Chipping Green

Why Install A Chipping Green?

Although no revenues will be made from the chipping green at this particular facility, they decided to implement the chipping green as a value added service for their customers. As the golfing public is becoming more conscious of the importance of the short game, there is increasing demand for places to practice this facet of the game.
The secondary reason for implementing this feature is the cost factor. Given maintenance costs’ on the up keep of such a large chipping surface, it’s only reasonable that the price of the feature will pay for itself. Expected to pay for itself in 2 to 3 years, with an 8 year warranty on the product, it seems like good business sense to implement this product.
And lastly, the look of the surface once installed compliments the rest of the facility quite nicely. Its lush green look will be consistent for the life of the product. Basic maintenance is needed on the chipping green which basically consists’ of keeping the debris from resting on the surface for extended periods of time.

What are Precision Greens’ thoughts on this project?

After careful design strategies and thoughtful construction, the chipping green functions every bit as good as we thought it could. From the design standpoint, we used the natural lay of the land to our advantage. The area had a fairly severe grade from back to front. We implemented a “false front” on the front of the green; this is the angle that a high percentage of the shots would be entering from. This forces the golfer to run the ball hard into the face of the false front to get it up or to hit a lob very high and soft to hold the ball near one of the front three pins. Within the front 1/3 of the green lies a pin tucked in a “semi bowl”, creating exciting shots from all angles. The remaining 2/3 of the surface are distinguished by two uniquely shaped tiers that act as differentials for the elevation change and as a strategic obstacle for the golfer. There are two very large flat areas within that space; by flat I mean not extremely contoured but with a steady, continuous grade from back to front.
We also took on the task of enlarging the existing sand trap beside the chipping green. Designed in such a way that it allows the golfer to splash a shot just over the face of the trap to roll down the hill and access the closest pin or to take a full swing and carry the ball 20 yards to the farthest pin. The surface itself is an in-fill product, not typical of a “putting green” we generally install. The reason we do this is so that shots can be held from lengths exceeding 150 yards if needed. That being said, the surface putts wonderfully. Putting was its main function for the golfers at TAKaya who awaited the completion of the actual putting green. Granted there is a break in period for the in-fill surface but, golfers exclaimed there delight with its true roll the very first day that it opened. Small chip shots, medium range pitch shots and full length short irons (PW, 9ir) all held perfectly. A flush 9 iron stopped within 15 feet of its landing mark.
Overall the function of this green would be good enough for that of an 18 hole championship golf course and now acts as a large practice area for short gamers in North Vancouver.