Calgary and Surrounding area - Golf Thread

[Rhettzky]

Beaver Dam is supposedly a lot better this year. They've actually started cutting the weeds back to make it a bit ball friendlier. Also, look for deals in the sun. They usually have two for one offers and such for that course. ($55)

Heather Glen is pretty awesome. Highly recommend the Grove be part of your 18 holes. It's made up of holes from the original course. Great times ($80)

Lynx Ridge is really scenic and has some pretty fun holes to play. The signature hole is pretty challenging with a lay-up and then a little ravine to clear. (Not sure on cost this year)

Sirocco was one that I vowed to never try again. We went when it first opened and it wasn't quite all put together yet. May be worth checking out but it left a sour taste. ($80)

Kananaskis is great. Mt. Lorette was fun but we did Mt. Kidd first so it was kind of a let down. Mt. Kidd is awesome, had so much fun there and the price isn't as bad as you'd think. But you have to book almost two months in advance. ($90)

Greywolf/Eagle Ranch. I put these together because at the end of last season we did a sunday/monday/tuesday trip out to Panorama for a two day golf tour of these two. Great deal, as we ended up getting the rooms for free pretty much. Both are great courses and when we went there was hardly anyone else around. Felt like it was just us out there, it was an awesome experience. (We paid $250 for a round at each course and two nights in Panorama)

All prices are weekend and with cart.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

It's the course and the marshalls job to keep pace of play going. It's easy to fall behind on a hole especially in a foursome, some times I won't even know I'm playing slower it will feel like any other round until the marshall gives me the time frame. Those other people payed the same as you to play as well, you're not more important than them.

Marshalls are overworked and underpaid (I'm making a joke). Its up to the individual golfer to make sure he/she is keeping up the pace.
Just because they paid doesn't give them the right to ruin everybody else's game. If you can't play a round in a maximum of 4-1/2 hours and you are falling behind the group in front of you, go somewhere easier.

No different than going to a movie and talking all the way through it. You paid just like everybody else did but your actions are ruining the show for all those who are sitting near you.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Crowsnest Pass has one of the nicest courses I have been to, but you gotta land her on the fairway or you'll lose many balls.

[mykalberta]

I think the problem is alot of City Par 3 courses and beginner courses in general dont have holes where you can drive it on. If say McCall lake had 2 300 yard holes then that would be great.

Lets face it, for beginners, bringing out the whale head Canadian Tire driver is the most fun. And you dont get that on par 3 city courses, and the driving range simply isnt the same.

I think the problem is that alot more people have alot more money these days and they have no problem burning $50 for a round of golf even if they only pull out the clubs twice a year. Back when I was starting $50 was a crazy amount for my parents to pay to have little MYK hit the balls around with ole pops with his 3 wood, 5 iron, and putter.

You just have to know where and when to go. If you are expecting a speedy round on a weekend then you are kidding yourself. There is a reason people drive 50k for a golf course, to get away from that.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Thats a contradiction right there. Lets say the average par 4 is 400 yds long.
It will take them 5 swings of the club (not counting practice swings) to get to the green and then 3 more shots on average to put it in the cup. Thats 8 on a par 4. If they play the same way on a par 5 they are likely to score a 10.

Overall on a par 72 course they are likely to score in the 140's. There is NO WAY you can score 140 and play your round in the expected 4-1/2 hours. This person should be practicing more and playing and learning on a par 3 course which are specifically built for beginners. The city has lots of these and they are easy to get on.

McCall Lake Par 3
Lakeview Par 3
Shaganppi Par 3
Richmond Greens Par 3
RCGA Par 3
Buffalo Run executive Par 3
Douglasdale executive Par 3


Its a guarantee that they will enjoy their game a lot more and the people playing with or behind them will enjoy theirs a lot more.

Don't stretch my example to extremes to try and prove your point. If they are going to shoot 140+ then of course they shouldn't be on a "real" course yet. But just because they can't drive the greens doesn't mean they don't have a right to play or at least try. They just need to be aware if they are holding up other groups to get out of the way.

[The Ditch]

Originally Posted by fotze

If you are one of the ones that slows hundreds of golfers behind you because you are selfish you have ran into us. If you kept the pace than no you haven't.

I'm a member at a private course with not a lot of members so I never run into any problems but when I do run into a beginner golfer I don't rage because I know golf is a hard game and everyone has to start somewhere.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by mikey_the_redneck

Crowsnest Pass has one of the nicest courses I have been to, but you gotta land her on the fairway or you'll lose many balls.

