Are they really fair?

[Imurg]

Some of the greens at Augusta I mean..

We've seen down the years at 13,14 and 16 to name just 3 where a really good shot into the green catches the slope and disappears to the far end of the course.

I know its the only real defence that the course has but sometimes you wonder what sadist thought them up. It can't be fun pitching a ball within 3 or 4 feet of the pin only to watch it roll 90 feet away down a slope that wouldn't look out of place in the Alps.
I remember a US Open a few years ago. Monty's caddie said that on one hole if you placed a ball 2 feet beyond the flag the weight of the ball would take it down the slope and off the green.
Is that fair? And I know golf's not meant to be fair and these guys are the best but......

And PM's eagle on the 14th? A bit more spin and 4 inches one side or the other and he'd have been in 3 putt territory

 

[JustOne]

They are very fair, you know what is going to happen and the roll is true - what more can you want from a green?

The new grooves certainly seem to help! Not so many spinning back off the greens at 1,00000000 miles per hour.


I know in the Summer I won't be able to hold a ball on the right side of our 5th green unless it lands stone dead... it's not Augusta but the green plays just like the 16th does.

 

[CliveW]

I never saw this before Yesterday, but I suppose it does sum up the speed of the greens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhrjvmM5fQo

 

[jammydodger]

I dont see them as a problem tbh , after all these are the very best players in the world. Do you want to see a pitch and putt contest to decide a major winner ? I dont and I like to see all facets of the game tested to find the best player on a certain week.

The margin for error is just smaller and that makes them focus in on the landing area. I think its great to see them working for par and having to play great shots not just good ones.

 

[CannyFifer]

I think I'd enjoy massive greens, must be easier to hit

 

[RGDave]

I think I'd enjoy massive greens, must be easier to hit

easy to hit (some) and easy to 3 putt.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think its something you have to learn at Augusta. Every green and every flag placement has an optimium landing area. Granted in most cases these are normally 2ft x 2ft but that is where the pros are shooting for and if they hit the mark they get the reward. Miss it and it'll roll away from the pin. I think its a course that rewards patience as much as a good swing

 

[viscount17]

I can't understand why the pro's (most of them) seem to have only one way into a green, hit past the pin with masses of backspin - even if you know its on a down slope.
rarely see anyone hitting below the pin and running it up.