Playing on iced greens

[donutwheels]

Played today at my club. Obviously the greens were frozen solid. Played several approaches with my wedges perfectly into the centre of the green from a steep angle of attack only to see them bounce off the green.

Any tips on minimising this score damaging effect? Assuming hazard in front of the green and not much to work with in front?

 

[Doh]

I know what you mean cruel aint it. Try taking a bit more club and run your approch in.

 

[brendy]

If you were playing on proper greens then your greenkeeper/course committee needs their arse kicked. Playing on frozen greens damages the grass and takes a fair amount of time to recover.
As for playing on frozen temps, you can only do your best everyone has the same problems. Maybe instead of going for flags you could go left or right and have the shorter pitch/putt from the side than chipping back up to the green fgrom being long.

 

[CarpeDiem]

Just play bump and runs, as you't score as well as you would on normal greens. Or just take less club and bounce it on, depending on the size of the temps.

 

[HTL]

If you were playing on proper greens then your greenkeeper/course committee needs their arse kicked. Playing on frozen greens damages the grass and takes a fair amount of time to recover.

How? Whenever I have hit the green the ball has just bounced off with hardly leaving a mark. What does it do?

 

[Parmo]

Played last weekend and they where like concrete, totally pointless, in fact I was getting my first card marked and ended up with 106 on SSS65!! I have not shot that since starting, I was going to practice this weekend but that also seems pointless as the pitching green is bad and the frosted grass steals balls.

I shall start playing when the wife kicks me out to play or the course is in a playable condiction.

 

[madandra]

Bump and run is the only way to get it there.

 

[Imurg]

Any tips on minimising this score damaging effect? Assuming hazard in front of the green and not much to work with in front?

Yep.

Don't bother playing!! if you start to change your game to compensate for abnormal conditions like these you stand the chance of making those changes a part of your game - then when it thaws up you've got to change back

 

[SammmeBee]

If you were playing on proper greens then your greenkeeper/course committee needs their arse kicked. Playing on frozen greens damages the grass and takes a fair amount of time to recover.

Sorry but this is the lazy greenkeepers answer.....some very new courses with certain sand based greens this may be the case but any damage is generally done when the greens are thawing and the earth/sand is moving.....but for old fashioned greens it's just greenkeeper waffle and saves them some work....

 

[Robobum]

I still think it's enjoyable and presents a different challenge.

Donut - If I can't run it in I'm looking for the best place to miss the green for the easiest chip

 

[CarpeDiem]

I'm looking for the best place to miss the green for the easiest chip

At the front so it bounces on, but ideally you want it to be trickling on so you havn't got to be chipping back on.

 

[Parmo]

I was speaking to a golfing veteran who is a good mate, he has always said you need at least 4 types of game to play golf well rain, dry, ice and wind.

I just don't see the fun in getting frozen and watching a beautiful 50 yard flop shot heading for the pin bouce 20 yards right and over the back of the green or when you think you got the cut of the jist of the greens putt half way lol.

 

[Robobum]

I'm looking for the best place to miss the green for the easiest chip

At the front so it bounces on, but ideally you want it to be trickling on so you havn't got to be chipping back on.

JC read it again, it says if I CAN'T run it on. So, if there is an obstruction on my path to the pin the easiest chip may be a straight one from 20yds left instead of the one from 5yds right

 

[Herbie]

Try pitch and run or lazy punch with a longer iron to keep it low and run it up. Its always a good idea to try all sorts of shots out of the norm as it improves your skill with clubs, inspires confidence and makes your game more flexible. I could introduce you to a few courses where the greens are small and hard all year round and lofted shots to the green dont always work.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My initial reaction is why bother when it is so cold and frozen especially with the greens frozen. My advice would be to play the running shot as others have described but if you can't get onbecause of an obstruction at the front I'd play to leave a shot from the wider side (don't short side yourself) so that there is more room for the ball to skid and bounce.

I'm sure greenkeeper had the definitive reason for not playing on here a few months ago and it had something to do with root damage and not being able to reapir and sustain as the weather and light was too poor to allow growth.

 

[brendy]

Have a read, I read this a year or two ago and it tells you exactly why playing on frozen greens is bad.
Last week there were trolley marks down the middles of our fairways and it looked like someone had singed straight lines down them, when looking at them closely there was no mud or track marks just neat lines of damaged grass. For the sake of playing on frozen greens or having playable greens when the weather starts to turn back, id rather wait and enjoy the good stuff. I dont particularly like playing on temp greens but it is just a bit of fun in the winter when you are off a single figure as the big handicappers rule the off season.
http://www.usga.org/turf/articles/other/winter_play/playing_par.html

 

[DCB]

"Once temperatures allow thawing to a depth of three to four inches, the probability of turf damage declines since about 75 percent of the root system is in the upper four inches of soil."

We've got frost around 4"-5" into the ground at the moment, so the thaw that is due at the end of the week will not have time to fully thaw the gound in time for the weekend. Temps again probably for the brave !

Interesting read. I've always advocated keeping greens off in bad winter conditions anyway. I'd far rather have a nice putting surface early in the season instead.

" In most cases, informing golfers of suspended play due to frozen greens is inadequate and sounds more like an excuse than a reason."

Aha- is this a case of " greenkeeper waffle " ? Wait a minute, there's more...

"However, if care is taken to educate members through a seminar, newsletter in the golf shop, or a handout distributed directly, it will help members understand exactly what happens when foot traffic is placed on frozen and partially frozen putting surfaces, and it also informs them of winter traffic damage to the turf in general. Perhaps most important of all, it gives the membership, through the green committee, the opportunity to decide if alternative winter greens should be provided and are economically justified under their conditions."

All makes perfect sense really.

 

[HTL]

Good stuff brendy, interesting read. Almost makes me feel bad for slagging off winter greens but I wouldn't be a golfer if I didnt. And pitch marks and unprepared divots and slow play and the weather and the youngsters at the club.

 

[Herbie]

I love the way forum threads drift, the question asked alternative ways to play to icy greens, now its phd in lawn care Im not knocking it as its interesting I just find the diversion funny.

 

[pigmeister]

Playing golf this weather should be treated as a bit of fun and exercise. It can also be very good for sharpening up your short game. Pitch and running your wedge,or any club, in from 70yds in can be very satisfieing. Learning distance control, how to control your swing to hit high and low shots. I know you get some strange bounces but thats part of winter golf, not to be taken to seriously. If you want to try and stop the ball on firm greens try playing it a bit further back in your stance and punch it in, hopefully with abit of backspin on it to keep it on the green.