Portland area course conditions

[Seamus_MacDuff]

1 hour ago, jpdx said:

Played East Moreland over the weekend. For the amount of rain we’ve had, you would think the course was dried out and fast.

 

Not so fast my friend!

 

Whether it was over watered in preparation for the heat we were supposed to get or just the general lack of drainage there, it played more like late fall with rain. Greens were soft-ish, soft enough to have spike everywhere (i’m not the lightest guy, but also not the heaviest) from me and other group(s) in front.  many spots in the fairways were soft enough that my playing partners had a few balls stay in the pitch mark upon landing. 

Yeah, the extreme heat this summer has caused major problems with many area courses. Courses like Eastmoreland without more sophisticated irrigation systems end up having to overwater some areas just in order to keep the grass from dying in others. Willamette Valley CC has had some turf loss in the fairways, and I understand Waverley CC has had significant disease problems (Pythium) with a number of their greens.

[Kernel]

1 hour ago, jpdx said:

Played East Moreland over the weekend. For the amount of rain we’ve had, you would think the course was dried out and fast.

 

Not so fast my friend!

 

Whether it was over watered in preparation for the heat we were supposed to get or just the general lack of drainage there, it played more like late fall with rain. Greens were soft-ish, soft enough to have spike everywhere (i’m not the lightest guy, but also not the heaviest) from me and other group(s) in front.  many spots in the fairways were soft enough that my playing partners had a few balls stay in the pitch mark upon landing. 

Played Reserve South course yesterday and was shocked at how soft it was. They must be watering like crazy. Approaches onto the greens made massive craters and a number of areas were very soft and soggy when walking through. 

[mallrat]

For the soft conditions last weekend, everyone overwatered and is now scrambling to dry their courses out. I’ll give you some rough numbers as an idea. Courses with little play (most privates) will run their greens between 20 - 25% moisture during summer days (a touch over 25 during the longest or hottest days). Now say you are at 25% to start the morning, on a 100* day with no wind there is a good chance you are getting into the low teens, high single digits moisture % wise. This is when the grass turns that purpleish, blackish color at the end of the day and you can see every footprint or tire mark that has gone through it. Now if you take 25% moisture on an 80* day you will lose maybe 5 -8%, maybe, now you take and add a 10 mph wind and you are looking at the same as the 100* day. Now you take a 100* day and add 30 mph winds (what was projected, and Supers live by the forecast) and you have a recipe for Major turf loss. 
 

Hope this makes sense and gives you a little sympathy or understanding of the conditions this weekend.

[mallrat]

7 hours ago, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Yeah, the extreme heat this summer has caused major problems with many area courses. Courses like Eastmoreland without more sophisticated irrigation systems end up having to overwater some areas just in order to keep the grass from dying in others. Willamette Valley CC has had some turf loss in the fairways, and I understand Waverley CC has had significant disease problems (Pythium) with a number of their greens.

This has been a brutal year in many aspects. Having multiple courses in the area get Pythium, is crazy. I know of 4 that have it somewhere on property (6 if you include Central OR). What’s crazy is Pythium in Central OR is unheard of, it used to be unheard of in the valley. It comes from a combination of heat, moisture in the ground and humidity. Pythium is often a death sentence for greens, especially for a course without a major budget to throw a butt load of chemicals at it. WVCC has had a combination of issues on their fairways, I can go into details in private but they are being addressed. 
 

One of the biggest issues in the valley is billbug (we were hit hard this year). Billbug is newer to the valley, it’s only been a thing here for the last maybe 5-10 years. There are 2 major treatments for billbug before any damage occurs and it appears that the cheaper of the 2 had very little effect this year. 
 

Add in all the heat, humidity and play (which has a HUGE effect on turf) and it’s been a rough year. If you want to see what traffic alone does, look at any courses nursery and how pristine it looks. Now add in cutting cups daily and all the unfixed ballmarks (which is ridiculous) and a lot of greens are struggling. 

[jpdx]

3 hours ago, mallrat said:

For the soft conditions last weekend, everyone overwatered and is now scrambling to dry their courses out. I’ll give you some rough numbers as an idea. Courses with little play (most privates) will run their greens between 20 - 25% moisture during summer days (a touch over 25 during the longest or hottest days). Now say you are at 25% to start the morning, on a 100* day with no wind there is a good chance you are getting into the low teens, high single digits moisture % wise. This is when the grass turns that purpleish, blackish color at the end of the day and you can see every footprint or tire mark that has gone through it. Now if you take 25% moisture on an 80* day you will lose maybe 5 -8%, maybe, now you take and add a 10 mph wind and you are looking at the same as the 100* day. Now you take a 100* day and add 30 mph winds (what was projected, and Supers live by the forecast) and you have a recipe for Major turf loss. 
 

