Putting surfaces have evolved immensely since the first golf course in Scotland. Back then all that was needed was a stick and a pebble. Green speeds were unheard of and so was putting in general. Fast forward to the 1930s and a man named Edward Stimpson came up with an idea to measure green speed using a device made of wood that is now called the stimpmeter. In his 1937 article "Introducing the Stimp" Stimpson reported readings from three different clubs and the average was 2.5 feet. In the seventies the USGA came out with their own model of Stimpson's invention and made it available to greenskeepers. They recorded averages around 6' from over 100 courses nationwide. Augusta National was under 8' and pebble beach was around a 7.2'. My, how times have changed! Today, regular play on the PGA tour is around 12' with major championships running between 14’ and 15’.
At WHCC, the agronomy team strives to maintain a speed that is enjoyable for golfers and one that does not stress out the golf greens to the point of death. This is a hard objective to achieve. Many factors are weighed on a daily basis such as rainfall amounts, temperature extremes, time constraints, spray applications, equipment used, moisture levels, grass types, and the list could go on and on. There are six ways to achieve higher green speeds and they are as follows:
1. Mowing height. This is fairly obvious, the lower the height of cut the faster the green speed. However, this is also the easiest and fastest way to lose an entire green. Greens need leaf material in order to produce photosynthesis and growth. Mowing grass short decreases photosynthesis and if cut too short, especially during hot weather and increased stress, entire greens will be lost. According to the USGA the current recommendation is to mow as high as possible to achieve the desired green speed. Sometimes it is necessary to increase the mowing height to maintain healthy greens.
2. Rolling. This has a big impact on green speed. According to our current data rolling increases speed by around a foot. According to Thomas Nikolai, agriculture professor at Michigan State University, there are many benefits to rolling such as, height of cut can be raised and green speed retained, decreased cutworm activity, decreased dollar spot disease, smoother putting surfaces, and less weed presence. However, it also increases the need for aeration due to increased compaction.
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| Heavier Salsco roller |
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| Light Weight roller |
3. Cultural Practices. Topdressing, aerating, and verticutting all impact speed. The more of these practices we perform the firmer and faster the speeds will become.
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| Topdressing on #5 green |
4. Irrigation/Moisture content. The drier the greens the faster the greens. However, this needs to be weighed against the turf's water requirements and daily evapotransporation rates. High humidity can also negatively affect speed with lower humidity producing faster results. Drainage is of the utmost importance on putting surfaces and with 10 greens not up to USGA drainage requirements those green speeds will be negatively affected. Also, shade from trees affects how quickly and efficiently water is absorbed and drained. We are currently looking at ways to better improve this area including: possible removal of trees affecting sun exposure, watering less, and increasing our hand watering regimen.
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| Pin Oak casting shade onto #16 green during morning hours |
5. Plant growth. The less growth of the plant the quicker the ball will roll. Mother nature helps us in this area after the first frost when the grasses' growth slows down. Additionally, during the growing season we use bi-weekly spray applications of Plant Growth Regulators to slow down growth and increase stimpmeter readings. Also, higher amounts of nitrogen decrease speed; however nitrogen must be supplemented to help the turf survive the daily stresses of play and maintenance. To combat this issue we fertilize heavier in the spring and fall with granular fertilization and spoon feed the turf with light nitrogen spray applications during the summer months.
6. Type of grass used. L-93 bentgrass mixed with poa annua is what the majority of our putting surfaces are made of. It can be cut at extremely low heights, but there are newer varieties that are being produced that have better stress resistance and can take lower mowing heights.
This season, the agronomy team, has had a plan in place to increase speeds and the results have been very positive. Stimpmeter readings are taken at least three times a week on 7 of the 18 greens. We choose greens, and areas on those greens, that are flat that give us the most accurate readings. We roll two balls in one direction measure the distance and repeat the process going in the opposite direction and then take the average of the two. All the green's averages are added together to make a daily average reading. Our current plan has increased the green's speeds significantly from last season. We share these results monthly with the greens committee and make adjustments as needed. Currently our 3 month average is 10.5', which is a good number for regular play. This year is somewhat of a test to see what the greens can handle and make a plan moving forward. The summer months are the hardest time for cool-season grasses and we are currently evaluating the greens conditions during this stressful time. We are seeing an increase in localized dry spots from these increased speeds and extreme heat. Many greens at WHCC were constructed in 1912 and other clubs in our area have newer and better draining greens. This is defiantly an area that needs to be addressed if higher readings are desired. The need for speed is a trend that looks like it will be around for awhile and the agronomy team is committed to providing the members the best greens possible.
For more informtion on green speed from the USGA click here
Brad Piecuch
Assistant Superintendent/Horticulturist
Assistant Superintendent/Horticulturist
