A Playing Comparison of British and American Courses

1 ! ,-- '* _ A Playing Comparison of British and American Courses by JAY SIGEL, British Amateur Champion; Walker Cup Team; World Amateur Team; Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania Jay Sigel the ball from up to 40 yards off the Aronimink last year, I really hadn't green. Of course, the fairways were also given much thought to differences in HEN MEMBERS OF an Amer very close-cropped. The rough was very golf course management practices. Now Wican club discuss the condition high and variable in growth and plant I wonder why have we moved so far of their golf course, the conversation population. You'd have to call it rugged away from the conditioning like the typically dwells on color, not on play- compared to ours. courses where the game originated and ability. I suspect that television has A lie in the rough in Britain or Scot away from an emphasis on good play- helped to develop these attitudes; I have land requires a very delicate shot just to ability? I guess part of the answer is that been in a number of TV production move a ball back to the fairway. On our the average American golfer's fetish for facilities and noted their great concern courses, a lie in the rough can some soft, lush turf often pressures the super for the TV viewer and on how they times be better than one we might have intendent into applying more water and might color the picture to make it more in the fairway. Sand in their bunkers is fertilizer. This in turn increases Poa appealing for the viewer. This is also extremely firm, and the bunkers them annua encroachment and related prob the prime reason for overseeding dor selves are very deep. I've had conver lems of summer turf weaknesses. By mant bermudagrass fairways with rye sations about water with a number of forcing growth and color, we increase grasses, to make the event more attrac people, and of the four courses I played, maintenance requirements which in tive for the viewer, not to improve the the only watering system I saw was at turn increases budget expenditures. dormant bermudagrass playing surface. Hillside, where the British Amateur was Does forcing growth then make good Twenty-five years ago my home played, although I understand that St. golf sense? course didn't have watered fairways. Andrews has an irrigation system. As for the better player, I don't think Each year our grass turned brown. In general, only a few British courses he minds Poa annua one bit, as long as During the six to eight weeks of sum have watering systems, and I know of it is cut closely. He doesn't become con mer, I also remember the high level of none as sophisticated as ours. Their cerned if the turf turns brown and the playability of that golf course, the greens are very firm, but certainly not as Poa annua thins out or dies as long as feeling of being able to control a shot good to putt as our greens. They are he can strike the ball cleanly with the from the turf because that turf was firm. grainier than ours and very close-cut. club face. We all recognize that this is I know that the older players also en American players liked their firmness. the way golf is played in Great Britain. joyed this because they got more roll. They were very consistent. Golf there is played on grass, not color. Also, the speed of the greens certainly I believe Tony Jacklin recently said If the American golfer could play from a was faster; the overall pace of the course that one of the reasons American players firm surface, he would be able to control was much quicker, and it seemed to produce generally better results is that the ball better. In my opinion he would translate into faster play. they are better putters, and that better improve his game and he would enjoy Let's compare the British and the putters are developed on better greens. golf more. American golf courses as I see them. Our putting surfaces are far more smooth Shouldn't we try to give this play- The British courses have no motorized than those on the four courses that I saw. ability back to the game? Wouldn't that carts at all that I could see on the four conserve energy and precious water? courses we played — St. Andrews and HE BRITISH DO NOT play win Wouldn't that save dollars for clubs that Muirfield, in Scotland, and Hillside and Tter rules; they do not even know now are experiencing troubled times? I Royal Birkdale in England. The color of what winter rules are! I found that pose these questions though I certainly these golf courses is drab, like the interesting. They don't know what don't have the answers. I thank you all weather there. Height of the grass, I mulligans are either. That alone must for helping me to better understand think, is of interest. Approach fringes spare their first tees from much abuse. some of your problems in the regret were very, very short, enabling us, I must admit that until I became a tably brief association I've enjoyed with during the Walker Cup Match, to putt member of the Green Committee at you. Thank you for inviting me. 4 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD .

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