Played the Dunes Friday and the Surf on Saturday.
Greens on both courses putted very true. However the speed was only medium pace which was surprising. Usually they are much much faster.
Fairways at the Surf are not overseeded and not painted but were surprisingly green ... about half-way between full dormancy and full summer condition. Dunes fairways have a medium overseed which should turn thick in the next month as temps warm further.
Rough areas are still 100% dormant on both courses and not easy to chip out of. Ranges are still in the mats. Pace of play 3:50 at Dunes and 3:40 Surf.
Thanks for the report. Would love to play The Surf again.
Good report Bob for the groups that will be lucky enough to play these 2 courses come March and April.
I keep watching for Surf to return to packages.
Thanks for the updates.
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Played the Dunes Friday and the Surf on Saturday.
Greens on both courses putted very true. However the speed was only medium pace which was surprising. Usually they are much much faster.
Fairways at the Surf are not overseeded and not painted but were surprisingly green ... about half-way between full dormancy and full summer condition. Dunes fairways have a medium overseed which should turn thick in the next month as temps warm further.
Rough areas are still 100% dormant on both courses and not easy to chip out of. Ranges are still in the mats. Pace of play 3:50 at Dunes and 3:40 Surf.
The greens were slow because of the warm weather. They were breaking dormancy. When this happens new leaves emerge from the crowns. These new leaves are fatter and have a very upright growth pattern as they reach for the sunlight which is still low in the sky during winter. It is a photosynthesis physiological action of the plant, very simple really.
I'm surprised the Dunes overseeded. Most private courses have given up on that practice because it leads to too much "bad" time between growing in the overseed in the fall and then getting rid of it in the spring.
Thank for sharing can't wait to play the Dunes again. It was a joy to play with you.
Brownwood Bandit
I keep watching for Surf to return to packages.
Thanks for the updates.
Currently a 2-3 month waiting list to join the Surf so they will not be accepting package play anytime soon. In fact, after being informed that the Dunes has a 12-month waiting list the Surf head pro was wondering why they haven't reduced their outside play as there would be enough new members to go totally private.
I'm surprised the Dunes overseeded. Most private courses have given up on that practice because it leads to too much "bad" time between growing in the overseed in the fall and then getting rid of it in the spring.
Dunes ran a test 4-5 years ago. They overseeded all the fairways except one hole and asked for member preference. They overwhelmingly voted for the overseed.
In fact, after being informed that the Dunes has a 12-month waiting list the Surf head pro was wondering why they haven't reduced their outside play as there would be enough new members to go totally private.
The Dunes has reduced package play. Usually only Mon-Wed and
sometimes Sunday PM. Also not a lot of tee times per day.
The rates this April/May are dynamically going up to $350.
Possibly they are gradually phasing out public play.
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@mbgt-golf-gourse-reviewer That's surprising. It's the only private course I know of that still overseeds (I'm sure there are others somewhere) -- but all the ones I know that used to do it in North Carolina quit a long time ago because having green grass on the fairways in the winter didn't make up for the poor playing conditions during the transition periods.
