How best to deal with a double green?

[Chas]

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 ....

[phan52]

Originally Posted by Chas

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).

[Clambake]

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.

[David in FL]

How? The same wy I deal with a single green. I try to hit it as lose to the hole as possible! :-)

[Dave2512]

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.

[Chas]

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.

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!