Traffic Control Cancel The title field is required!

1. Larry Taylor

   

   0 posts
   
   2/23/2012 11:02 AM

   I was wondering if I could get some of your ideas for traffic control on the golf course. The course that I'm at has always used ropes and stakes, which I hate. I have some ideas but just wanting some of your info. Thanks!

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   2/23/2012 1:02 PM

   We use just the green stakes, no rope. I've had too many people trip on the ropes. Plus, they need to be straightened or moved daily.

   
   
   
   
3. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   2/23/2012 2:02 PM

   I have just about given up. We host upwards of 300 rounds a day and I have come to the conclusion that the easiest way to handle it is to let them beat those areas to the dirt, then cut them and resod them. People are like cattle, only dumber.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
4. Curtis Nickerson

   

   0 posts
   
   2/23/2012 7:02 PM

   We use some ropes at the end of curbs but mostly use just the stakes and have recently added the par-aide short green and white stakes...but like Steve we are very busy and it feels futile...however...should any of you want custom signs I recently purchased a CNC machine and can make nearly any sign you like. I currently am making some for us out of the green and white recycled plastic (hdpe, green/white/green)
   
   Just a few more weeks and the snowbirds will head back and we can sod and recover...

   
   
   
   
5. Neidhardt John J

   
   2/24/2012 8:02 AM

   Refer to my posts on
   
   viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1355
   
   Am I jaded?

   
   
   
   
6. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   2/24/2012 1:02 PM

   Yeah, that's what I mean. I wish I had a picture of the "No Carts" Sign laying flat on its back with a tire print on it that I saw 2 weeks ago.
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
7. Homme David R

   
   2/24/2012 1:02 PM

   IMHO, ropes and stakes work the best. The CARTS --> signs, definitely get driven over. I have many. I don't really care for them.
   
   I always remember that if golfers were really helpful and really respected the courses they play, none of us here and our crews would need a ................ ball mark repair tool.
   
   My advice is, don't spend too much time or money on this item, cause any which way you go will end up with roughly the same end result.
   
   Dave Homme
   Falls Resort

   
   
   
   
8. Hardy Andrew

   
   2/24/2012 2:02 PM

   I agree with Steve. Sod cutter and skids of sod do the trick for us. Constantly battling putting arrows down and moving them around. You can teach people a million times but it doesn't seem to sink in. Never even blamed the golfers, not bad

   
   
   
   
9. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   2/24/2012 3:02 PM

   The reality of "training" or "re-educating" people is that there needs to be a negative consequence when there is poor performance, otherwise there is no incentive to behave. Since most of us are not in a position to penalize golfers for failing to follow the cart signs, then "training" is worthless.
   
   I used to let it bother me and put out miles of ropes and stakes, but its just not worth it
   Now I put out some ropes and move them around. We make an effort to move traffic around. Some people follow the rules some don't. I've stopped worrying about it. When spots get worn out I sod them and it's fine.
   
   People golf for enjoyment, not to read little signs on fairways and bunker rake handles about where to go and what to do. People aren't out playing golf to think about following rules, theyre usually out there to get away from something and enjoy, so do what you can, and don't worry about it when they dont respect the ropes and sod when needed.
   
   Also fertilize those areas a lot. Like 20 # of N per year

   
   
   
   
10. Bear Doug A

    
    2/27/2012 6:02 PM

    Amen to that, It's our only line of defense and it still fails. Rope and stake all you want, golfers are out for enjoyment, not abiding by the rules for the day.

    
    
    
    
11. McDaniel Gregory B

    
    2/27/2012 9:02 PM

    It is basically a hopeless situation. The pro won't back you, the ownership or membership does not care and will not back you, and if you rope a whole hole, the ADA will be on your butt about leaving gaps for those who had knee surgery in 1985 and have had a flag on their cart ever since. Of course if you leave gaps then many of the non-flagged carts will find their way through the gaps. People don't care until it's dead and then they blame you for not being able to grow grass on a freeway. I've had them claim that it was something else that is killing the grass, not the 200 carts that drive over it daily!! Of course in the trans zone, it is carts on the grass all winter when it used to be no carts on dormant grass. Of course it's the traffic areas that don't come back the next year. It's doubly tough when green-up occurs during the same time period when you have your heaviest play. Mounds and fairway bunkers channel traffic and you can rope and I used to have to even though I hated mowing the ropes and moving them. It was a necessary evil. Of course I haven't had to worry about any of that in 3 years because I am no longer a superintendent. I would gladly trade not being a superintendent for those worries again though!! As many older and wiser supers mentioned, it's not worth losing sleep over or getting upset about. It's just the way it is.

