Soft or Hard greens?

[HawkeyeMS]

Tis true - Brent Valley near me have the clubhouse and practice putting green at the top of a hill, the rest of the course bar 2 greens are at the bottom of the hill, hence very different putting surfaces.

Although, at Brent Valley, that's the least of their problems...

I'm not entirely sure Brent Valley is a good example, the place is a goat track

 

[MegaSteve]

I'm not entirely sure Brent Valley is a good example, the place is a goat track

It provides a good day out for many who may not be in a position to afford better...

 

[RGDave]

It provides a good day out for many who may not be in a position to afford better...

Yes. I played there on my student grant.

Those were the days.

 

[Heidi]

soft!!

 

[6inchcup]

i prefer fast hard greens,these sort the better player from the others who get lucky if hitting into a soft receptive green with a less than glorious shot,it also tests who has a good short game as well as course management,as for putting the faster the better,this again sorts the wheat from the chaff and soon finds out those with a dodgy putting stroke or nervous tendencies.

 

[Ethan]

Firm and fast, so long as the course is one designed to suit such conditions.

 

[Oddsocks]

As long as they are consistent (well reasonably) and you know you've got to fly it all the way or allow for it to bounce and run up, for me it doesn't matter hard or soft. Similar with the putting speed consistency goes a long way in this game - as long as they are true you can make adjustments!

I'm in this camp, although if I could pick slightly softer would be my choice

 

[CMAC]

Played Kingsbarnes yesterday, superfast and very firm greens.

The single fig guys with prov1's or similar hit the green and stopped in a couple of bounces.

20 handicapper with hard ball ran through 9 times out of 10.

 

[6inchcup]

Played Kingsbarns yesterday, superfast and very firm greens.

The single fig guys with prov1's or similar hit the green and stopped in a couple of bounces.

20 handicapper with hard ball ran through 9 times out of 10.

and the problem is?????????

 

[Tommo21]

and the problem is?????????

Not hard to work out if you run through.............hard and fast anytime.

 

[CMAC]

and the problem is?????????

read the OP again to see I'm answering the question <rolledeyessmiley>

 

[6inchcup]

read the OP again to see I'm answering the question <rolledeyessmiley>

you missed my point,if you read my original post that is what i was referring to,softer more receptive greens bring the advantage of being able to strike the ball crisper and getting it to check down to the hit and hope brigade that will get a plug or pitch mark to help the ball stay on the green,if you were playing in a comp against higher h/c golfers how would you like the greens to be if you were a better player?

 

[CMAC]

you missed my point,if you read my original post that is what i was referring to,softer more receptive greens bring the advantage of being able to strike the ball crisper and getting it to check down to the hit and hope brigade that will get a plug or pitch mark to help the ball stay on the green,if you were playing in a comp against higher h/c golfers how would you like the greens to be if you were a better player?

cant you strike it crisper for firm greens as well?

however, I know what you are saying, but if they would all fix their divots then its a moot point

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Fundamental point being missed.

You can only really achieve backspin from a firm green as the ball spins on the second bounce. Assuming that the ball is hit from a closely cropped fairway.

A plugged ball is not backspin. A ball hit to a soft green will usually break the turf on the first bounce and then top spin will take over. Soft green = poor green.

A good green is one that you have to search around a bit to find your pitch mark, no matter how wet it is.
A poor green is one where you can see your pitch mark from 50 yards away.