Best Greens you have every played

[raynorfan1]

Oakmont is like putting on glass (noticeably faster than Augusta when I played). Amazingly true, but amazingly difficult to keep it near the hole if your putt didn't go in - the ball just refuses to slow down near the hole, which is fascinating and frustrating to watch.

 

And do you think this is overall a “good” quality for the game of golf?

[BNGL]

Played a lot of the big name places...but I gotta say I’m biased and this is ultra braggadocious but my tif eagle greens are phenomenal in season, and for our biggest events (one in the fall and one select invitational in the spring) we push them incredibly hard. I’m trying to figure out how to upload video from my phone. I stimped during the afternoon this spring, I got 15 feet 4 inches. Those things were so pure, it was honestly better than the tour events I’d been a part of setting up. There was just no friction on the lead blade, surface was incredibly firm, plant was healthy, moisture was dialed in. The ball hugged the ground it was the best I have seen. Unfortunately I boned myself, because now that’ll be expected again haha.

[deadsolid...shank]

We were first out for our round at Pebble Beach so the greens were perfect.

 

But if you want to be amazed at a public course greens, you have to play Wildhorse. They are almost always absolutely terrific.

[OutBackHack]

Played a lot of the big name places...but I gotta say I’m biased and this is ultra braggadocious but my tif eagle greens are phenomenal in season, and for our biggest events (one in the fall and one select invitational in the spring) we push them incredibly hard. I’m trying to figure out how to upload video from my phone. I stimped during the afternoon this spring, I got 15 feet 4 inches. Those things were so pure, it was honestly better than the tour events I’d been a part of setting up. There was just no friction on the lead blade, surface was incredibly firm, plant was healthy, moisture was dialed in. The ball hugged the ground it was the best I have seen. Unfortunately I boned myself, because now that’ll be expected again haha.

 

Let's just let everyone try and guess where "your" tif eagle greens are located then hey?

[BNGL]

Played a lot of the big name places...but I gotta say I'm biased and this is ultra braggadocious but my tif eagle greens are phenomenal in season, and for our biggest events (one in the fall and one select invitational in the spring) we push them incredibly hard. I'm trying to figure out how to upload video from my phone. I stimped during the afternoon this spring, I got 15 feet 4 inches. Those things were so pure, it was honestly better than the tour events I'd been a part of setting up. There was just no friction on the lead blade, surface was incredibly firm, plant was healthy, moisture was dialed in. The ball hugged the ground it was the best I have seen. Unfortunately I boned myself, because now that'll be expected again haha.

 

Let's just let everyone try and guess where "your" tif eagle greens are located then hey?

 

Hope Sound Florida.

[Tap-in Fore Eagle]

1. Pinehurst #2

2. Portmarnock

3. Harbour Town

4. Whistling Straits

5. Royal Portrush

[Big Ben]

The Country Club, Canterbury and Lakewood Country Club all in Northeastern Ohio. My favorite green complexes reside at Congress Lake CC, just treacherous. All of these greens are like putting on glass, just love it!! BB

[Big Ben]

Oakmont is like putting on glass (noticeably faster than Augusta when I played). Amazingly true, but amazingly difficult to keep it near the hole if your putt didn't go in - the ball just refuses to slow down near the hole, which is fascinating and frustrating to watch.

 

And do you think this is overall a “good” quality for the game of golf?

Oakmont greens are just dangerous, the members like them so fast for the amount of movement it's just way borderline. On greens that challenging your round begins with the putter. I don't care how good you hit it if you end up short sided or above the hole El Tigre himself won't be able to save you. I watched Louis Oosthuizen putt on hole #1 from 150yrs after running three iron shots off the back and it still ran off the back! He was laughing out loud. Nutty

[mallrat]

Kind of a loaded question. I find it really funny that most people equate fast with good. I think for every course there is a perfectly matched speed to the slope of the greens. There is a point where fast won’t work at some courses.

