Its all about the greens......

[Macster]

I was very fortunate last weekend to be taken down to Spain to visit & experience the fantastic Finca Cortesin Hotel & Golf resort, new home of the Volvo World Matchplay event, and whilst down there, I added on a day to hop across and also play at another awesome Golf resort called Arcos Gardens, near Jerez.

I'll post a full write-up/review in the review section, but just wanted to comment on the experience of playing on greens that actually hold a shot !

My own course greens arent bad, in fact, they're very good, but they do tend to get quite firm, and you have to allow for some roll-out, even with Wedges that bite. But, imo, they should throw a helluva lot more water on them so your ball can actually stop !

The greens at both Finca & Arcos were awesome, and slick as hell, but you could at least play your iron's in to them knowing that a full shot would stop very quickly as soon as it pitched.
That kind of confidence in the green surface is very inspiring to your shots in, and leaves me wishing that the greens in the UK were as receptive !

Is it about the grass, or more the amount of water they throw onto the surface ?

Or are your greens far more receptive ?

 

[Matty]

There's a pay and play near me that's like putting on marble! Getting the ball onto the green at all without it rolling through is the challenge of the course.

 

[BrianDamage]

Just lay up to the bunker like I do

 

[viscount17]

is it just grass and water or is it what's beneath the grass?
how many courses have actually 'built' greens rather than planting a type of grass and nuturing it.

if it were just water we should be quids in, we get a lot more than Spain.

 

[greensman]

I am somewhat of a purest when it comes to greens. I much prefer natural golf. The firmer the better, when the sun comes out and the ground becomes firm I can play the game as it was intended. Then when it rains I have to play ‘target golf’.

It is understandable that many golfers prefer to play on ‘holding’ predictable greens. It makes golf easier and eliminates that unlucky bounce from a quirky bump often found on firm greens.

Lush target greens are easier to play, they are fertilised and heavily watered by the greenkeeper to compliment the average golfer who hasn’t the skill to play, what I would call Real Golf. Having greens that the ball stops dead is in IMHO boring, not having to bounce onto the green through the apron, with that skilful ‘bump and run’ shot is eliminated. These conditions are also liked by some golfers who want easier golf with the ball sitting up and stopping quickly without having to learn how to impart backspin on a firm tight lie.
We have some of the very best courses in the UK, they are envied throughout the world because they are natural and they present a different challenge with every change in the weather.

Thanks

 

[USER1999]

Can I second what Greensman said above.

 

[Imurg]

Having greens that the ball stops dead is in IMHO boring, not having to bounce onto the green through the apron, with that skilful ‘bump and run’ shot is eliminated.

I can agree with this as long as you don't have to pitch 50 yards short and try to bounce it up.

 

[chris661]

I am somewhat of a purest when it comes to greens. I much prefer natural golf. The firmer the better, when the sun comes out and the ground becomes firm I can play the game as it was intended. Then when it rains I have to play ‘target golf’.

It is understandable that many golfers prefer to play on ‘holding’ predictable greens. It makes golf easier and eliminates that unlucky bounce from a quirky bump often found on firm greens.

Lush target greens are easier to play, they are fertilised and heavily watered by the greenkeeper to compliment the average golfer who hasn’t the skill to play, what I would call Real Golf. Having greens that the ball stops dead is in IMHO boring, not having to bounce onto the green through the apron, with that skilful ‘bump and run’ shot is eliminated. These conditions are also liked by some golfers who want easier golf with the ball sitting up and stopping quickly without having to learn how to impart backspin on a firm tight lie.
We have some of the very best courses in the UK, they are envied throughout the world because they are natural and they present a different challenge with every change in the weather.

Thanks

I play almost all of my golf at the seaside! Where even this week the greens have been getting a lot slicker, on most shots the ball will relase and you have to account for that, however when you catch an iron VERY well the ball will stop quickly, and for me thats the way I like it

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Played at Pyrford yesterday and they had some very quick greens. A bit bobbly in places but a great speed and considering it's a play and pay (part of Crown Golf) they are in good condition

 

[Deanpp]

I am somewhat of a purest when it comes to greens. I much prefer natural golf. The firmer the better, when the sun comes out and the ground becomes firm I can play the game as it was intended. Then when it rains I have to play ‘target golf’.

