Anyone else get weirdly fascinated by golf course architecture and turf science?
So I’m pretty new to golf, but my local home course just shut down for a massive overhaul and I’ve randomly fallen down a total rabbit hole looking at turf specs and course architecture.
Before this, a bunker was just a hazard I bitched about landing in. Now I’m actually reading up on the original Arthur Hills layout and how they’re moving hazards around to challenge low handicappers while keeping it playable for casuals like me. They’re completely digging up the greens to rebuild them to USGA specs, which just sounds like an insane amount of work.
Apparently they’re switching all the greens to TifEagle ultradwarf and the fairways to Bimini Bermuda. From what I gathered online, it's supposed to give a super smooth roll and stay way greener in the winter.
Have any of you guys actually played on Bimini or TifEagle? Does it completely change the vibe/speed of a course you're used to playing?
They've been posting updates with drone footage of the heavy machinery tearing up the holes and it’s honestly hypnotic to watch lol. I'm lowkey bummed I can't play there right now but I'm hyped to see how it plays when it reopens this summer.