US Open Stimpmeter Readings Cancel The title field is required!

1. Brett Morris

   

   0 posts
   
   6/18/2012 3:06 PM

   All,
   
   Looking for some data which shows the increase in US Open stimpmeter readings over the years based on course to course. Does such data exist that anyone knows of or is it more speculative?
   
   Thanks - Brett.
   brett@brisbanegolfclub.com.au

   
   
   
   
2. Michael Posey

   

   0 posts
   
   6/18/2012 3:06 PM

   I can tell you from working a couple of Opens in the past, that unless you are standing there watching them measure it, you are not going to know the true measurement.

   
   
   
   
3. Brett Morris

   

   0 posts
   
   6/18/2012 4:06 PM

   I found this article in the turf library which detailed the speeds for the 1978 Open which were 9.7 on Sunday. Fast forward to today estimating 13 - 14 and we've seen a 25 - 30% increase in speed in 35 years.

   
   
   
   
4. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   6/18/2012 7:06 PM

   Brett Morris said: I found this article in the turf library which detailed the speeds for the 1978 Open which were 9.7 on Sunday. Fast forward to today estimating 13 - 14 and we've seen a 25 - 30% increase in speed in 35 years.

   
   
   And if you were watching the TV coverage from back then, I believe they would call those greens in 1978 slick.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
5. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   6/19/2012 9:06 AM

   Brett Morris said: I found this article in the turf library which detailed the speeds for the 1978 Open which were 9.7 on Sunday. Fast forward to today estimating 13 - 14 and we've seen a 25 - 30% increase in speed in 35 years.

   
   
   Using your numbers - that would be closer to a 30-40 percent increase. You cant really use a percentage in this case. its like if the temperature goes from 100 to 110 you cant really claim there is a 10 percent increase in temperature. The difference between 9.7 and 14 is night and day, trying to put a percentage, like 30% on it does not do it any justice. The percentage does nothing to convey the actual magnitude of the difference.

   
   
   
   
6. Richard Lavine

   

   3 posts
   
   6/19/2012 4:06 PM

   Larry Gilhuly, the USGA Northwest region agronomist published an article with comparisons of green speeds, I think from US Opens for many years. I'm sure if you search the Green Section Records you will find it. Good Luck