Speed of greens

[Treemagnet]

How often do courses measure there green speeds. Also what speeds are normal, fast, or slow. What effects the speed besides weather?

[907golfer12]

I don't know when course measure speed, but I can lend a hand on what else effects speed.

One thing is if you are putting into the grain or with the grain, with it will be faster, and against it will be slower. Also when you go places that have mountains, a putt that rolls towards the highest peak will be faster then one going away from it.

[MrKadash]

How often do courses measure there green speeds. Also what speeds are normal, fast, or slow. What effects the speed besides weather?

Everyone is different when it comes to how often green speeds are measured. I usually measure mine twice a week, or in the case of an upcoming tournament, everyday for the week prior.

In your second and third question, there are no set parameters for what slow, normal, or fast is. The single most defining element in regards to green speed are the contours of the green itself. Case in point, if all outside elements remaining equal, i.e., weather, mowing height and consistency, mechanical factors (topdressing, verticutting, rolling, etc.), and irrigation control, a flat green will play slower than a contoured green. Specific factors that affect green speeds include liquid fertilizers, verticutting, topdressing, lowering height of cut (which I don't), increased mowing frequency, increased rolling frequency, light daily hand watering as needed, and reduced or the elimination of night irrigation cycles are generally regarded as the main ways to increase green speeds. These are not something you do on a daily basis due to the diminished quality and vigor of putting surfaces, but rather in the short term before an event. I roll my greens two-three times per week, with one of those days without cutting, if only to maintain a smooth surface. My membership desires smooth greens over fast ones, so everybody's desires and expectations are different.

[Richie3Jack]

Courses usually try to keep the speed of the greens consistent, unless it's a tournament and the bigger the tournament the faster the greens usually get.

Grain is a factor, as well as type of grass. Another hidden factor when it comes to weather is wind. If it's been dry and windy, even if the greens are not rock hard, it can feel like you're putting on glass.






3JACK

[iacas]

How often do courses measure there green speeds. Also what speeds are normal, fast, or slow.

Most courses never, ever measure their green speeds.

[Treemagnet]

Most courses never, ever measure their green speeds.

Do you know why they don't?

[iacas]

Do you know why they don't?

I suspect they have no reason to. They know how low they can cut their greens to maintain "proper" speed, so they cut them at that height.

By "proper," I mean so they're easy to maintain (lower budget courses have slower greens because they require less care). Or some courses have greens with lots of slope, and if they were to cut them any lower, the slopes might get unfair. And I'm sure there are other reasons, too. To measure the speeds, too, courses would have to buy a stimpmeter, and then they'd have pressure to get to a "certain number." As one superintendent told me: "Better to have the members think the greens are at a 12 rather than tell them they're actually just a 10." What the golfers don't know won't hurt 'em - so measuring would be a bad idea in that situation. On that last one, my home course putts at about a 10-12 pretty consistently (12 on tournament days, 11 most every other day of the week, and 10 really early in the year or after a lot of rain), but the members think they've got course that regularly stimps at 13. I actually do own a stimpmeter and measure a few times, but never when anyone's around to notice, at the request of my superintendent, who happened to agree with the super I quoted above.

[Treemagnet]

I suspect they have no reason to. They know how low they can cut their greens to maintain "proper" speed, so they cut them at that height.

Thanks makes sense.

[kafka01]

Courses usually try to keep the speed of the greens consistent, unless it's a tournament and the bigger the tournament the faster the greens usually get.

Our green speeds unfortunately are pretty inconsistent (1 week fast like 11 - the next 9 and when a tournament is on Saturday you putt 9 on Friday and 11 on Saturday

) - BUT the bigger the tournament the faster the greens - true. IMO thats such a stupid way to show off and i dont get the logic behind that at all. Its like building potemkin villages for one special occasion and then just letting it slip. Just keep it at level - golf is hard enough esp. if your greens are heavily ondulated. Today a guy told me that last year all year long they had very slow greens at their course and when the club championship came up they made the greens lightning - so barely anybody could putt anymore.

[MrKadash]

As one superintendent told me: "Better to have the members think the greens are at a 12 rather than tell them they're actually just a 10." What the golfers don't know won't hurt 'em -

I concur with that sentiment. This is one instance when an educated golfer could be a dangerous one...

[whip_it_out]

You can tell when they're fast by how fast they stop, If you hit a putt and when it slows down, it stops quick, theyre slow. IF they slow down, but very gradually stop, they're fast. That's my way of telling.

But speed of greens is all about what you think is fast and slow.


I like when my greens roll around a 12 on the Stimpmeter. And they were until the greenskeepers had to punch.