Why Don't More Clubs Paint The Holes?

[NEhomer]

It can't be all that expensive and it doesn't take much time to do so why don't all/most courses paint the holes white like they do in pro events? I would imagine that the bright white hole will show up much more prominently in your peripheral vision than a plain dirt edged hole.

Anyway, I wish my course did it.

[iacas]

Because it takes time and costs money, and the white paint you see on TV is primarily… for TV.

And it may prevent the green from stitching back together quite as easily as raw dirt-on-dirt does?

Some courses used to have (I don't see them much anymore) liners they'd use.

[NEhomer]

I believe the paint is just a chalk solution so it shouldn't cause any contamination.

I would think that it would make putting easier.

I watched them paint the new holes at Bethpage during the open and it didn't take more than a few minutes. Place the guard over the hole, press the can upside down into it and twist once.

Can it really be that expensive?

 

[iacas]

Just now, NEhomer said:

I believe the paint is just a chalk solution so it shouldn't cause any contamination.

It's a paint. They have a contraption, they put the spray can in, and push down and twist it around. As you say later on.

Just now, NEhomer said:

I would think that it would make putting easier.

Maybe. But if you can't see the hole, you can have the flagstick tended for you.

Just now, NEhomer said:

I watched them paint the new holes at Bethpage during the open and it didn't take more than a few minutes. Place the guard over the hole, press the can upside down into it and twist once.

Can it really be that expensive?

I didn't say it was expensive, I said it has a cost. Time and money.

That's why they don't do it - time and money, and very little upside: your course is not being shown on TV.

[NEhomer]

Just seems like a simple step a club could do to set themselves apart. I think it would be cool and aesthetically pleasing to boot.

 

[iacas]

3 minutes ago, NEhomer said:

Just seems like a simple step a club could do to set themselves apart. I think it would be cool and aesthetically pleasing to boot.

Tell your home club.

I've seen it done at some fancy clubs, but even some of those only do it for special events.

I'm just sharing the reasons I was told.

[Patch]

I wish they still used those long liners, or painted then. It made it easier to see the break near the hole when standing on a level part of the green. 

[Golfingdad]

1 hour ago, NEhomer said:

Just seems like a simple step a club could do to set themselves apart. I think it would be cool and aesthetically pleasing to boot.

This is not wrong, ask yourself, would you actually weigh the fact that the holes have paint in them towards your decision to play a course?  I agree that when I see it, I think to myself "that's a nice touch" however, it doesn't go beyond that.  I'm not avoiding a course because they don't paint the holes and I'm not choosing a course because they do.  Found some info:  https://parwest.com/product.php?pid=121

And a how-to ;)

 

[NM Golf]

It's actually fairly expensive and it takes about 1/3 to 1/2 of a can to do 18 greens. Each can cost about $9.00. So if you change cups on a daily basis (hopefully) thats approx. 3 cans a week which comes out to $27, so over $100 a month.

Basically, it's a completely unnecessary expense on the already tight maintenance budgets found at most golf courses. Pebble Beach at $500 a round has the money, my local muni that fights on a monthly basis to break even not so much.

Edited March 20, 2018 by NM Golf

[WUTiger]

I have a cupliner for the flagstick I use for wedge practice in my back yard. I spray the area above the liner white, but it's only once a week for one hole.

[NJpatbee]

I never noticed it.

[mchepp]

On 3/20/2018 at 1:44 PM, Golfingdad said:

This is not wrong, ask yourself, would you actually weigh the fact that the holes have paint in them towards your decision to play a course?  I agree that when I see it, I think to myself "that's a nice touch" however, it doesn't go beyond that.  I'm not avoiding a course because they don't paint the holes and I'm not choosing a course because they do.  Found some info:  https://parwest.com/product.php?pid=121

And a how-to ;)

 

But wait...it should be helpful because it says "Par Aide" on the bottle. It must then aid me in making par, no?

[Shorty]

On 21/03/2018 at 6:08 AM, NEhomer said:

Just seems like a simple step a club could do to set themselves apart. I think it would be cool and aesthetically pleasing to boot.

 

I've played dozens of courses and I'm pretty sure that some have done it. I can't remember which ones and I certainly don't ever recall thinking it a wonderful thing when I did see it. It is even possible that my course does, but I honestly can't remember. I'll check on Saturday.  Maybe it's something you think about when you are away from the course and told to think about it, but when you're putting, you're thinking about your putt. I don't really see how a practise that was/is design specifically for viewers watching TV relates to everyday play. I don't recall anyone ever saying they like playing at course X because they have the "cool" habit of painting the holes.  

[jsgolfer]

On 3/20/2018 at 4:44 PM, Golfingdad said:

This is not wrong, ask yourself, would you actually weigh the fact that the holes have paint in them towards your decision to play a course?  I agree that when I see it, I think to myself "that's a nice touch" however, it doesn't go beyond that.  I'm not avoiding a course because they don't paint the holes and I'm not choosing a course because they do.  Found some info:  https://parwest.com/product.php?pid=121

And a how-to ;)

 

Our course is going to do this starting this year, once the golf season starts.

[Buckeyebowman]

1 hour ago, mchepp said:

But wait...it should be helpful because it says "Par Aide" on the bottle. It must then aid me in making par, no?

I've also seen "Par Aide" on ball washers, so Ii guess they help too.

As far as I'm concerned, the cup shouldn't be in your peripheral vision. Not even on a 2 footer!

[iacas]

45 minutes ago, Buckeyebowman said:

As far as I'm concerned, the cup shouldn't be in your peripheral vision. Not even on a 2 footer!

 

[Zeph]

It's nice if a course does it, but it makes a very small difference to me. It would help a little if you play alone and got a long putt or one on different levels where the hole is difficult to see, but with the new flagstick rule next year, you can just leave the pin in.

[NEhomer]

12 hours ago, jsgolfer said:

Our course is going to do this starting this year, once the golf season starts.

I'd be interested to hear what folks think at your club. Do you know how the decision came about?

I'm at the same place I started with this. It would be a nice touch if more clubs did it. I reject that it's expensive or all that time-consuming. It's also not a difference maker as to whether I would play or join a course.