ago
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I’d rather convert to grass bunkers. Billy bunkers are so expensive to install.
*I am a noted cheapo.
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I don’t really mind 18, I think it’s a fun short par 4 to end the round on. You could definitely make Hillcrest longer if you want it to keep up with modern equipment and make it a championship test. There’s room to make 4 and 8 significantly longer (like 50 yards). 9 is a problem, buddy I played with the other day hit a perfect drive that hit the fairway and bounced into the tall stuff on the left. It slopes to severely. Could just build the fairway up so it doesn’t slope as severely that direction.
Correcto mundo. I like Billy Bunkers overall. If they really are that much easier to maintain, I don’t see the downside. Natural colored sand sounds like everywhere that desperately needs new bunkers in the city right now.
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$$$$$ on the front-end.
Well, of course. Isn’t that required for any and every golf course advancement? Money and downtime?
True. I guess it all depends on what the operator/membership desires, though. It’s been a few years since I’ve heard figures on what they run, but would guess that half a mil, for your "average’ course is on the low side today. The ROI on reduced labor/sand expense would take a while, I’d think. Also, the technology is new enough that I don’t think they really know what the lifespan is (which is probably a good thing).
Anyone here seen this event: The 2021 Fresno Scraper at Prairie Dunes - The Fried Egg ?
$650 to play a top 25 golf course twice sounds like something I could rationalize. Plus I know no other ways to get on that course.
I’m not playing (lack of remaining vacation days) but otherwise I would. I did the Fried Egg event at Blue Mound this summer and it was great, they do a good job. $650 seems to be on the higher end for those things but like you, I don’t have another way to get on there so would rationalize it as a one-time thing.
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I’m playing and at least a couple other Refugees are signed up. Considering there’s a quarter-zip, t-shirt, and some meals included in the price, I figured it’s closer to $550 for 36 holes which led me to make a similar rationalization.
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I will also be in attendance at the event.
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Anybody interested in a game tomorrow?
Looking for something before noon at a place I’ve not played before.
Hey Trav,
I’m going off of memory here, but I always think that 9 should expand the fairway to the left to present an upper and lower section strategy. The upper section is where the current fairway is and provides the best view/angle into the green, but also brings the right trees into play. A lower section would provide an opportunity to play away from those trees, but the approach would be somewhat severely uphill. Quick sketch/notes below.
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I would look into getting rid of those retaining walls and expanding left also, but that’s A LOT of fill dirt to go down in that hole.
I remember it being a severe enough grade down there that I didn’t really think it was playable area. But that was playing it once 2yrs ago.
It’s my due date or else I’d be there helping out Andy and Will. I think the birth of a child is one of just a handful of excuses that are acceptable for missing out on a day at Prairie Dunes. Hope the weather cools off the next few weeks and you guys have a fantastic fall day out there.
I’d be surprised too if it doesn’t become an annual Fried Egg event. There was a ton of interest and spots filled up pretty quick.
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I think you’ve got the date exactly right.
Aeration/overseed was already healing nicely when I was there last Friday. They’ll have to keep the water cranked up for another week or two while the rye gets established, but that will be enough time for it to dry out. Native should be getting its color by then also.
So they overseed (what was originially zoysia?) with rye grass at prairie dunes? Overseeding has always fascinated me but I’ve never been at a course that’s done it or really heard much about it. I just figured the winters get too cold around here for any courses to think it’s worthwhile. Is prairie dunes the exception or do more course around here actually do it?