Yep, Fraser, I’ve seen these and really like them! I wonder how many people use them, notice them, or don’t care.
I’m meeting with our Director of Golf later this week and am going to push for these. The cost would be minimal.
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Daily pin location is listed in pro shop. “Ennead” keeps play on an area of green to slightly more than 3 times a month.
I’ve done the 5-7 hole locations and one club just divided the green into 3rds and had 1 / 2 / 3. Both are fine!
Current club has different flag colors for front, middle and back (Red, white, yellow)… we also have pink pins for Ladies day… I’m not really sure on that one.
Honestly, I just want us to have water on the course again.
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Anything more than front-middle-back is cutting it too fine for my game.
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A quick update on our initiatives after speaking with the Director:
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He liked the idea of PoP times on the scorecards; we’re putting them on the scorecards we print for leagues. Unfortunately, we just ordered a bunch of new cards so it’ll be awhile before we can incorporate this fully.
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We’re adding PoP clocks to the course. It’s not a silver bullet, but one tool to help us manage pace.
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We’re adding pin placement cards effective immediately, along with an easel sign for #1 tee box.
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No water on the course anytime soon. We added a water station at the turn, and encourage golfers to fill up.
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GPS tracking system remains on the radar. No decisions yet, but ownership is still open to the idea. One of the selling points will be the potential for two-way communication, including with the Grill.
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No discussion yet on a divot sand station on the course. We get lots of empty bottles on the carts, so golfers are using it. I’m asking the PAs to put a few bottles on their carts when they go out.
I truly appreciate everyone’s input; please keep suggestions coming! 
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Looks like nice, broad based steps.
FWIW, I’m used to playing “waterless” courses. By the time I make the turn, I’ve gone through a bottle of water, so an at-the-turn watering station may very well work for you.
Good luck!
We let golfers know at check in to fill up at the station and top up at the turn. We introduced this last year due to covid; it took a while for folks to become accustomed to it, but it seems to work pretty well now.
I’ve had to backtrack on the pin placement cards. The super wants the flexibility to use a different zone for a particular hole if the stipulated zone is a bit beaten up. He did commit to new mini-flags and increased attention to their proper placement.
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That’s sort of the idea, to keep rotating the zones. Each hole should have its own unique zoning and sequence, giving each zone a 4, 5 day or even a week’s rest.
As a side benefit, there’s less confusion for greens-keeping staff in setting the pins for the day.
That’s what the maintenance staff do @Fraser; I didn’t explain their rationale very well.
Let’s say zones 5 and 6 are front left and right, respectively. Today’s the day for zone 5, but that area of #12 green is a bit chewed up. They want the option to use zone 6 for that hole during this rotation. Their concern is posting zone 5 and having one or more holes in a different zone - resulting in customer complaints.
Yeah, I think that’s the benefit of a three zone system… it allows the flexibility of moving the pins out of “down” locations…
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Watching NPG 74 gave me an interesting thought/question. Do the marshal’s need a decibel meter for the folks blaring music?
Absolutely not! When I hear music from two fairways over the number on the decibel meter is irrelevant! 
This is a fine line to walk. I don’t mind if my partners want some tunes; I also know some people can’t stand it. We’re striving for a round to be enjoyable for everyone, and that means we’ll have trouble pleasing everyone.
If my team gets a complaint or thinks it’s over the top loud, we’ll often invoke the residents along the course. “I appreciate that you enjoy some music on the course, but could you do me a favor and turn it down a little? We need to be considerate of our neighbors along the course.”
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yeah, ears20, that is a fine line. I’ve been paired a couple times with youngens who had the tunes playing and the brew flowing. I was initially put off, but they kept up the pace of play, were very congenial and kept the decibels to within a few yards of their cart. As it turned out, it was a very pleasant round of golf for me with young golfers who I hope stick with the game.
that’s exactly how i feel ken. I picked up golf again a couple years ago after a long hiatus and the first time i heard music playing i was initially taken aback.
I love the serenity of being outdoors and the good walk which is involved, but I also really want the game to be accessible and continue to be passed down from generation to generation. It’s a great sport on many levels.
If people like a few tunes playing a reasonable level, it’s fine by me. Keep up the pace of play, leave the course in better shape than when you found it by repairing ball marks and divots, and you are welcome to play with me.
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I’m 67. Honestly, in a perfect world, I’d probably be happy with no tunes on the course.
But I also want more people playing golf to keep the game relevant and to make money for my favorite courses.
Plus, the music is generally hundreds of yards away. What am I doing–complaining because I’m sitting in my backyard and I can hear some music five houses away? Really? Must be time for me to move to the country.
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Maybe not the right place for this, but I’m curious as to what others think…
I’m hitting in the range… 8th green is about 350 yards away… 9th tee is about 320 yards away…
No big deal, just hitting some balls next to former NFL star Micheal Bush and we are complaining about the grass in the range…
From the 8th green we hear a loud “fuck”… laugh, Bush jokes he’s tried yelling on the course it doesn’t help… about three minutes later we hear another “fuck” from the 9th tee… now I’m paying attention.
The shouter is a 20 year old kid playing on his parents membership. We are a neighborhood club and Saturday at 4 usually means there are kids in the range (mine weren’t with me, but had been invited)…
I told the golf pro about it, because the kid annoys me… I feel like a crotchety old man, but don’t think I was wrong.
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If it can be heard from hundreds of yards away I think my guys will say something. Otherwise my inclination is to let it go unless it’s peppered with obscenity.
We’ve all muttered something like this, probably even loud enough to be heard from several yards away.
You’re not wrong at all @Craigers. I hope the golf staff let the offender know that there’s no tolerance for broadcasting his displeasure to the entire course in this way, and that another instance will cause him to be banned from the course for a period. The member should also be informed; they are responsible for the conduct of their guests and further offenses could jeopardize their standing.
Haha! I think I played behind that guy a few years ago!
Guess I shouldn’t laugh, but that episode taught me never to advertise I was a crappy golfer.
Now, when I hit a poor shot I keep quiet or say “Wow, what a shot!” Maybe no one saw it skittering into the weeds…
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Not wrong. Although I don’t equate that to loud music, I suspect a comment to the pro, who should then pull aside one of the parents to let them know what their son is doing at their club, is an effective way of dealing with this. Loud pants, loud music may be things that more golfers will be getting used to, but I’m not aware of any golf course, including the most rundown muni, that would encourage profanity on the grounds.
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Pace of play will always be an issue. Adding the PoP clocks throughout is a good step. If the PA’s notice a slow group coming to a Par 3 then maybe they politely ask if the group behind can get through them quickly? I get stuck often because I play quite fast for a mid-handicap. It’s frustrating watching a group tee off as fast as possible so that I can’t catch them on the tee to play through.
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