Damon Culver › 2021 PDGA Tim Selinske U.S. Masters Championships presented by Innova April 11, 2021 at 2:36am
I was in town this morning to play. Toughed out a couple rounds in the monsoon, but it did prompt curiosity on how things will be arranged if the same kind of rainfall occurs during or before the event. Harmony Bends was not playable this morning as I expected, but there were also a few holes at Albert Oakland Lower where we could not play the entire hole due to not being able to cross. Are there plan B's for this? Secondary question would be when the pin placements for each course will be known.
I'll answer this as best I can, but realize this is based on my experience in Columbia, and I'm not on staff in September (I'm playing for a change), so this answer is very unofficial.
The staff is aware of the issues when it rains hard at Harmony Bends, and at Oakland to a lesser extent. We have had to close a couple of holes in the past at Oakland due to impassibility. I don't believe Indian Hills has quite the same issues, but there are small creeks there that can flash f ... more
The staff is aware of the issues when it rains hard at Harmony Bends, and at Oakland to a lesser extent. We have had to close a couple of holes in the past at Oakland due to impassibility. I don't believe Indian Hills has quite the same issues, but there are small creeks there that can flash flood. I know that there is a contingency plan in case Harmony Bends is unplayable. I don't know what it is exactly, but we had one last year (before it was canceled due to the pandemic). I was going to be on staff last year. That being said, usually the bad floods in Columbia are in the spring, and September is not normally an issue with high water in these courses.
And I have no idea on the pin placements. :)
Pretty much what Chappie said. We have contingency plans but it is difficult to explain what all the different options are. We have had tourneys at Oakland for almost 40 years now so we can move placements or throw holes out to accomodate a flash flood or wait it out depending on the scenario. H ... more
Pretty much what Chappie said. We have contingency plans but it is difficult to explain what all the different options are. We have had tourneys at Oakland for almost 40 years now so we can move placements or throw holes out to accomodate a flash flood or wait it out depending on the scenario. Harmony is a different animal, if we know in advance it is flooded than we can find an alternate course. It floods the day of the tourney, holes may be removed or the round may be canceled.
Thanks. Thoroughly enjoy the courses there (even in the nasty conditions). Looking forward to it.