New Greens

[Keysbear152]

I played a course today that had undergone renovations about a year ago. It was nearly impossible to get anything to stick on the greens. In casual conversation I mentioned it to the attendant in the clubhouse after the round and he said that he hears that alot and it is because the greens are new. Is that really a thing? I have never heard that before..

[shanksalot]

I suspect that is true. About twenty years ago I played a new course and I had a dickens of a time stopping the ball on he green even from short distances. I hit a PW in from over 110 to a front pin and the ball landed and rolled over the back of the green. Most of the holes similar results. I had never had that happen before or since. 

[Patch]

Might be true. Many years ago I played two courses (Tuscany, and Coyote Springs) before they were open to the public. 

When I would play these curses later on, I noticed as the greens matured, they were easier to play on. 

It's possible that in addition to the newness of the greens, new fairways might not be spin friendley either. Just a guess. 

[DaveP043]

I've seen the same thing, when I've played new greens they tend to be very firm, so its difficult to get a ball to stop.  After a few seasons, and a few cycles of aerification and topdressing, they seem to soften up a bit and become more receptive.  An exception seems to be some of the new dwarf Bermuda strains.  They're firm, even when they're  a few years old, but they seem to hold a shot reasonable well.

[iacas]

I'll echo what others have said: USGA spec greens in particular can be quite firm at first. Thatch, sand, roots, etc. help to "soften" them over time.