I'd like to share some important facts, and myths, about greens speed… which is an issue that many have expressed concerns about around the golf course.
There is an important trade-off to understand when talking about greens: speed versus health. Fast greens are often obtained to the detriment of grass and soil health, and the health of the greens is my primary concern regarding my long term plans for the golf course.
Only under tournament conditions should the greens be mowed below optimum growth levels. For example, creeping bentgrass putting greens mowed at 1/8 inch show a 40% reduction in photosynthates compared to greens mowed at 5/32 inch. Thus, grass mowed lower is significantly less vigorous and not as healthy. Poor turf density is many times the result of excessively low mowing height.
Although mowing below optimum growth levels is a quick way to speed up greens, there are various methods of cultivation for speeding greens that aren't so detrimental to course health.
Putting greens produce the highest quality putting surface when cultivated frequently. The best quality putting surfaces develop on greens where you core aerify or deeply vertical mow at least 20 percent of the putting surface area each year. Vertical mowing and sand topdressing in conjunction with core aeration produce the best quality putting surfaces, resulting in firm, smooth, well-drained and fast putting surfaces. Putting greens with adequate routine cultivation maintenance have an unlimited life expectancy, and ensure consistent putting surfaces at every point on the course.
Cultivation is a very technical and hands-on process. Knowing when and which method to use requires a keen understanding of agronomy, and I am confident that I can achieve greens speed and consistency that all members will be satisfied with while at the same time preserving the health of the course. As said before, cultivative practices are fairly more time consuming than mowing, but far more effective in the long run. I thank for your patience throughout this process.
Below is an excerpt from an article written by the USGA (United States Golf Association) on the history and use of the Stimpmeter, which is the standard tool used to measure greens consistency.
Making A Lasting Impression
January 18, 2006
By, USGA
What exactly what is a Stimpmeter? To the competitors, golf course superintendent or officials in charge of the setup, the figure is extremely vital. Uniform green speeds are important in keeping the competition fair and equitable.
The measuring device that provides the necessary data is called the Stimpmeter. The name is derived from the man who invented it more than 70 years ago. He was a highly skilled amateur from who was good enough to captain the Harvard men's golf team in the 1920s and win his state amateur championship in 1935. A year earlier, he advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur at The Country Club.
While watching the 1935 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, Stimpson noticed how excessively quick greens prevented many of the game's best players from breaking 75. A native won the championship that year, mainly from his local knowledge of the putting surfaces.
Stimpson's concern at the time was not necessarily the speed of the greens, but consistency. So he devised a way of measuring the green's quickness.
One thing Stimpson never wanted to happen with his device was to have clubs use it as a speedometer. He didn't want Club A bragging to Club B that its greens ran 10 feet on the Stimpmeter compared to 8.5. Green speeds often become a hot topic of conversation around the grill room because of what people see on television during major championships. Some see green speeds as a way of measuring a course's championship worth, and Stimpson never envisioned his tool to be used in that manner.
He wanted the Stimpmeter used so that players would find the speed of the first green the same as the 18th. That's exactly what USGA officials do.
This debate over speed has been an ongoing challenge for superintendents and agronomists. Some question whether faster greens are good for the game. Certainly at the U.S. Open, green speeds are important, but that is a competition for the world's best players, not recreational golfers who carry double-digit USGA Handicap Indexes. Creating faster putting surfaces places increased pressure on those who maintain golf courses. But club members and greens committee chairman often want faster greens because televised golf showcases them during tournament play.
Staff writer for the USGA. E-mail him with questions or comments atdshefter@usga.org.
