How To Play On Poor Quality Greens...all advise welcome
- Thread starter 3PuttCharlie
- Start date
londonlewis
Tour Rookie
in my opinion (as well as Dave Pelz and David Ledbetter) breaking your wrists isn't the answer.
you control distance in putting by controlling the length of your putting stroke. but keep the timing the same (1 second back, 1 second to complete), don't use wrist break as this will produce an inconsitent result.
titleistkid
Club Champion
I reckon the key is to play sensibly, take into account where the pins are, try to give yourself the correct angles into greens on 4s and 5s and don't shoot at sucker pins (there will be plenty for the Club Champs) people will make bogeys due to the conditions so par golf is a good strategy. there is no neeed to be super conservative i.e irons off tees but play to your strengths i.e do what you have to do to keep it in play.
Ours was a couple of weeks ago and course was similar to yours, my gameplan was to make myself hard to beat rather than try to shoot the lights out and by my own admission I putted poorly all week from 15ft in, barely holed anything but concentrated on pace so that I was given a lot of 2nd putts- played 35 par 3s in the week and didn't make a single 2 but hit a lot of greens and as a result made a lot of pars and few bogeys which was good enough in the end.
Ours was a couple of weeks ago and course was similar to yours, my gameplan was to make myself hard to beat rather than try to shoot the lights out and by my own admission I putted poorly all week from 15ft in, barely holed anything but concentrated on pace so that I was given a lot of 2nd putts- played 35 par 3s in the week and didn't make a single 2 but hit a lot of greens and as a result made a lot of pars and few bogeys which was good enough in the end.
3PuttCharlie
Assistant Pro
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
Yep.... that shocked me. It takes about 5 minutes to sweep that crap off the surface. I feel your pain.
Birchy
Money List Winner
Go as far to say as I would rather not bother playing golf at all.
Robobum
Money List Winner
Ooooft!!! Were they actually doing that maintenance whilst you were playing or is that a day or so after they finished?
Can you mention where it is so we can avoid ever going there??
appalling- lazy greenkeeping
Foxholer
Blackballed
That appears to be top-dressing - that has been applied to tined areas - I say areas as, if it's a green in the first pic, it's huge!
Is the maintenance actually happening at the time? Or within half a day? Looks like the maintenance is still ongoing - as the Tining has been done and the T/D has been 'spread' but not yet swept. Most clubs close at least 9 holes while this sort of work is happening and holes are often unplayable for a day or so after the work.
Just remember that without such maintenance, the greens would be no better than a well mown back lawn all year round!
Is the maintenance actually happening at the time? Or within half a day? Looks like the maintenance is still ongoing - as the Tining has been done and the T/D has been 'spread' but not yet swept. Most clubs close at least 9 holes while this sort of work is happening and holes are often unplayable for a day or so after the work.
Just remember that without such maintenance, the greens would be no better than a well mown back lawn all year round!
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
Yes well said Foxholer.
It is good to see that many clubs will now close for this important work to happen.
The Naesayers and Weerie Willies are so be quick to complain.
How much more would they complain if the course closed for a week we will never know.
Wrong time of year to be doing this sort of work. Should have been done at the end of August.
But I am certain that the OP's club would never have allowed it to be actioned then. [Because of the Naesayers...vicious circle]
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
I Played at Forest of Arden earlier this year, and although nowhere near as bad as these pictures I thought the greens were awful.
Rather than ruin what little confidence I had by missing lots of little putts, after 9 holes I just played my ball to the green then picked it up.
If I had to play a comp on them I'd be tempted to get a wedge out.
Rather than ruin what little confidence I had by missing lots of little putts, after 9 holes I just played my ball to the green then picked it up.
If I had to play a comp on them I'd be tempted to get a wedge out.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
If only my putting was good enough to 1) cope with, and 2) take advantage of, perfect greens. But I'm working on it. Meanwhile I generally accept the surface of the green whatever it is and try and get my stroke, line and length as good as I can. What happens after I hit it I have no control over and have to accept whatever outcome is my fate or good fortune.
garyinderry
Ryder Cup Winner
I was shown pictures at the weekend of Bolton old links in a similar state. they two fellas said it was awful to play on.
they were fantastic at the start of the summer. the fastest greens I came across all summer.
I suppose it just a necessary evil. the pics looks liked drainage work to me.
they were fantastic at the start of the summer. the fastest greens I came across all summer.
I suppose it just a necessary evil. the pics looks liked drainage work to me.
srixon 1
Journeyman Pro
Only thing missing are the sheep
Unfortunately this work has to be done. Missed a comp today 'cause our greens have just been done and are still too slow and bumpy for confident putting.
Unfortunately this work has to be done. Missed a comp today 'cause our greens have just been done and are still too slow and bumpy for confident putting.
Personally I'd be aiming for the centre of every green. If you aim for the front edge I can't see it bouncing miles through in the present conditions and to be honest if you can get it on the middle of the putting surface you'll never be miles from the hole
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
We had our green slit tined about two amnd a bit weeks ago - and boy were the moaning minnies moaning at how poorly they had been done - blah, blah. I spoke with a couple of visitors yesterday after they had played and they were saying how fantastic the greens were - yes - they are pretty darned good again. Not as good as before but hey. The same sort of treatment for 15yrs and we have moved our greens from being great over summer but pretty awful over the winter especially after any rain - to pretty great or nearly great all year - with only poor periods being immediately after the greens are done.
El Bandito
Q-School Graduate
I'd say - play conservatively and with a sense of humour. Enjoy the walk.
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
That's it - just get your ball onto the middle of the green in your regulation (nett). If your hole your first putt - great - but look to get it within 3ft of the hole at which distances you can take out any 'green quality issues' with a firm and confident putt into the middle of the hole for you nett par. Job done.
Doon frae Troon
Ryder Cup Winner
3PC
Is that a picture of the course that used to play on artificial grass greens?
Is that a picture of the course that used to play on artificial grass greens?
Stuey01
Journeyman Pro
It's been course maintenance week at my club this week. It's in calendar, everyone knows about it, and it needs to be done. Playing tomorrow and shan't worry about making any putts.
We have the best greens around this area so it's well worth it.
We have the best greens around this area so it's well worth it.
