Green Speeds

[backwoodsman]

We've got one of our big comps on today and we're told the greens have been measured at 11' 1" on the stimp. Just wondered where that rates in the general scheme of things? Is a stimp reading of 11 slow/average/fast or what? How do greens rate for your big events? Cheers

 

[Foxholer]

That's what I'd call very quick, but a speed I really like provided the greens are not buried elephant slopey - though that's the sort of greens I learned to putt on - Craigielaw's first year was 'fun'.

They won't seem incredibly fast as you hit the ball but, specially if they have been low 9s or less up until now, will seem to 'never stop'. And if your greens are fairly slopey, so normally cut to less than 9, it could be mayhem. Don't be frightened of them though. Think of any 3-4 footers (back) as 'normal' 2-footers.

I'm not a fan of Clubs that ramp up the green speed just for big comps as it distorts things imo. It favours those who can adapt quickly rather than those who are naturally 'good' or know the greens well - as there will be a lot more break than if the normal speed is 'medium'.

Spend a much higher proportion of your warm-up on the practice green - as long as it has been cut to that speed too! Smoothness of stroke is the key - don't quit on it! I'm playing today on a course that is consistently mid-high 10 and it's a pleasure to putt on tehm. Yesterday was on 11.5-12 (normally 10-ish) and the break on down-hillers was surprising!

Good Luck - and enjoy!

 

[Wayman]

Average is about 8 I would say
11 is very quick

To be honest you need greens true
Faster they are the easier it is to lose the quickness so they say

 

[guest100718]

I find on fast green the putts look good but take an extra foot or 2 to top rolling than usual

 

[Imurg]

11 is pretty quick.
Hope the greens are true otherwise it will be carnage..

 

[Wayman]

Average is about 8 I would say
11 is very quick

To be honest you need greens true
Faster they are the easier it is to lose the quickness so they say

What I meant to say was faster they are the easier to lose the trueness

 

[Foxholer]

What I meant to say was faster they are the easier to lose the trueness

Depends what you mean by 'trueness'. If greens are bumpy, then trueness is always going to be a problem. But if they are flat, then they will be true whatever speed you make them! I've played on absolute glass greens - shaved and 'ironed' that morning in preparation for a French Ladies Open 4 days later and 13+ - putted off the practice green! But they were perfectly true and amongst the 'best' greens I've played on - pleasure to aim, hit and watch run true (and drop!)!

 

[upsidedown]

Ours are 8 at the moment but now the meadow grass has finishing seeding the aim is to get them up to 10

 

[duncan mackie]

there's generally a right speed for most greens - and it's not necessarily the same for them all!

most players will describe it around the ball rolling, or rolling out; and it either does, or doesn't.

beyond that the overall shape of the greens, contours, shelves and slopes will all dictate the right speed - and after that the right pin positions become the next element in the equation to provide an appropriate challenge to a range of players. Once you have greens that are rolling well (9 will comfortably do that) it's really easy to adjust the overall playing difficulty through pin positions.

the practical combination of all of these factors is simply a way to adjust the target size to the audience; nothing more.

 

[upsidedown]

there's generally a right speed for most greens - and it's not necessarily the same for them all!

most players will describe it around the ball rolling, or rolling out; and it either does, or doesn't.

beyond that the overall shape of the greens, contours, shelves and slopes will all dictate the right speed - and after that the right pin positions become the next element in the equation to provide an appropriate challenge to a range of players. Once you have greens that are rolling well (9 will comfortably do that) it's really easy to adjust the overall playing difficulty through pin positions.

the practical combination of all of these factors is simply a way to adjust the target size to the audience; nothing more.

We had an apology from Greens Chairman this week for the very tricky pin positions last week :thup:

 

[Andy]

For most mere mortals I'd say it was quick but still puttable if you keep the heid.

We had a Pro Am last Friday @ Largs, greens were double cut and ironed on Thu night and Friday morning. Stimp was 12 but everyone raved about the condition and trueness.

For the West of Scotland they are a joy to putt on every week. Spoiled

 

[MarkHK]

Our green keeper sent this table out to all members yesterday and told us that ours are 8.2 at the moment.

USGA Stimp Table
Speed category
Ball-roll distance (ft)
MP TP
Slow 4.5 6.5
Medium-slow 5.5 7.5
Medium 6.5 8.5
Medium-fast 7.5 9.5
Fast 8.5 10.5

MP - Membership Play
TP -Tournament Play

 

[ManinBlack]

Our greens aren't terrifically fast but, last year, a non-golfer greenkeeper placed the pin in the dark on the par 3 first. He put it at the back on a steep upslope. Next day the competition was running half an hour late with people four & five putting. I didn't play but the next day I put my tee shot on the green & my mate bet me I wouldn't get a par. He was right, so I agree, pin positions are very important when the greens are fast.

 

[duncan mackie]

Our green keeper sent this table out to all members yesterday and told us that ours are 8.2 at the moment.

USGA Stimp Table
Speed category
Ball-roll distance (ft)
MP TP
Slow 4.5 6.5
Medium-slow 5.5 7.5
Medium 6.5 8.5
Medium-fast 7.5 9.5
Fast 8.5 10.5

MP - Membership Play
TP -Tournament Play

very interesting; seems to support my view that most overstate green speeds a fair bit!

we were around 8.25 and have a 3 year plan on greens work that should see us able to maintain 8.75 which is about right for the undulations and size of our greens. (to put that in perspective downhill puts on the greens with long slopes will run at 28-35 on the stimp at that speed but 15-18 at 8.25)

 

[3565]

Your lucky to have them that speed, I tested ours yesterday and are running at 9. Would like them to be faster.

 

[delc]

It's not only speed, but consistency that is important. It's a nightmare to play courses were the speed varies from green to green. At our course I know that the 5th green is usually much faster than the others and the 11th, which has some tree cover, is slower. These greens always seem to catch out visitors and our opponents in inter-club matches.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Turned up at the Grove a few years back and there was a sign saying today our greens are running at 11.4. Welcome! Putted the first one off the huge practice green. Funnily enough I putted poorly (pre Aimpoint) and was too scared to hit it with any conviction. 11 is definitely quick

 

[hovis]

We have a hole on the pga that when the flag is in the middle the ball can go past the flag and back to your feet (if not further). How's that golf?

 

[Foxholer]

I take my comment about Brocket Hall green speeds back.

Officially 9.5 which was plenty fast enough on the some of the slopes! Host hit to back left of 18th green and it meandered down the slope and off the green (just! otherwise it would have been wet!). Slightly slower than normal - because of the rain really - but a joy to putt on - 11 putts on the front! So 18 on the back was disappointing - especially 3-stabbing the last 2!

 

[Oddsocks]

We had ours running at 11 today, couple that with a new assist and head greens keeper trying to prove a point made for some interesting putts.

When I left someone had 7 putted our 16th from inside 10ft........ The guy keeper in question needs slapping with a wet fish!