 

I’ll use Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes as an example, with the slope on those greens they couldn’t run 12+, it would become absolutely silly. That said they keep them roughly around 9 and they generally roll very true.

 

Also with the faster greens, does the ball hold or do what it should do on the greens?

 

Best i’ve played recently was Royal Oaks in Vancouver, WA in mid summer last year and they were a 12 at best. Very receptive and very true Poa greens.

[raynorfan1]

Kind of a loaded question. I find it really funny that most people equate fast with good. I think for every course there is a perfectly matched speed to the slope of the greens. There is a point where fast won’t work at some courses.

 

I’ll use Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes as an example, with the slope on those greens they couldn’t run 12+, it would become absolutely silly. That said they keep them roughly around 9 and they generally roll very true.

 

Also with the faster greens, does the ball hold or do what it should do on the greens?

 

Best i’ve played recently was Royal Oaks in Vancouver, WA in mid summer last year and they were a 12 at best. Very receptive and very true Poa greens.

 

This. To me, the best greens run 8 - 10 and roll very true.

 

Too many times I visit clubs where the pace is too fast for the contours, or they’ve stressed the greens so much in pursuit of speed that they don’t roll well. Or both.

[Big Ben]

Our bent grass CC greens in the Midwest are just about perfect this time of year but yes they can be very very fast as well. We don't struggle with enough moisture however. I could see how chasing this kind of pace would stress greens in warmer climates. We have our hot humid stretches here and there but for the most part things cool down nicely in the evenings.

[Andrew Bond of Glencoe]

Oakmont followed by Pine Valley.

[theboypinoy]

We were first out for our round at Pebble Beach so the greens were perfect.

 

But if you want to be amazed at a public course greens, you have to play Wildhorse. They are almost always absolutely terrific.

 

Wildhorse where?

[mallrat]

As in Eastern Oregon’s Wildhorse?

[Kiwi]

Royal Melbourne

[BNGL]

Kind of a loaded question. I find it really funny that most people equate fast with good. I think for every course there is a perfectly matched speed to the slope of the greens. There is a point where fast wont work at some courses.

 

Ill use Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes as an example, with the slope on those greens they couldnt run 12+, it would become absolutely silly. That said they keep them roughly around 9 and they generally roll very true.

 

Also with the faster greens, does the ball hold or do what it should do on the greens?

 

Best ive played recently was Royal Oaks in Vancouver, WA in mid summer last year and they were a 12 at best. Very receptive and very true Poa greens.

 

This. To me, the best greens run 8 - 10 and roll very true.

 

Too many times I visit clubs where the pace is too fast for the contours, or theyve stressed the greens so much in pursuit of speed that they dont roll well. Or both.

 

That’s the trick, knowing when to stop pushing the greens. It’s a stressful game.

[deadsolid...shank]

We were first out for our round at Pebble Beach so the greens were perfect.

 

But if you want to be amazed at a public course greens, you have to play Wildhorse. They are almost always absolutely terrific.

 

Wildhorse where?

 

Sorry, Wildhorse in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Very well, and often, spoken of here,

[Shipwreck]

Played Torrey Pines South about 6 weeks prior to the US Open. This was of course when I was a hack golfer with very little skill so that amplified my terrible putting.

 

But as a consistent place I played, it was my base course at MCAS Miramar. The greenskeeper came to us from Pebble Beach and the course was nothing spectacular so he made sure the greens were. We were told multiple times they were some of the best greens in SoCal. Always pure. Always running around 9-10 and extremely receptive.

[Apex93]

Oakmont is like putting on glass (noticeably faster than Augusta when I played). Amazingly true, but amazingly difficult to keep it near the hole if your putt didn't go in - the ball just refuses to slow down near the hole, which is fascinating and frustrating to watch.

 

And do you think this is overall a "good" quality for the game of golf?

