Providing a player different options of playing a particular shot as well as providing him or her with a variety of required shots, throughout the round, to get close to particular hole locations is the essence of good golf. This involves being able to play along the contour of the ground as well as through the air.
Irrigation of golf courses is likely the most responsible element of modern maintenance practice that has ruined the traditional ground game aspect of golf. Soft putting surfaces, approaches and fairways have resulted in what is commonly known the “American Game” of golf which is played through the air rather than along the ground. I realize poorly draining soil types preclude readily dry conditions in some instances. Therefore, during design and construction all drainage patterns must be analyzed. Proper drainage design and installation (getting surface water underground as soon as possible and providing subsurface drainage to drain the soil profile) along with maintenance practices (such as deep tining and regular aerification of fairways and intermediate roughs) will result in more dry and firmer conditions as well as providing a healthy environment for growing turf.
Rather than using irrigation systems as a supplemental source of precipitation, over-watering (and then regular spraying of fungicides) has meant job security to some superintendents – Its not unusual to find casual water in fairways in the middle of August in Indiana when it has not rained for several weeks. It seems in the last few years more superintendents are beginning to live on the edge a little more – bentgrass thrives when it is a little hungry and a little thirsty.
Irrigation systems, grass selelction and maintenance pratices must be integrated in the design process. Irrigated roughs, in Indiana, are typically seeded with a bluegrass/ryegrass blend. Mowing patterns should provide an intermediate cut of rough directly adjacent to the fairway of at least ten feet (which can be easily reduced to six feet for competition). In areas outside of irrigation a mixture of fescues, with some ryegrass for establisment, is used to hold up as well as possible during dry conditions. As fescues do not hold up well to traffic, traffic patterns must analyzed and controlled to minimize potential damage.
However, golf should not always be meant to be played along the ground. One of my favorite learning experiences of playing through the air was at Nairn GC where, during a very windy day, Walter Fraser, the caddymaster was in ourgroup for the round. When we came to 17, a short par 4 with a burn directly in front of the green, I had a short pitch to the green with about a 30 mph wind from behind. The ground was very firm, they had not had much rain at all year. I hit as soft of a shot as I could; I did not get the ball to hold the putting surface and it rolled quite a ways over the green. Mr. Fraser had been real helpful all day showing me the many nuances of Nairn. I asked him how in the devil anyone could ever place the ball on the green over the burn on a day like this. He proceeded to tell me that the wind can be your friend in some cases and indeed it is very possible to keep an approach on the green – he borrowed my SW and a ball and then, after not taking a swing all day, he lofted this knuckle ball kind of pitch into the air and the wind actually carried the ball along its wake until, because of gravity, it just dropped out of the air softly onto the putting surface and stopped about 15 feet away from the hole – his sly grin after pulling of the shot was something I will never forget!)
Ron Kern, Golf Course Architect 