Feherty At The Golf Industry Show

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I have another post coming with an overall take on this year's Golf Industry Show (I know, you'll be hitting refresh all weekend in eager anticipation), but in the meantime enjoy GCSAA TV's Fuzz Martin reporting on David Feherty's address. It was the talk of the floor for all of the usual Feherty reasons--ED jokes, a rich assortment of anal humor and a war on Islam remark--and because he was the hit of the show.
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Nice, Fun Muni Faces Closure Because Of Bad Greens!?

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Thanks to reader Tom for Mark McGregor's disturbing look at the possible demise of Snyder Park, a 1929 muni that Tom says "is 6,300 yds. from the tips" and is "a wonderful old style course and a delightful walk." 

City finances and no direction on how to fix bad greens may cause the city of Springfield, Ohio, to close the place. Perhaps this would be a nice salvation job for the USGA to tap its surplus and the expertise of the Green Section to save a quality place for everyday golf? Oh there I go again.

City Manager Jim Bodenmiller said in a January commission meeting that the city challenged the park district to make Snyder and Reid Park courses self-sufficient. National Trail met that goal in two of three years, but a subsidy was necessary in 2011.

City Finance Director Mark Beckdahl said in the meeting that without the subsidy, the district’s bills and vendors would have gone unpaid.

“We had a rough 2011, there’s no denying that,” Smith said. “It’s tough when you’re dealing with the weather. Not everything you do (to fix turf) works.”

Early estimates to repair the greens range from $15,000 to $20,000. National Trail will know more in a few weeks once a golf turf expert examines the course, determines why conditions deteriorated and how much it will likely cost to restore them.

The city hasn’t decided whether it will pay to redo the greens or if it will instead close the Snyder Park course.

"Atlanta Athletic Club’s formula of grasses will give rise to many new possibilities."

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I think the suggestion in Ron Whitten's story on AAC's new turf about possible new major venues was a little exaggerated (Talking Stick and Whisper Rock?), but there is great importance in what figures to be the relentless talk about Atlanta Athletic Club's Champion Ultradwarf Bermuda greens this week (beats talking about the architecture). Hopefully the talk will turn to considering these grasses for more courses in warm climates where bent greens are needlessly installed.
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Increased Water Rates May Shutter New Mexico Course

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Albuquerque KOB TV's J.P. Murrieta reports on the likely closure of Desert Greens golf course due to a 19 percent increase in water rates. Thanks to reader Rick for what could be a story we see a lot more of in the next few years. (Then again, when you see the story and see them flooding the driving range landing area, perhaps a water usage review may be in order.)

Meng says the course paid approximately $130,000 in water bills last year.  This year he says the course is on pace to have to pay $400,000-to-$500,000.  "The business cannot afford to pay the water bill," Meng says.

Meng is expecting a $100,000 water bill this month alone.  He says the course could close as early as sometime in the next 30-to-60 days.

TPC Sawgrass Functions To Perfection

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Apparently Players tournament director Mark Russell equated the sand-capped fairways to a screen door during a television appearance and after walking around this afternoon I can say the place drained to perfection. The TPC Sawgrass was reopened in 2007 after a $60 milion renovation that included a new clubhouse, new irrigation system and fairways capped with six inches of sand.
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