I agree. Don't let the couple of holes that you can see from the hwy deceive you. It used to be a nine hole course and then they carved another nine into the mountainside. Some of the wholes are very picturesque and challenging too.
Really helps if you play with someone who know the course or you could lose a lot of balls by hitting to the wrong area.... lots of dog legs, lots of elevated greens. You just can't pull out the driver on every par 4 and 5 and hit away. You'll be losing lots of balls for sure.

Inexpensive too. I think its about $52 on the weekends.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I agree. Don't let the couple of holes that you can see from the hwy deceive you. It used to be a nine hole course and then they carved another nine into the mountainside. Some of the wholes are very picturesque and challenging too.
Really helps if you play with someone who know the course or you could lose a lot of balls by hitting to the wrong area.... lots of dog legs, lots of elevated greens. You just can't pull out the driver on every par 4 and 5 and hit away. You'll be losing lots of balls for sure.

Inexpensive too. I think its about $52 on the weekends.

I think I lost 8 balls that day....and left my sand wedge somewhere......

and yeah it is very decieving from the highway.

[The Ditch]

nm. If you have a problem you should take it up with the pro shop.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

I'm a member at a private course with not a lot of members so I never run into any problems but when I do run into a beginner golfer I don't rage because I know golf is a hard game and everyone has to start somewhere.

Lots of us can't afford memberships at private courses.
Lots of us can't afford to pay the expensive green fees on semi-private courses ($70 and higher)
If we want to play regularly (say once a week), the city courses are usually the only ones we can afford. Sure I can afford to pay, on occasion, $70-$100 for a round of golf... but only occasionally.

If it take you and the others in your foursome, longer than 15 minutes (on average) to play a hole, you should spend your money at the practice range and the par 3 learning courses.

Since you belong to a private course that apparently (as you say) doesn't have a lot of members, I'm sure waiting to play every shot isn't a problem for you because I doubt that it ever occurs. For us poor people, who really can only afford to play the few 18 hole city owned courses, it is.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

nm. If you have a problem you should take it up with the pro shop.

City courses don't have "pro shops".
Have you actually ever played on a city course? ... and I don't count the time you played when you were 10.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Rerun

City courses don't have "pro shops".
Have you actually ever played on a city course? ... and I don't count the time you played when you were 10.

Golf Etiquette Rule #47(b): If the course you are golfing at doesn't have a "pro shop" don't expect the level of golf to be "pro".

[Rerun]

Golf Etiquette Rule #52c: If you're not sure which club to use to hit the ball 150 yds, leave the course immediately and proceed to the driving range.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Golf Elitest Rule #52c: If you're not sure which club to use to hit the ball 150 yds, leave the course immediately and proceed to the driving range.

Fixed.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Fixed.

Not elitest at all. If you don't have a clue about how far you hit each club, you shouldn't be playing on a regulation 18 hole Par 70-72 course.

My wife, who I would classify as a beginner golfer (even though she's had clubs for years), doesn't know which club to use half the time when she's on the tee box, fairway, or around the green. She usually asks me and I give her advice (which usually entails "use whatever club you feel most comfortable with at the moment". If the shot calls for use of a 3 iron but she hits a crappy 3 iron, I tell her to use another club that she feels more comfortable with so she can make contact with the ball).

All this conversation, and instruction, and play always occurs on one of the city par 3 courses or an easy (hard to get into trouble) course like the nine hole Bull Run course on the T'suu Tina reserve.

[Rhettzky]

Your expectations for a city course are pretty high. I can see now why you would get frustrated playing at them.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Your expectations for a city course are pretty high. I can see now why you would get frustrated playing at them.

Usually its the only choice I have.

[edn88]

I don't mind beginner golfers, I don't like slow golfers (and folks that cannot figure out the simple ettiquette of the game bug me too). In fact I was in an tournament on Monday with someone who had never played in their life and it was fine - that person moved along very well. Fortunately we played texas scramble (which is slow) and it wasn't an issue.

When I play on the weekend, I like to get my golf in less than 3.5 hours. As much as I love being outside in the sun, hanging around with other golfers, I have a limited amount of time to get away from the family.

When I get to the golf course to play a 6:00 am round, I want to be in my car and on my way home by 9:30 at the latest. There are 'good' golfers that cannot make there way around a course in less than 4 hours.

[FlamesKickAss]

another peeve is people not fixing ball marks on the green. On sunday at shaw-nee I would repair mine and 5 others, i just couldn't get them all. You know how bad that is for the greens? The even give free repair tools in the proshop. Man thats irritating.

or learn how to pick up a rake and rake the sand trap when you are done

[chid]

I just started getting into golf, and did Heather Glen last weekend and really enjoyed it. I'm doing Silver Wings next weekend