How best to deal with a double green?

For the first time recently I came across a double green - the 14th and 16th holes at a local par 3 course (very challenging from the back tees).  There was a ridge between the two "halves" of the very large green and it took me a while to realize what was going on as I stood on the 14th tee but I was able to see both of the pins.  Noone was on the 16th hole when I played the 14th, but when I got to the 16th tee a group of four young guys was on the 14th and had aimed at the wrong part of the green - they were actually playing to the 16th pin!  They were a nice group of guys - I found it rather amusing but tried not to show it too much.  I was playing alone as it happens.  I gently pointed out the pin that they were supposed to be playing - the one nearer their tee box - two of them had very very long putts.  How they managed not to notice the nearer pin I don't know and didn't ask ......

I suppose you just have to be careful when hitting into a double green to be sure 1) that you're going for the correct pin, and 2) that you don't hit an approach shot into a group putting on the other hole.

Does anyone have any comments or thoughts on playing double greens?  In 10 years of playing golf here in San Diego and elsewhere I think this is the first time I've encountered one.  This par 54 course was recently built in a beautiful wetland area in north Escondido and I'm sure they had good reason to set it up like this.  I had a very pleasant day despite losing a few balls into the wilderness and disturbing the odd egret ....

I've encountered double greens a number of times and they are usually massive and the pin you are shooting at is pretty obvious. Never played St. Andrews, but I understand there are seven double greens shared by holes with numbers adding up to 18 (2nd paired with 16th, 3rd with 15th, all the way up to 8th and 10th).

You must be talking about Reidy Creek.   Funny how those guys somehow missed seeing the shorter pin.

In our SD area, Aviara also has a double green (12 & 15 I think), and I recall Carmel Mtn Ranch also had a double between 9 and 18.      The double green at Aviara has a shape to it that visually separates the two parts and slope that makes the parts pretty distinct, but it is kind of disconcerting to feel like 8 people are putting on the same green.    It's pretty funny to look at a GPS and have it tell you "Front 158, Middle 197, Back 226".     It's also amusing to accidentally blade an approach shot onto a double green and find yourself on the back of the green facing a 200 foot putt.

I've only seen it once on a real short pitch and putt course. There you don't want to be on the green, or anywhere near it, when someone is hitting towards it.

You guessed it - I played Reidy Creek for the first time earlier this week. Very nice, I'll be back. I don't think Carmel Mtn Ranch has one now, hopefully I'd have noticed! :-) Interesting to hear that St. Andrew's has some double greens. I played there as a teenager - and a complete novice - and don't remember them. Then again all I really remember is hacking my way around those famed links - what a waste!