Hard or soft conditions.

[haplesshacker]

We've had a mixed bag of weather recently, what with concreate like fairways and greens, straight to flooded, soggy fairways and greens. Okay, so these are extreme examples.

I was interested in what type of surfaces, folks prefer playing on, or play better on. Hard and fast or soft and slow?

Personally, I prefer hard and fast, and generally play better on them.

 

[DelB]

Maybe hard is too strong an adjective. I seem to play my best game when the ground is 'firm'. I certainly don't like soft conditions, as you don't get any great distance on woods or long irons and even cheap, hard balls can plug.

 

[Twire]

I like a little give underfoot.......you know, firm but with lush grass. I prefere the greens to be receptive. Nothing worse than firing in a cracking shot, only to see it bounce and fly through the green.

If we have a long hot summer this year, I think I'm going to have to learn a new way of playing golf, as my present club is known for drying up in summer. Fortunatly the 2 years I've been a member, we've had a fair bit of rain through the summer, and the course has been superb.

 

[USER1999]

I like firm turf, but hard fast greens. Anyone can shoot at the pin when the greens are receptive, but it takes skill (and decent golf balls) to play firmer greens. I do like a decent lie though, not too close cut, especially for the flop shot.

 

[Beaker]

I don't mind either really although I seem to shoot better scores when its raining?! I like being able to just fire straight at the pins and so when its wet its easier to get the ball close.

That's not say I don't like playing on firm ground either, I quite like being able to really nip the ball.

If I had to pick the perfect conditions though I would probably say warm enough to wear a T-Shirt but raining!

 

[Dave3498]

I need hard conditions on the fairways just to get enough length off the tee. Not too bothered about the greens being receptive because I quite like a pitch and run shot to approach. I prefer to putt on fast greens so that I can make more of a stroke, rather than a hit.

 

[TonyN]

I need hard conditions on the fairways just to get enough length off the tee. Not too bothered about the greens being receptive because I quite like a pitch and run shot to approach. I prefer to putt on fast greens so that I can make more of a stroke, rather than a hit.

Can I just use this answer because its exactly what I was going to say

I like to be able to take a divot on the fairways but not dig a hole!

 

[Herbie]

Firm ground on the fairways is best for me as I assume it is for any golfer whos swing takes a natural divot with the irons. Too soft and you can get sucked in too deep with shots if not careful, if you dont have an alternate shot to compensate that is?

Receptive greens that give a chance of holding the ball give me good results, but I do like the challenge of hard postage stamp greens as they take a different method of play.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm not too fussed either way. If it is wet like it is now I just look at it as an equaliser. The long hitters aren't getting so far and because they invariably have lower handicaps than me they are forced to play longer clubs to try and hit the green. I know I won't get home on the long par 4's so I won't force it and I'll play for my 5 nett 4 and walk away

Similarly I like hard greens and running fairways as there is more thought required both off the tee and playing approaches. Being brought up on common land (Wimbledon Common) which was very dry in those glorious summers of the late 70's and early 80's I am pretty adept at the old pitch and run but more than happy to hit a high floater to land short and bounce on