Tournament Green Speed Cancel The title field is required!

1. Michael Wagner

   

   0 posts
   
   8/21/2016 7:08 AM

   I'm at a private club and occasionally I get complaints from some of the less skilled golfing members we have about tournament green speed. For instance, on average my greens roll right around 10 on a daily basis but for tournaments like our member-member, member-guest, club championship, and our pro-am we usually speed things up a bit to around 11 or sometimes as high as 12 or 13 if the conditions permit it. The good golfers love when we speed things up but some of the others have complained that they can't adjust in the short amount of time from regular golfing conditions to tournament conditions. I'm wondering what other Superintendents do in these situations and whether or not I should try to keep the speed more consistent or if I should keep doing what I'm doing.

   
   
   
   
2. Anthony Nysse

   

   1 posts
   
   8/21/2016 9:08 AM

   Ive found that most golfers prefer consistency, especially at a private course where they may play several times a week. If greens average 10' for daily play, maybe they're 10.5' for tournaments and weekends. If they run 12' for daily play, 12.5' or faster for weekend.

   
   
   
   
3. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   8/21/2016 9:08 AM

   Anthony Nysse said: Ive found that most golfers prefer consistency, especially at a private course where they may play several times a week. If greens average 10' for daily play, maybe they're 10.5' for tournaments and weekends. If they run 12' for daily play, 12.5' or faster for weekend.

   
   
   I'm with Anthony, I think consistency is the way to go. I try not to let it change more than a foot within the season.

   
   
   
   
4. Nicholas Daak

   

   3 posts
   
   8/21/2016 11:08 AM

   I have always had a problem. We are semi private. My members, along with myself want faster greens. We make 80% of our revenue from out of towners though. GM wants them at 9 and can tell when I dry them out an extra day or roll instead of mow, because of the complaints. Within an hour while I was in clubhouse I heard the greens were perfect, the best ever, way to slow, and even way too fast we aren't coming back. I've learned as long as they are green and smooth only 10% of golfers will complain and that's what I will go with.

   
   
   
   
5. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   8/21/2016 2:08 PM

   Michael Wagner said: I'm at a private club and occasionally I get complaints from some of the less skilled golfing members we have about tournament green speed. For instance, on average my greens roll right around 10 on a daily basis but for tournaments like our member-member, member-guest, club championship, and our pro-am we usually speed things up a bit to around 11 or sometimes as high as 12 or 13 if the conditions permit it. The good golfers love when we speed things up but some of the others have complained that they can't adjust in the short amount of time from regular golfing conditions to tournament conditions. I'm wondering what other Superintendents do in these situations and whether or not I should try to keep the speed more consistent or if I should keep doing what I'm doing.

   
   
   IMO, this decision should be left to the greens committee and the golf committee. I would make this topic an agenda item for the next board meeting and have these two committees determine a guideline for daily and tournament play. This takes the onus off you and places the responsibility on the board of directors. The less accomplished golfers can then take their concerns to the board rather than loading your voicemail with complaints.

   
   
   
   
6. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   8/22/2016 12:08 PM

   Clay Putnam, CGCS said:

   Michael Wagner said: I'm at a private club and occasionally I get complaints from some of the less skilled golfing members we have about tournament green speed. For instance, on average my greens roll right around 10 on a daily basis but for tournaments like our member-member, member-guest, club championship, and our pro-am we usually speed things up a bit to around 11 or sometimes as high as 12 or 13 if the conditions permit it. The good golfers love when we speed things up but some of the others have complained that they can't adjust in the short amount of time from regular golfing conditions to tournament conditions. I'm wondering what other Superintendents do in these situations and whether or not I should try to keep the speed more consistent or if I should keep doing what I'm doing.

   
   
   IMO, this decision should be left to the greens committee and the golf committee. I would make this topic an agenda item for the next board meeting and have these two committees determine a guideline for daily and tournament play. This takes the onus off you and places the responsibility on the board of directors. The less accomplished golfers can then take their concerns to the board rather than loading your voicemail with complaints.

   
   
   
   That plan works well unless the BOD or committee decides that they want the greens at 14 every day, and then the greens die, and you lose your job

   
   
   
   
7. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   8/23/2016 6:08 AM

   It's all in the presentation, Jim.