 

Putting is the weakest part of my game. That was made glaringly obvious at Oakmont. Of the guys I played with, 1 is a fantastic putter. He was making long ones there and his distance control on misses was much better than mine. I hated my putting game being that exposed there, but he was definitely rewarded because the roll was so true despite being so fast - just get it started right, and it drops.

I can fake it enough at a 10.5-11.5, but anything faster than that, I go to pieces.

So, to answer your question, as a "test of golf", it absolutely is a good quality. Not my preference, but I'm the one being tested!

[dan360]

Best greens I've played on have to be Chambers Bay. Hands down. Rofl. Just kidding. Sahalee has the best greens I've ever played. Everything rolls true and quick.

 

+1

 

Actually first thing in the morning during the US Open they were really nice. Before the poa woke up.

 

Sahalee are the best I've ever had the luxury of putting on although it was only on the practice green. Someday maybe I'll get a chance to play there.

 

The best I've played on were at TPC Sawgrass.

[raynorfan1]

Oakmont is like putting on glass (noticeably faster than Augusta when I played). Amazingly true, but amazingly difficult to keep it near the hole if your putt didn't go in - the ball just refuses to slow down near the hole, which is fascinating and frustrating to watch.

 

And do you think this is overall a "good" quality for the game of golf?

 

So, to answer your question, as a "test of golf", it absolutely is a good quality. Not my preference, but I'm the one being tested!

 

Totally agree that Oakmont (et. al.) are great "tests" of putting ability. But does that make them the "best" greens for the overall game of golf?

 

I would argue in most cases, it does not, because a course with greens like that ends up with too many strokes gained/lost on the greens.

[SecondandGoal]

The Country Club in Brookline, MA. Hell, the fairways there were nicer than the greens on most of the courses around here.

 

I'm lucky to be able to say that the greens at my home course (CC of Halifax in Halifax, MA) take second place easily for me. The course in general but the greens in particular are always in superb condition.

[1b!ggolfnut]

McArthur comes to mind

[bigeasygator]

The course I've played that stands out to me for having greens that rolled fast and true (but fair) was Cabo Del Sol Ocean Course. Only played it once over two years ago but when I played the greens were fantastic.

[ceejay81]

Tobacco Road, Pinehurst #2 and #8 are the best greens I've putted on. The greens at Tobacco Road were flawless and rolled so true. I think Champion Ultradwarf greens are the best.

[NorthTexasGlfr]

Have played the Mission Hills Tournament course where they play the ANA Inspiration twice, both times about 4-5 weeks prior to the tournament. Some of the fastest greens I've played on. But here's what made them the best I've played. They are the truest greens I've ever played. In 2 rounds, I never had a putt bounce off line. Nor did my playing partners.

[bubbaleon]

Breakers West Country Club in W. Palm Beach - I haven't played too many PGA tour type of places, but this Rees Jones design is phenomenal and greens are extremely memorable. Anglebrook GC is Westchester NY just because play is so limited and budget is extraordinary.

[RichieHunt]

I've played at Oak Hill, Quaker Ridge, Somerset Hills, Bethpage, Kiawah, Forest Oaks (where they used to have the Greater Greensboro Open, etc.

 

Best greens I ever played on were out of little Wellsville CC in Wellsville, NY back in the early 90's. They were fast, but the smoothest damn things I have ever witnessed. And perfect firmness to hit into.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[is76550]

Grandfather Mountain GC. They go all out to keep them perfect.

[zer0]

The correct answer here is going to be limited play privates - think Augusta National, at least for the 6 months they are open, Sage Valley, Peachtree, Alotian Club, etc.

 

Near me, it would be Kinloch and RTJ.

 

Places with an unlimited budgets and only an handful of rounds played per day. Public courses and even privates that get a lot of member play just can't compete.

 

 

I disagree. Lawsonia Links in Green Lake Wisconsin is public and I doubt there are better greens at any course in the USA, public or private.