I was quite distressed to turn down the course I rejected. I loved the layout, and for the most part, it was very well maintained. It was exactly what I look for in a Hidden Fairway, with one fatal shortcoming. The bent grass greens were badly stressed. Some of them rolled okay, but a few were just awful. So, while I intend to check in on it from time to time, I cannot add it as a Hidden Fairway at this time.
It does appear, though, that stressed bent grass greens are running rampant this year, especially in the South. It's a major topic of discussion in the trades. I've read articles recently in PGA and in Golf World that listed well-known high-end courses that are notifying their members of 8-10 week course closures while they reclaim their greens!
While I can understand a public course in a small town or rural area that can't hold it's greens, it's boggling to think of expensive private facilities suffering the same fate. Especially when I've played 3 different Hidden Fairways courses with bent grass greens recently - Canyon Ridge, Cider Ridge and Old Union - which were all in excellent condition. In fact, Old Union's greens are flawless! Bent grass greens won't, by definition, turn to crap in the Southern summer, but they do need very special attention.
If you are a member or regular at a course with well-conditioned bent grass greens, be sure to tell your superintendent how much you appreciate his efforts. He's doing a job worth your appreciation and respect.