    
    
    
    
12. Bear Doug A

    
    2/29/2012 8:02 PM

    we talked years ago about doing 2-3 holes cart path only for a week.... highlight the holes on the scorecard and tell golfers that these particular holes are cart path only for the day. No ropes and stakes. Honor system. More than a few groups will disregard this and members who just don't care to obey but may reduce traffic by 50%? Don't know though, we never tried it.

    
    
    
    
13. Larry Taylor

    

    0 posts
    
    3/1/2012 8:03 AM

    Thanks for all the advice! Greatly appreciated!

    
    
    
    
14. Mark Van Lienden

    

    14 posts
    
    3/1/2012 8:03 AM

    I always thought it would be cool to put a sign where the damage occurs and say this cart was too close to green or this is what happens when you don't scatter.Too wet to drive here.Cows follow the ruts to next tee.
    Mark

    
    
    
    
15. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    3/1/2012 9:03 AM

    Doug Bear said: we talked years ago about doing 2-3 holes cart path only for a week.... highlight the holes on the scorecard and tell golfers that these particular holes are cart path only for the day. No ropes and stakes. Honor system. More than a few groups will disregard this and members who just don't care to obey but may reduce traffic by 50%? Don't know though, we never tried it.

    
    
    I tried that about 5 or 6 years ago and the wailing and gnashing of teeth was of biblical proportions. Quit beating your head against the wall.

    
    
    
    
16. League Michael

    
    3/1/2012 10:03 PM

    Larry,
    
    We made a lot of really short green directional stakes for traffic control this winter. Our par 3 holes we have the cartpath roped off the entire way. We have some other areas with rope but I dont like to move them around and it is easier to just move one or two stakes at a time and not have to deal with the rope and moving all stakes. My pro is also insisting that we put ropes up in the fairway about 20 yards from the green that stretch into the rough on either side, so we will see how that works when i finally get them out.
    
    This mild winter has had our play way up this year which has also resulted in much more cart traffic than normal on the dormant bermuda. Then I have members come up and gripe to me that the grass isnt long enough and they dont like the tight lies and tell me i cut it too short last fall. even though i raised the height to ".85
    
    Good luck!
    
    Michael League

    
    
    
    
17. McDaniel Gregory B

    
    3/5/2012 9:03 AM

    Mark Van Lienden, CGCS said: I always thought it would be cool to put a sign where the damage occurs and say this cart was too close to green or this is what happens when you don't scatter.Too wet to drive here.Cows follow the ruts to next tee.
    Mark

    
    I heard of a guy who did something similar to that. Legend has it that he put up a sign that read People->, Goats -> Legend also has it that he was dismissed shortly thereafter!

    
    
    
    
18. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    3/6/2012 5:03 AM

    Signs and ropes seem to work. See attached picture.

    
    
    
    
19. Bear Doug A

    
    4/7/2012 8:04 PM

    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said:

    Doug Bear said: we talked years ago about doing 2-3 holes cart path only for a week.... highlight the holes on the scorecard and tell golfers that these particular holes are cart path only for the day. No ropes and stakes. Honor system. More than a few groups will disregard this and members who just don't care to obey but may reduce traffic by 50%? Don't know though, we never tried it.

    
    
    I tried that about 5 or 6 years ago and the wailing and gnashing of teeth was of biblical proportions. Quit beating your head against the wall.

    
    
    
    Yeah I hear ya, we have one hole roped off to CP only and it looks sweet. The only comments i hear when I am over there are WTF? and How Come? and WHEN IS IT GOING TO END? OH Well

    
    
    
    
20. Ashton Alan W

    
    4/9/2012 10:04 AM

    I too decided long ago to stop beating my head against the wall... 75% of my members keep their carts where they need to be... the rest will never learn. We just run the aeravator over those spots once a week. Maybe they'll get the hint if they see that we keep those spots perpetually aerified!