Putting Green Speed

Green Speed is a term that is always being talked about at the golf course. Either the greens were fast, or the greens were slow. What determines fast or slow?? Green Speed is determined using a tool called "Stimpmeter." A stimpmeter measures green speed in feet and inches. When someone says the greens are rolling 12, that means 12 feet.

There are many variables that control green speed. The obvious would be mowing height. The lower you mow, the faster the greens...usually. If you are mowing so low that your surface becomes thin due to stress, a golf ball rolling over those areas will bounce and lose speed. The ideal mowing height would provide good plant health and a true rolling putting surface.

Other variables that can have an effect on green speed are weather, moisture, fertilizer, mower setup, maintenance practices, cultural practices, and turfgrass variety.

Weather

Weather has a major impact on putting green speed. Cooler temperatures slow down growth and also cause the plant to have a very thin leaf blade. Both result in less friction on the golf ball which results in quicker greens. Once temperatures get warmer, turfgrass growth returns. This results in slightly more friction on the golf ball, which produces a slower green speed.

Humidity can also play a role in green speed. High humidity provides more moisture around the leaf blade, and also a thicker leaf blade. Those two variables result in more friction on the golf ball slowing down green speed.

Moisture

There is a reason for the term "firm and fast." It is difficult to truly have fast greens, but maintain extremely wet greens. You may notice that green speeds go down following a heavy rainfall, and that green speeds increase when the grass is under some drought stress. The grass needs moisture to survive, so the proper management of moisture will help provide a good putting surface.

Fertilizer

Fertilizer can have a dramatic impact on putting green speed. Greens that receive a lot of nitrogen are going to be slower than greens that don't. Excessive nitrogen causes a surge in growth, and creates a very lush/thick leaf blade. Once again, more friction...slower greens. Here at Mediterra we fertilize very lightly and frequently on the greens. This is referred to as "spoon feeding." We provide the grass enough nutrients to maintain overall plant health, but not enough to cause growth surge. This helps us maintain a consistent green speed week to week.

Mower Setup

Mowers that are properly prepared for mowing are very important. Dull reels and bedknives aren't going to produce a quality-cut, and will result in losing green speed. Having a trained mechanical staff is very important to the overall outcome of the putting greens.

Maintenance Practices

Maintenance practices would include double-cutting and rolling. Both of these practices result in an increase in putting green speed.

Double-cutting helps remove more leaf tissue because you are mowing the green two different directions. Every time we mow there are also leaf blades that manage to stay under the cutting unit. Double-cutting helps to reduce the amount of leaf blades and we not cut. This results in less friction on the golf ball, and therefore an increase in putting green speed.

Rolling helps to smooth the putting surface. A smoother putting surface is going to result in truer and quicker green speeds.

Cultural Practices

Cultural practices would include topdressing, verticutting, and aerification. These practices help control thatch levels in the greens. Having too much thatch is going to result in a soft, spongy surface. Mowers will begin to scalp, and the overall performance of the putting green will decline as thatch levels increase. Our summer maintenance program is essential to avoid high levels of thatch in our greens.

Turfgrass Variety

The variety of turfgrass found on the greens is going to play a significant role in putting green speed. There have been major advancements over the past 10 years with improved putting green grasses. These newer grasses tolerate lower mowing heights, require less nitrogen, and have a finer leaf blade. Those factors help produce a quicker green speed.