Hey Guys,
I do exist on cyberspace!!!
If we put a "long" tee on hole #5 it could actually make it a par 4 with the right accompanying/complementary work made to open a wimdow to the top of the first, steeper incline. It would still be under 600'. It may sound crazy, but a longer hole could potentially be played in fewer, more risky strokes (we have all found the water there). Right now, I sometimes feel like I am just chipping away, little by little on hole 5 (and other holes too). There is much skill required to do this properly. If hole 5 was a par 4 then maybe Fred would be more inclined to use the existing, and much in need of work (Fred is right), alternate pin(s) on other holes. Idlewild is still relatively new and may not be a "perfect" design soon, if ever.
Fred deserves as much respect as we are able to give. This course is his BABY!!! At most I, and the rest of us, are it's Uncles. What Fred says should be Gospel. I ask Fred for permission before I do anything at the course as should all of us. He let me run with a lot of my ideas and I am extremely grateful. I had been wanting to be in on designing a course for a long time before Fred gave me the chance at Idlewild. We worked for three years, with others, before the tees were put in and then the baskets.
Fred is correct, I hate to admit, that the course needs to be put in better condition, roughs/stumps cleaned up, etc. before we can think about making additional changes to fairways, etc. When you do work on the course, Fred notices, and you gain respect with him because he appreciates a commitment of work. He wants Idlewild to be the best course in the world as do a lot of us. With more people helping out, more improvements will come, no doubt.

Bob, I like Idlewild the way it is now. If you want to work on alternate placements for holes #9 and #17 go for it but you will have to purchase seperate baskets for each hole. I will not be moving the baskets on those holes and I won't be helping you cut those holes out either. I know they were part of the original plan but I have since changed my mind on those two holes.

I don't know why you insist on making more work for us when I think Idlewild is looking great and all the other courses in the area need some help.
I do appreciate all the work you have done but give the course(and me) a couple of years and let's see how the course progresses. If we need to make changes then we will discuss it but now is not the time.
All I want to do is play some guilt free golf.
We will not be changing #5. I like it the way it is.

Look at it this way, instead of a short touch shot to the first landing area, it would involve a medium length touch shot to the first landing area. Being merely an option, the long teepad could be avoided by those who don't like it. Probably though many who think they don't like the idea would end up loving it.

Anywhew, Fred has pointed out that there is a lot of other grooming work the course needs before such ideas are entertained. (actually he shot the idea for a long teepad on 5 dead, but hey...) :)

Matthew Orum was a candidate last year, keith Warren was a pro long before me, took cash when he was like 16, The only guy tearing it up is Pete middlecamp.

I recommend filing a police report. Let's let the police know our parks are being ripped off by losers. It's even worse when the item was donated by a member of the community for the benefit of all and some punk with a myopic ego puts his dirty fingerprints all over it.

I am so sick of some people whining about one of the best courses I've ever played!!! If you are gonna complain about such a caliber course, try putt putt or something!!!!!

Idlewild is a tight course but that's the whole point of it. It's not as open as Mt Airy or banklick may be but it's still a nice challenging course to play.

To all Adopt a holees: It looks like this weekend will be a good time to work on your hole. Rob and I will probably be slinging gravel and possibly building bridges. Come out if you get a chance.
Kent Stultz has been kicking butt taking out honeysuckle and stickers on his hole(#13). It looks great. This is the best time of year to do that because the ground is wet and the honeysuckle comes out pretty easy.
Who's with me.
We will probably play a round after a few hours of work. Meet around 10:30 at the back parking lot by the pile of gravel.

Fred built a bridge to the long pin (across the pond) for hole 2. It is definitely a great upgrade. Thanks for your tireless work Fred.
If anyone should feel they have done their share and can let others do the work its you, and yet you seem to be one of the few, if not the only one, moving mountains...

I think legions of golfers would agree Fred is a legend.

Great ideas and excitement abound. NEngle what is the report on stump removal to date? I have been thinking about taking on this task and have ideas which could make the job easy and rewarding on said matter. Freddy Salsa I say kudos to your fine work and your motivational tactics are indeed of championship nature and a leader you are good man. We should unite and stay the course and do away with those who try to foil our efforts like the pariah the ferret and not fall to the evil of pansy uncertainty! I will devote all my energy and due time to keeping away vandals the theives alike. Concerned here! When I get back in town I will attack the tasks at hand. I have to run changing brake and window washing fluids.....dirt and filth. Nengle stay in touch please F. Salsa good day! As always "Let those sweet babies soar"...Im' out!

No problem Fred. I guess others just didn't want to get in the way of the huge work crew of 2 people which we comprised :) can you think of any other reasons why practicly noone ever shows up to help you on course improvements at Idlewild? A sense of entitlement? Are they all just users? Lazy? They hate the course? Do we smell bad? :) Just think of what could be accomplished if everyone who plays the courses donated just 8 hours of their time a year helping take care of and improve them ... meanwhile ever year you spend hundreds of volunteer hours working like no other that i am aware of ...

I am thinking on all the adopt-a-hole signs you should put:

"Born and raised by Fred Salaz; Adopted by [insert name here]"