New Pin Placements Around California

[Robert Pierce]

I've been playing golf around California for several decades. Shortly after COVID I think we all noticed an large increase in the amount of play on all the courses. Around that time I noticed the pin placements were being placed in the most difficult positions on the greens. Mostly they were placed as close to the edges of the green as possible. Often within as little as 6 or 7 feet. I ask PGA pro at one of the courses why are they doing this because it make the course play considerably more difficult. He responded by saying a study was done and they found that these difficult pin placements created fewer ball marks on the greens. I recently played a course I've played numerous times over the years and the were in nearly impossible locations to get an approach close. Has anyone else noticed this and if so do you feel it is still necessary? Here is a photo of an example;

 

[ChetlovesMer]

15 hours ago, Robert Pierce said:

I've been playing golf around California for several decades. Shortly after COVID I think we all noticed an large increase in the amount of play on all the courses. Around that time I noticed the pin placements were being placed in the most difficult positions on the greens. Mostly they were placed as close to the edges of the green as possible. Often within as little as 6 or 7 feet. I ask PGA pro at one of the courses why are they doing this because it make the course play considerably more difficult. He responded by saying a study was done and they found that these difficult pin placements created fewer ball marks on the greens. I recently played a course I've played numerous times over the years and the were in nearly impossible locations to get an approach close. Has anyone else noticed this and if so do you feel it is still necessary? Here is a photo of an example;

 

It's funny you mention this. There's a course near me that I play the most. It is a pretty popular course. It has its flaws, but its a good layout; You can play it from several tees and really get a good range of total distances; It's priced appropriately. It's a better than average muni. 

Anyhow, pre-Covid it was usually in great shape. Then during the first bit of Covid, I once literally played it on a day when I was their ONLY customer. Shortly after that, golf became on of the very few activities that you could still do during the pandemic. I would say from June of 2020 until the end of that season, you really had to plan ahead to get on the tee sheet. The course was packed everyday. From that the course suffered a lot. So many new golfers who had no idea they are supposed to repair their ball-marks. They also didn't know they needed to fill their divots, ugh. (They also removed the rakes so the bunkers suffered a lot as well.) 

In 2021 similar situation, bunkers became crap (still no rakes for what ever reason.) Tons of ball-marks on the greens. 

In 2022 it felt like the course said: "We gotta do something." And they started removing quite a few bunkers. The rakes returned. They also started placing pins where I thought they used to be illegal. Doesn't the hole location need to be like 6 paces away from the edge of the green? I wouldn't say they were in spots where it made it impossible to get close, but yeah, often inside 6 or 7 feet from the edge of the green. Hit to the center of the green and you're okay. Attack the pin and risk being short-sided big time. 

I don't know if placing pins on the edge of the green actually helps, but I've definitely seen it. 

BTW - The course is now under new ownership and really seems to be making its way back to the quality it had back 5 or 10 years ago. 

On a side note. Golfers in general need to get better at repairing ball marks. Seems to be a bit of dying art. 

[Robert Pierce]

There is no doubt that the game has changed since COVID. It reminds me of playing golf during Tiger Mania. The game was incredibly popular at that time then, 2008-09 great recession hit and the amount of play dropped dramatically. I assume that someday this new found popularity will normalize and maybe then they will bring the pin placements back to what the UISGA and the PGA recommend which is no nearer to the edge of the green than 5 paces. Maybe then we can have more makable birdie attempts. Birdies are fun!

[bkuehn1952]

It is interesting that some supers have used hole locations to reduce pitch marks. If I ran/owned a course, I would be more concerned about pace of play. Missing greens and difficult lag putts slow things down.

[iacas]

The middle of the green never moves. Golfers keep aiming at flags, which they shouldn't do.