Green Speed at Majors is out of Control

[Pepperturbo]

On 6/19/2023 at 4:58 PM, 2over said:

The 13+ stimpmeter green speeds at all majors now is ruining the game.

This amateur 100% disagrees.  If the course can manage fast greens and fairways, defiantly my preference for amateur play, and most certainly Professional play.   When greens get below 10, it's boring for me. Slow stimp is good for people that can't control their ball.  There are plenty of those types of courses, at least here in SOCA and other states I frequent.

 

This thread reminds of threads where people complain about courses being too difficult.  Too many people want golf and most everything easy, so they don't have to work at it.

[cardoustie]

Fast greens are generally pure greens …. That’s my bag babies 

[So_Cal]

On 7/3/2023 at 2:15 PM, Pepperturbo said:

This amateur 100% disagrees.  If the course can manage fast greens and fairways, defiantly my preference for amateur play, and most certainly Professional play.   When greens get below 10, it's boring for me. Slow stimp is good for people that can't control their ball.  There are plenty of those types of courses, at least here in SOCA and other states I frequent.

 

This thread reminds of threads where people complain about courses being too difficult.  Too many people want golf and most everything easy, so they don't have to work at it.

I hear um what you’re saying.  That being said I like fun greens rolling a bit slower than 13 too.  You can use the fun pin positions that get lost on really fast greens.  

[ALIF]

I prefer fast greens as well as long as the contouring was designed with fast greens speeds in mind. The problem is some greens are contoured/built for a ball to be running about 6 on the stimp meter. Those greens don’t have enough flat area for pin placements to be running at 13.

[2Down]

I don’t like watching how the greens change through a tournament.  Often they are green at the start and brown at the end.    
wonder how long they take to recover after that kinda weekend.   

[smashdn]

I wouldn't trade interesting contoured greens that had to be kept below 11 for flatter greens for the sake of pushing them to 13 and beyond.

[Yuck]

Go watch Goosen’s US Open win at Shinnecock Hills.  That was the edge of “Too Fast”.  I have not seen anything comparable in recent years.  Pros had real trouble keeping putts on the green.

[Pepperturbo]

5 hours ago, 2Down said:

I don’t like watching how the greens change through a tournament.  Often they are green at the start and brown at the end.    
wonder how long they take to recover after that kinda weekend.   

Curious, why would that bother you, in the gallery, or TV viewer?

 

Ordinarily, they change color due to type of turf, lack of watering and sun.  My last two clubs hosted regional events, qualifiers and some televised events, greens were 12-14 stimp.

I prefer 11+ stimp, better ball control, then slow -10.

[2Down]

16 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

Curious, why would that bother you, in the gallery, or TV viewer

I think everyone plays or putts best on what they are used to but the tv fast game is influencing everyone.  I often hear these greens are slow he’ll I’ve said it myself. But to get to those speeds on every course is not possible or desirable and often not in the budget. 

Takes a lot to get that speed and you can see how it damages some them during tournaments.  

And 10 isn’t slow if you normally putt on an an 8. 

[Pepperturbo]

4 hours ago, 2Down said:

I think everyone plays or putts best on what they are used to but the tv fast game is influencing everyone.  I often hear these greens are slow he’ll I’ve said it myself. But to get to those speeds on every course is not possible or desirable and often not in the budget. 

Takes a lot to get that speed and you can see how it damages some them during tournaments.  

And 10 isn’t slow if you normally putt on an an 8. 

Agree.  Though green damage can happen, I haven't seen on TV or at events, actual green damage resulting from fast greens.   At my last club, we almost lost a few greens due to 12 stimp during high temps, but we got them back.  All it takes is a talented maintenance staff and some bucks.

 

TV games should NOT influence anyone watching.  The variables for pro conditions are widely different from drinking a beer, watching TV and playing the local muni. LOL  You're correct, fast conditions are not only costly, but take skilled maintenance staff to maintain them.  It comes down to what a person is used to.  I, for one, don't think fast greens are out of control.  If the members behind the fast greens want them fast, so be it.