   
   
   
   
8. Jared Hotchkiss

   

   0 posts
   
   8/24/2016 7:08 AM

   I try to consistently keep my green speed around 12 for daily play and weekend play. When we have events with better players i try to increase the speed to 12.5 or 13. Our membership prides themselves on consistently quick greens. I do NOT mow greens at a crazy low HOC, or roll 7 times a week. Its all about routine cultural practices.

   
   
   
   
9. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   8/25/2016 7:08 AM

   I follow the practice that the course should be tournament ready on a daily basis and that nothing special should be done for events, with the exception of extra mowing of fairways, maybe a roll on greens, etc....I can agree with the complaint of bumping up speeds before an event and not having time to adjust...we keep them the same day in and day out.
   
   We also don't own a Stimpmeter and haven't had one since my second day on the job almost 11 years ago. We haven't heard anyone asking what the greens are stimping in a very long time, it's just not in their vocabulary. We do get complaints they are slow, but also that they are too fast...often on the same day.

   
   
   
   
10. Michael Wagner

    

    0 posts
    
    8/26/2016 11:08 AM

    Thank you all for the input. I think from this point forward I'm going to shoot for 11 daily with no change for tournaments. I understand the complaint and I think most of our golfers like fast greens but not ridiculous fast so that's what I'm shooting for.

    
    
    
    
11. Ronald Conard

    

    4 posts
    
    8/29/2016 10:08 AM

    So if they play a different course with a different green speed do they complain? Oh wait, that's obvious. If they had the privilege to play Augusta would they cry then? Can they not adjust their putting stroke? I'm amazed at what people with come up with to bitch about anymore.

    
    
    
    
12. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    8/29/2016 1:08 PM

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said: So if they play a different course with a different green speed do they complain? Oh wait, that's obvious. If they had the privilege to play Augusta would they cry then? Can they not adjust their putting stroke? I'm amazed at what people with come up with to bitch about anymore.

    
    
    
    Yes. And I have. I played a course that was stimping at least 13+. I complained the entire round. 13+ is no fun.

    
    
    
    
13. Keith Lamb

    

    3 posts
    
    8/29/2016 4:08 PM

    Andy Jorgensen said:

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said: So if they play a different course with a different green speed do they complain? Oh wait, that's obvious. If they had the privilege to play Augusta would they cry then? Can they not adjust their putting stroke? I'm amazed at what people with come up with to bitch about anymore.

    
    
    
    Yes. And I have. I played a course that was stimping at least 13+. I complained the entire round. 13+ is no fun.

    
    
    Even Tin Cup would complain about that!!

    
    
    
    
14. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    8/29/2016 6:08 PM

    Keith Lamb said:

    Andy Jorgensen said:

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said: So if they play a different course with a different green speed do they complain? Oh wait, that's obvious. If they had the privilege to play Augusta would they cry then? Can they not adjust their putting stroke? I'm amazed at what people with come up with to bitch about anymore.

    
    
    
    Yes. And I have. I played a course that was stimping at least 13+. I complained the entire round. 13+ is no fun.

    
    
    Even Tin Cup would complain about that!!

    
    
    Tin Cup is still wondering why he saw three KFC's in Ocala.

    
    
    
    
15. Ronald Conard

    

    4 posts
    
    8/30/2016 12:08 PM

    Andy Jorgensen said:

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said: So if they play a different course with a different green speed do they complain? Oh wait, that's obvious. If they had the privilege to play Augusta would they cry then? Can they not adjust their putting stroke? I'm amazed at what people with come up with to bitch about anymore.

    
    
    
    Yes. And I have. I played a course that was stimping at least 13+. I complained the entire round. 13+ is no fun.

    
    
    Thanks for owning that Andy. I admire a man who is comfortable with his own whininess.

    
    
    
    
16. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    8/30/2016 3:08 PM

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said:

    Andy Jorgensen said:

    Ronald Conard, CGCS said: So if they play a different course with a different green speed do they complain? Oh wait, that's obvious. If they had the privilege to play Augusta would they cry then? Can they not adjust their putting stroke? I'm amazed at what people with come up with to bitch about anymore.

    
    
    
    Yes. And I have. I played a course that was stimping at least 13+. I complained the entire round. 13+ is no fun.

    
    
    Thanks for owning that Andy. I admire a man who is comfortable with his own whininess.

    
    
    This particular course was one of those you had to know a guy to get on. I happened to know a guy. Was very lucky and fortunate to even make it through the gate. Place was awesome....greens were in perfect condition. But 13"+ is too fast for this high handicapper.