It is understandable that many golfers prefer to play on ‘holding’ predictable greens. It makes golf easier and eliminates that unlucky bounce from a quirky bump often found on firm greens.

Lush target greens are easier to play, they are fertilised and heavily watered by the greenkeeper to compliment the average golfer who hasn’t the skill to play, what I would call Real Golf. Having greens that the ball stops dead is in IMHO boring, not having to bounce onto the green through the apron, with that skilful ‘bump and run’ shot is eliminated. These conditions are also liked by some golfers who want easier golf with the ball sitting up and stopping quickly without having to learn how to impart backspin on a firm tight lie.
We have some of the very best courses in the UK, they are envied throughout the world because they are natural and they present a different challenge with every change in the weather.

Thanks

I usually play golf at home.............










_______________________
discount golf clubs

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Having greens that the ball stops dead is in IMHO boring, not having to bounce onto the green through the apron, with that skilful ‘bump and run’ shot is eliminated

Here we go again Having greens where the ball stops dead is only boring if you don't have the skill to make it stop dead close to the hole. Being able to control the yardages you can consistently hit your irons is one of the hardest skills in golf and hard ground removes that skill. I appreciate there is a place for both types of shot but give me a receptive green any day.

I would go as far as to say hard ground removes the skill, it is easier to get on or close to a green on hard ground purely because all you have to do is get the thing moving forward in the greens' general direction, I've lost count of the number of players I play with in the summer who get the ball close to greens without even hitting a decent shot. On softer ground you actually have to be able to hit a proper golf shot the proper distance, if you hit it fat, it gets nowhere near the green, if you hit it short, you stop short. To get the ball on the green or near the hole you have to be able to hit the ball properly and hit it the required distance.

But I guess that's what's great about this game, it's all about opinions and at the end of the day, they don't draw pictures on scorecards

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I'm considering leaving my club as the greens are proper unresponsive and it winds me up!!!

I played a week last Sunday - I was on the 10th. I had 120 yards into the green - a green that is raised at the back so it's the perfect angle to hold an approach shot. I flushed a 9 iron - middle of the green. A good green, in my opinion, would have held this shot. This green has similar properties to concrete - hence my ball careered off the back. One of the guys in my three ball had about 100 yards in, he hits a more lofted club. Once again, flushes it - hits the middle of the green - rolls off the back.

That, to me, isn't fair. If you've done the hard work and hit a good shot into the middle of the green it should hold. Apparently our greenkeeper refuses to water the greens as he says they should be 'hard and fast'.

Do the top courses adop this same mantra??? Does St Andrews avoid watering their greens??? The Belfry???

 

[RGDave]

I would go as far as to say hard ground removes the skill, it is easier to get on or close to a green on hard ground purely because all you have to do is get the thing moving forward in the greens' general direction, I've lost count of the number of players I play with in the summer who get the ball close to greens without even hitting a decent shot. On softer ground you actually have to be able to hit a proper golf shot the proper distance, if you hit it fat, it gets nowhere near the green, if you hit it short, you stop short. To get the ball on the green or near the hole you have to be able to hit the ball properly and hit it the required distance.

But I guess that's what's great about this game, it's all about opinions and at the end of the day, they don't draw pictures on scorecards

Interesting observations. There are some links players on here who see links as superior. I agree, except in one way, and that is sort of linked to what you say above, but not actually for full shots. On full shots on a links, you need to take into account running the ball into greens unless you are a great player with immaculate spin (or it's short!). Parkland is more "target" - neither is superior to the other. i.m.o.
BUT around the greens, there are things you can get away with on links but not around a course like mine. Texas wedges, 20 yard 7 iron chip n runs...all part of the game, mostly un-usable on a lush parkland.

 

[TonyN]

The greens at my place up untill this year were almost impossible to hold with anything less than a wedge. Annoying when you hit a perfect 8 and see it bounce through the back.

This year they are much better and are holding alot. Much prefere putting for my birdie when I find the middle rather than chipping back on to save par!

I'm not even interested in back spin, just a bounce and check up.