On most years, golf course superintendents pray for a summer of rain. Well, this year, someone did a heck of a prayer job because we had rain, rain and more rain, and now the same superintendents are praying for a lot less rain next year.
Kevin Mann and I played Meadowcreek Golf Course a couple weeks back and the greens were a disaster. They were bald and muddy in many spots. There was so much water in the ground that it actually pushed up and dislodged many of the tender shoots of grass. We saw the same thing at Tanyard in Louisa. It’ll take quite a bit of work to get those greens back in good putting condition by summer 2019.
Then, last week, we played Ingleside in Staunton and it was a different story. For the most part, the greens at Ingleside were in excellent shape. Kevin and I figured that the steeper elevation course had better drainage and that may have saved their greens.
Ingleside, by the way, is an excellent venue. It’s quite affordable at $25 for a round during the week and $30 on weekends, and that’s with a cart. The course plays very fast and it is in top-notch shape going into winter.
Give it a shot, but if you play Meadowcreek or Tanyard anytime soon, don’t expect great greens.