Green Speeds

I came across an interesting bit of information regarding this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush and felt it was important to share with you all. The competition organisers restricted the speed of the greens to 10.1 on the stimpmeter to increase “Professional enjoyment.” After the Lamert Open and the Campbell Stoddart Open at the club when the greens run around 12 on the stimpmeter, I regularly hear from members that they should run at this speed all the time.

I feel it is necessary to explain a few reasons that this couldn’t be maintained at Tulliallan. First and foremost is that greens running at this speed become very difficult, therefore, it would lead to higher scoring, slower rounds and less enjoyment. Secondly, with a greens team as small as ours, to keep the greens at this speed would mean sacrificing other areas of work around the course which would lead to general untidiness. It also can’t be forgotten that the compaction created underneath the putting surfaces by using the greens iron too often would lead to more frequent coring work.

I appreciate that everyone loves to test themselves on greens faster than they are used to, however, hopefully, the explanation above will clear up the reasons as to why these speeds cannot be maintained at our club.