Today, I received the following email from a Troy citizen concerned about the recent changes to Sylvan Glen (SG) Golf Course...

Mr. Lambert,

 

Thank you for responding to my email...

 

SG was a classic designed course from the 1920's, I would guess.  Someone decided a wetlands in the middle of a classic course would be more modern.  Numerous trees were cut down, and I don't think they were all ash trees.  These trees gave the course character.  To be more specific, Hole No. 2, although I am sure construction is not complete, will never be the same with no trees and added wetlands.  The same for Hole Nos. 4 and 5.

 

SG has always had a problem with slow play on the front nine.  I can't imagine how adding wetlands across fairways would ever speed it up.  Yesterday's 9 hole round took 2 hours and 50 minutes and the course wasn't exactly busy.  Country Club play standard is 2 hours; at Pine Trace, 2 hours and 15 minutes (and they have rangers to make sure it happens).  There wasn't a ranger in sight on SG.  I suppose that's due to budget cuts, but then everyone will be scratching their heads as to why revenues are down.

 

The fairways are in terrible condition.  My only explanation is that the construction was delayed so long that the decision has been made to wait until next year to do anything about them.  On a positive note, it would seem whoever is in charge of the greens is doing a good job.

 

Once again, I've made up my own explanation as to why someone would want to ruin the front nine.  Maybe there was good reason, but I can't think of one.  SG was a city gem just as it was.  Thank you for listening to my tail of woe.  I fear I'm becoming an old timer starting to claim "it ain't like it used to be" in Troy.

If you have similar concerns, please send me an email at dave@lambert.net .