Flat green or undulating?

[r11john]

Which do you like putting on? A flat green or one with slopes, borrows an a bit of crazy-ness thrown in?

 

[Evesdad]

For some strange reason I putt better on undulating greens.

 

[duncan mackie]

I learnt on basically flat surfaces (single planed) with at most a single slope.

This created a huge issue long term with my game relative to those that learnt on 'proper greens' - mainly those from Scotland!

 

[One Planer]

I'm yet to play on a flat green

I prefer undulating greens. I like the challenge of reading the break.

 

[palindromicbob]

Nothing beats chipping to within 6 inches. From there it doesn't really matter

Given the choice though I say I prefer to putt on flat greens but nothing beats sinking a long double breaker.

 

[Odvan]

Hate putting on flat greens, seems to highlight my putting flaws even more so....

 

[Andy808]

We have pretty boring greens with only subtle breaks on them other than one with is a single slope. I love playing on undulating greens as it's more of a challenge and you have to get the approach right for a short putt.

 

[Region3]

Not flat, but much prefer subtle breaks to silly ones.

Woodhall Spa is a good example. Love the Hotchkin greens but don't like the ones on the Bracken.

 

[tsped83]

Flat, Flat, Flat. Why choose harder? That said, all greens have some degree of break in, or at least ours do.

 

[Spark.]

Bit of both tbh.

 

[Foxholer]

Having learnt to putt properly on both flat-ish and 'buried elephant' greens, I don't have a preference,

Flat greens tend to show putting faults more clearly. Slopey/undulating greens make good lag (but not spot on accurate) putters look better than they (we!) really are!

A mixture of all types across the 18 holes is ideal imo.

 

[GeeTee]

much more satisfying holing a long putt on an undulating green

 

[ScienceBoy]

A good green must have both!

Flat is OK but not every green on the course.

I have seen some crazy undulating greens where there is barely a flat spot for a pin.

Nice tiers and big generally flat areas OR generally flat with some good subtle borrows or undulations.

NEVER tiers AND lots of borrow and undulation OR just one big slope from top to bottom.

 

[Rooter]

Like a few already a decent mix. Personally I would like a tough green on an 'easy' approach hole, and a flat green on a tricky hole, to balance out the challenge. When I get faced with tough approach and a tough green is where I start to card 7's etc...

 

[Robobum]

A lumpy green can be a lot easier to read as the slopes are plain and obvious to see.

It can sometimes be hard to accept the a putt is dead straight, you end up almost looking for some break that isn't there.

If there isn't a mixture of the two, or at least flat segments on undulating greens, then I'm thinking poor design.

 

[Matty]

I like a bit of both. It's nice to have a flat green somewhere in among a few bumpy ones so that you can make an easy read putt and move on after pondering the read on the last few.

 

[North Mimms]

A lumpy green can be a lot easier to read as the slopes are plain and obvious to see.

It can sometimes be hard to accept the a putt is dead straight, you end up almost looking for some break that isn't there.

If there isn't a mixture of the two, or at least flat segments on undulating greens, then I'm thinking poor design.

I find the same - if there isn't an obvious break, i'll invent one.
Then get surprised when the putt stays straight!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As long as the green keeper puts the hole in a fair position I don't mind.