Hope this makes sense and gives you a little sympathy or understanding of the conditions this weekend.

thanks for the explanation. The problems have been exacerbated by the amount of play so many courses have. Good for the bottom line - i suppose, but tough for the turf. 

[Kernel]

14 hours ago, mallrat said:

This has been a brutal year in many aspects. Having multiple courses in the area get Pythium, is crazy. I know of 4 that have it somewhere on property (6 if you include Central OR). What’s crazy is Pythium in Central OR is unheard of, it used to be unheard of in the valley. It comes from a combination of heat, moisture in the ground and humidity. Pythium is often a death sentence for greens, especially for a course without a major budget to throw a butt load of chemicals at it. WVCC has had a combination of issues on their fairways, I can go into details in private but they are being addressed. 
 

One of the biggest issues in the valley is billbug (we were hit hard this year). Billbug is newer to the valley, it’s only been a thing here for the last maybe 5-10 years. There are 2 major treatments for billbug before any damage occurs and it appears that the cheaper of the 2 had very little effect this year. 
 

Add in all the heat, humidity and play (which has a HUGE effect on turf) and it’s been a rough year. If you want to see what traffic alone does, look at any courses nursery and how pristine it looks. Now add in cutting cups daily and all the unfixed ballmarks (which is ridiculous) and a lot of greens are struggling. 

Very helpful context. Thanks 

[spud3]

Played Langdon today.  The greens are in the best shape I think I may ever seen.  

 

Shame they are punching them, starting now...

[doc52]

11 hours ago, spud3 said:

Played Langdon today.  The greens are in the best shape I think I may ever seen.  

 

Shame they are punching them, starting now...

Ghost Creek's greens are in great shape right now and punched 3-4 weeks ago. They are also in the process of laser levelling all of the par 3 tee boxes.

Edited October 3, 2022 by doc52

[mallrat]

If anyone played out there Saturday, sorry I was in a horrible mood. 

[spud3]

Heh.  We played Sunday and the only thing we noticed was that whoever set the pins wasn't paying attention to the zone map for the day.  Probably half of the flags were in the wrong zone.

 

I blame that for my poor play on the front 9...

 

Greens are healing pretty nicely.  Another week or so with a good rolling and they should be in good shape.  Of course, the rains are predicted to start next weekend.

 

About time for the annual pampas grass beheading?

[mallrat]

Was it the front side that was mainly out of position? 
 

Yep, pampas comes down next week 

[spud3]

2 hours ago, mallrat said:

Was it the front side that was mainly out of position? 
 

Yep, pampas comes down next week 

No, I just played better on the back 9.  About equal number of wrong locations on the front and back. Not a big deal, as it’s pretty obvious where the flags were, but if the club is going to stick with the zone method, then they need to make sure they’re accurate. 

[jpdx]

@mallrat when did Langdon punch?

 

East Moreland and Heron Greenback: March 27/28

 

Rose City and Heron Great Blue scheduled: Apr 3/4

 

Quail Valley postponed

 

does anyone know when other courses are scheduled or dates of when they did it?

 

langdon farms 3/20-3/21

pumpkin ghost week of the 3/27 or so

stone creek 3/21 - 3/22

Edited April 21, 2023 by jpdx

[mallrat]

1 hour ago, jpdx said:

@mallrat when did Langdon punch?

 

East Moreland and Heron Greenback: March 27/28

 

Rose City and Heron Great Blue scheduled: Apr 3/4

 

Quail Valley postponed

 

does anyone know when other courses are scheduled or dates of when they did it?

We punched fairways and tee’s 3 weeks ago and greens 2 weeks ago. 
 

We didn’t pull cores, we just used solid tines. Greens are pretty good right now, well maybe not after the rain. 
 

Courses are scrambling to get aerification in right now. Lots of cancelled and rescheduled plans. Gonna be interesting for awhile. 

[jpdx]

1 hour ago, mallrat said:

We punched fairways and tee’s 3 weeks ago and greens 2 weeks ago. 
 

We didn’t pull cores, we just used solid tines. Greens are pretty good right now, well maybe not after the rain. 
 

Courses are scrambling to get aerification in right now. Lots of cancelled and rescheduled plans. Gonna be interesting for awhile. 

So basically 20/21 and not cored. Awesome!

[doc52]

Pumpkin punched Ghost this past week. 

