How can you work out how fast greens are running?

[Teebs]

For me, 10 is the absolute limit of what is enjoyable when there's any level of slope. I really can't imagine what 12-14 must feel like..

When ours are 10, you can't leave yourself above the hole at all. The 1st slopes severely from back to front, leave yourself above the hole and you'll do exceptionally well not to 3 putt.

 

[Backache]

Might be wrong but I read somewhere that typical UK club greens tend to have bigger slopes than tour greens so they can't run them as fast, plus the maintenance cost of fast greens is very high and even then the greens are run extra fast for the tour events and can't be maintained at that pace for general play..

When the greens are very fast the ball will not rest on a slope over 2%

 

[wjemather]

The vast majority of clubs claiming 10+ feet aren't using their stimpmeter correctly.

 

[Jigger]

And that’s the main reason most clubs don’t post it - they don’t have consistent enough quality of greens.

Generally, when an average player thinks the greens are running fast they are probably just about reaching 9.

They can change day to day too. Depends how often they can cut them.

 

[rulefan]

Green speed and cut length are obviously closely related. The problem is that many species of turf grasses can't tolerate very close mowing. Clubs often suffer with weed 'infections' and stressed, patchy turf if they pressure the green keeper to 'get the speed up'
The traditional grass used on most older golf course greens is Poa Annua and this has a notoriously poor reputation. Bents and Fescues are far better in this country.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Every so often my place will iron the greens. Speed increases significantly on those days. They don't tell you when they've done it, it's a matter of hoping you don't putt first on the 1st green and watching what happens . Does this potentially damage the grass? They don't do it often and as are greens are relatively flat it's actually good fun when they do.

 

[rulefan]

Every so often my place will iron the greens. Speed increases significantly on those days. They don't tell you when they've done it, it's a matter of hoping you don't putt first on the 1st green and watching what happens . Does this potentially damage the grass? They don't do it often and as are greens are relatively flat it's actually good fun when they do.

Rolling shouldn't affect the grass condition unless it is overdone or in wet conditions. It is best done occasionally and can increase green speed without mowing too short. Generally, rolling a green is cheaper than mowing but is not an alternative.

 

[upsidedown]

Been reading all the comments with interest .
For the OP ,what I do is have a set routine for the practice green . I aim for a target around 20 feet away allowing for the speed from the last time I played and then calibrate it from there.
We used to have very good greens but slow and the previous HGK had all the excuses why they couldn't be quicker . Talking around 7 to 8 on the stimp, inherited a stimpmeter so as Director monitored them regularly.
He retired and we now have a young Course Manager who has them quick all year round , he uses liquid feeds fortnightly and in the season alternates cutting and ironing every day . For comps it's a cut and iron. Greens are very consistent throughout the course including the practice green,happy days
Now have speeds of 9.5 which is plenty fast enough.

 

[VVega]

Been reading all the comments with interest .
For the OP ,what I do is have a set routine for the practice green . I aim for a target around 20 feet away allowing for the speed from the last time I played and then calibrate it from there.
We used to have very good greens but slow and the previous HGK had all the excuses why they couldn't be quicker . Talking around 7 to 8 on the stimp, inherited a stimpmeter so as Director monitored them regularly.
He retired and we now have a young Course Manager who has them quick all year round , he uses liquid feeds fortnightly and in the season alternates cutting and ironing every day . For comps it's a cut and iron. Greens are very consistent throughout the course including the practice green,happy days
Now have speeds of 9.5 which is plenty fast enough.

Sounds like the greens care regime most of us can only dream of. Our club acquired an iron machine a few years back. Have seen it used once

 

[jim8flog]

I hear people saying the green is running at a 10.

So how do they know?
How is it officially measured?
What’s a 10 mean ?

What’s a 10 mean ?

This is a very good point.
Would the average golfer really be able to tell the difference between 9,10,11?

Where I play I know which green they use and that green can be very different to a lot of other greens on the course.

 

[garyinderry]

Every so often my place will iron the greens. Speed increases significantly on those days. They don't tell you when they've done it, it's a matter of hoping you don't putt first on the 1st green and watching what happens . Does this potentially damage the grass? They don't do it often and as are greens are relatively flat it's actually good fun when they do.

RCD do it in the morning and the evening.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

RCD do it in the morning and the evening.

Why would they do it in the evening? Is that not the time to let the grass recover? (Clearly I'm not a greenkeeper by the way)

 

[garyinderry]

Why would they do it in the evening? Is that not the time to let the grass recover? (Clearly I'm not a greenkeeper by the way)

I'm not a greenkeepr either. Whatever their process is it works. They are pure and they are quick.

 

[Deleted member 30853]

10 is about what they are in the open championship. Doubt many clubs are that quick. Trueness is more important than speed for me

 

[wjemather]

 

[Imurg]

This, for me, confirms what I posted earlier.....speeds are irrelevant to 99% of players.
The difference between fast and slow is the length of your driver...
The vast majority of golfers can't control their putts within a 2 foot distance either side of the hole unless they're putting from less than 10 feet....
My advice?
Forget about them - practice on the practice green to get the speed ( assuming it mirrors the course greens)

 

[HampshireHog]

We are hosting an open qualifier this year the only stipulation we have from the R&A is that the greens must be running at 12.

Will we get them that fast was our groups question, apparently we will have to slow them down.

 

[Deleted member 30853]

We are hosting an open qualifier this year the only stipulation we have from the R&A is that the greens must be running at 12.

Will we get them that fast was our groups question, apparently we will have to slow them down.

That's very doubtful tbh.

 

[HampshireHog]

That's very doubtful tbh.

I’m only relaying the conversation I had today, but feel free to call me a liar on it.

 

[Deleted member 30853]

I’m only relaying the conversation I had today, but feel free to call me a liar on it.

Not calling you a liar I just think someone has been misinformed. I might be wrong just find it doubtful you have almost Augusta speed greens in April.