(Un)Crowded courses

(Un)Crowded courses

Post by af.. » Tue, 11 Oct 1994 20:36:50

For the past 6 yrs I have played courses in Laramie (WY), upstate NY (north of
Syracuse), and now in Anchorage (AK).  Until this year, I have never had to
endure slow play.  In Laramie, unless tournament play was involved, 4-somes
generally averaged 3:45 hrs.  There was even a group of older players (all over
60 and most well over 70), who walked every morning beginning at 7am.  They
generally played 9-holes as 5s or 6s; I once joined them and played 7s.  We
never took over 1:45 min to play 9-holes!  These guys walked, hit, and kept
going--totally ready golf.

Things slowed down a bit in NY, but generally play did not exceed 4 hrs. I
always played as a single and usually joined 2s or 3s, but never had trouble
getting on (but note, as a general rule, I never play week-ends, except in
tournaments).  BTW, the Laramie and NY courses were fairly priced--$11.50 to
$13.50 for 18 holes.  I did experience one 4:10 round at the Radisson Greens, a
very nice Robert T. Jones layout north of Syracuse.  But my playing partners
and I spent some time in the woods--probably 1/2 hr in all looking for
miscreant balls. That course cost $25--which I thought was a good deal for the
condition and design (I generally consider anything over $15 as expensive,
although I will fork over considerably more at resort courses--but even then I
generally opt for the $40 twilight deals and chance darkness rather than pay
$60 full-fare).

Anchorage courses, however, are a different matter.  There are only 3 18-hole
courses in the city, with another 2 courses an hour north.  They are expensive
($24 and $28), and SLOW.  The first time I played, it took 5 1/2 hours.  I was
fuming, and my score (mid-90s) reflected my displeasure.  Since then, I have
played only 7 more times and only the last 2 outings took less than 4 hrs.  I
have concluded that the best time to play here is in the late fall, on overcast
days, and pray for 45 degree weather.  The last two times I played (in the last
two weeks), I managed one round in 3:15 (7-over out, 3-over in) and one in 3:45
(5-over out, 10-over in--the back 9 took 2:15 hrs).

The days of frustration over slow play will end very shortly, however.  As of
Oct 8, only 1 course was open, and most AK golfers have turned in their spikes
for rifles, skis, or snow-machines.  Temps are below freezing at night, the
first snow came Oct 8, and daytime only reaches low 40s.  I might get one more
round in this week, but only if the forecasted rain doesn't turn to snow!
Computer golf will have to do until next May.


University of Alaska Anchorage