[jpdx]

Found out stone creek did theirs 3/21 and 3/22 or so

 

Never heard if quail valley did theirs - i did see emails about flooding issues though on 3 and 14

Edited April 21, 2023 by jpdx

[doc52]

7 hours ago, jpdx said:

Found out stone creek did theirs 3/21 and 3/22 or so

 

Never heard if quail valley did theirs - i did see emails about flooding issues though on 3 and 14

You are correct, I do not think Quail has punched yet.

[pdxhak]

Quail was under water not too long ago. Course is likely still too soft.

[mallrat]

Sorry for the greens last weekend, there’s a reason but I won’t go into it. They’ll be normal in a week or so. 

[spud3]

Played on Saturday and they were slooooowwwww!

 

Rough was long, but dry.  Fairways were running great.

[AUTIGER07]

Coming into Portland for a few days in June and was hoping to get in 2 rounds in the local area before 1 round at Gearhart. Any recommendations on picking 2 out of the 3 below?

 

Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)

Reserve Vineyard

Langdon Farms

 

[pdxhak]

7 minutes ago, AUTIGER07 said:

Coming into Portland for a few days in June and was hoping to get in 2 rounds in the local area before 1 round at Gearhart. Any recommendations on picking 2 out of the 3 below?

 

Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)

Reserve Vineyard

Langdon Farms

 

 

I'd go with Langdon and Pumpkin. FWIW I'd also consider Stone Creek as well.
 

[doc52]

21 minutes ago, AUTIGER07 said:

Coming into Portland for a few days in June and was hoping to get in 2 rounds in the local area before 1 round at Gearhart. Any recommendations on picking 2 out of the 3 below?

 

Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)

Reserve Vineyard

Langdon Farms

 

My vote would be Pumpkin. Playing there Monday, I will grab some photos of current course conditions.

Edited May 25, 2023 by doc52

[jpdx]

37 minutes ago, AUTIGER07 said:

Coming into Portland for a few days in June and was hoping to get in 2 rounds in the local area before 1 round at Gearhart. Any recommendations on picking 2 out of the 3 below?

 

Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)

Reserve Vineyard

Langdon Farms

 

those are three of the better courses, especially in june 

 

i would say it depends on where youre staying and how much driving you are wanting to do. 
 

if youre out west then in general, reserve and pumpkin will be easier to get to. 

[spud3]

4 hours ago, AUTIGER07 said:

Coming into Portland for a few days in June and was hoping to get in 2 rounds in the local area before 1 round at Gearhart. Any recommendations on picking 2 out of the 3 below?

 

Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)

Reserve Vineyard

Langdon Farms

 

Are you dead set on playing Gearhart?  All three of those are better courses and you won't lose 4 hours to driving.

 

Otherwise, I'd agree with jpdx above and say pick the two that are closest to where you're staying, though my personal picks would be Pumpkin and Langdon, assuming we don't have much rain in the days leading up to your rounds.  Neither Pumpkin nor Reserve are known for their drainage.

[AUTIGER07]

25 minutes ago, spud3 said:

Are you dead set on playing Gearhart?  All three of those are better courses and you won't lose 4 hours to driving.

 

Otherwise, I'd agree with jpdx above and say pick the two that are closest to where you're staying, though my personal picks would be Pumpkin and Langdon, assuming we don't have much rain in the days leading up to your rounds.  Neither Pumpkin nor Reserve are known for their drainage.

I have a buddy that lives close-ish to Gearhart so I'm meeting him there. It's also been on my list to play since the Tour Sauce episode just to see the course and town.

 

I'm staying in the Beaverton area so I don't mind driving to Langdon from PDX and then playing either Reserve or Pumpkin the next day.

[AUTIGER07]

4 hours ago, pdxhak said:

 

I'd go with Langdon and Pumpkin. FWIW I'd also consider Stone Creek as well.
 

 

4 hours ago, doc52 said:

My vote would be Pumpkin. Playing there Monday, I will grab some photos of current course conditions.

 

26 minutes ago, spud3 said:

Are you dead set on playing Gearhart?  All three of those are better courses and you won't lose 4 hours to driving.

 

Otherwise, I'd agree with jpdx above and say pick the two that are closest to where you're staying, though my personal picks would be Pumpkin and Langdon, assuming we don't have much rain in the days leading up to your rounds.  Neither Pumpkin nor Reserve are known for their drainage.

 

3 hours ago, jpdx said:

those are three of the better courses, especially in june 

 

i would say it depends on where youre staying and how much driving you are wanting to do. 
 

if youre out west then in general, reserve and pumpkin will be easier to get to. 

 

Appreciate the feedback guys. Thanks!

[spud3]

Played Langdon today, and the course is in prime shape.  Greens have achieved Summer Speed, so careful with those mallets....

[doc52]

Forgot to snap some photos, but Pumpkin was playing great. Greens are said to be rolling at a 13 and I believe them.