Putting Green

Why install a Putting Green?

Why install a Putting Green? For many of the same reasons one would install a Chipping Green. In this instance, because TAKaya believed that the products would pay for themselves so quickly, they believed the installation of both a chipping green and a putting green would make sense for the facility. Although both surfaces are large, 4000 square feet is not enough for chipping, pitching, bunker play and putting. So they chose to develop a “putting only” green. Now when a customer is looking for a quiet place to work out the kinks in his or her stroke, they have found it, as opposed to seeking out the nearest public golf course after their bucket is done.
The putting green, as well as the chipping green, adds to a Teaching Professionals ability to focus on the entire game. Instantaneously they have developed their product into one that can focus on all aspects of the game within the same lesson period.
And finally, Aesthetics! There is 3 feet of perimeter fringe around the golf green that is a darker green than the surface itself. The two shades compliment each other and it really defines the surface as a focal point to the entire facility. And the added touch of 32” fiberglass poles with yellow nylon flags creates a professional touch. The look of the product is quite amazing.

What are Precision Greens’ thoughts on this project?

Again there was a deceptive height difference from front to back which forced our hand in choosing the general topography on this particular project. For us its always best to have some elevation change in a putting green as it is easier to be creative and you do not waste surface area by creating elevation that has to just taper back down to the original grade (hopefully that makes sense). The surface was large enough to install 9 holes without being too crowded. From any hole there is a clear path to the other 8. The green looks very “balanced” given our choice of pin placements.
As for the undulations, it is easy to be creative. Putting from back to front there is a premium on visualizing speed. For instance there are a couple of puts that you almost want to have stop at the top of the slope, 6 or 7 feet right of the hole, and if you do that properly the ball will end up in or near the cup. Uphill puts allow you to take a solid putt at it. It’s difficult to get the ball to the hole on a few of the putts. When putting across the slopes there is anywhere from 1 foot to 15 feet of break in there depending on the putt. As fierce as the undulations sound, there are three large flat areas which give you putts directly at or just outside the hole when putting towards them.
The green itself is constructed of the industries best Nylon Putting Surface. The material is non-directional and rolls at approximately 10 on the “stimp meter” (a tool used to measure the speed of a golf green). 10 is typical of what you would see in British Columbia. The ball rolls out wonderfully and hugs the turf as it goes, mirroring what you would see at a championship golf facility.
When the putting green is empty it is nice to sneak a few low chip shots in there because inside of 30 yards or so, the green reacts flawlessly.
We at Precision Greens feel that this Putting Green was a big success.