The truth
& consequences of green speed
Years ago,
there was a man named Edward Stimpson who loved golf and craved to create
more fairness in the game. To further his passion, he invented a device
intended to ensure that all the greens on a course were of relatively
equal speed. The idea was to give superintendents (then, greenkeepers) a
way to compare the speed of the 4th green with the 13th and take steps to
equalize them. This was, no doubt, a sound and noble idea.
But
sometimes bad things happen to good ideas.
Today, his
simple tool, the Stimpmeter, is often misused to compare the speed of
greens from course to course and unfortunately, to establish a benchmark
of putting difficulty. Golfers are sometimes heard to say, "Hey,
Hickory Hills was 'stimping' 13 last week." This essentially means
that the greens were as fast as the linoleum on most kitchen floors.
From a
purely competitive standpoint, that's OK. However, this quest for fast
greens has serious consequences in terms of cost, environmental quality
and the long-term health of the green. In short, speed can kill. Here's
why:
A healthy,
vigorous green can be maintained at a very short cutting height (as low as
1/8-inch) for short periods of time without serious consequences if it's
been prepared properly and weather conditions are acceptable. Courses
hosting tournaments often take months (and spend significant extra money)
to bring greens up to an ultrafast speed for PGA Tour players. For
example, the greens at Augusta National or Oakmont may "stimp"
up to 14 when properly prepared and dry.
However,
fast greens are extremely fragile. If you compared them with human beings,
it would be fair to say that their immune systems can be very weak. They
become susceptible to diseases and pests, and therefore may require more
chemical treatments. Weather can also quickly destroy the health of an
ultrafast green. High temperatures and lack of moisture in the air are
deadly to greens that are maintained at very short cutting heights for any
length of time.
The risks
of maintaining fast greens -- even with the best professional management
by superintendents -- were apparent in the summer of 1995 when golf
courses across the eastern United States lost greens during an extended
period of drought and high temperatures. Many of the world's best-known
courses suffered serious damage and were essentially unplayable for the
last half of the year. Many of these had to be reseeded or completely
rebuilt at a cost that was high in terms of budget, playability and
reputation.
The
solution to the dilemma of fast greens is twofold. First, the golf
industry is sponsoring and promoting research and development of new
grasses that are more tolerant of fast speeds under adverse conditions.
Organizations such as the USGA and GCSAA are investing millions of dollars
in this effort.
On the
other side, golfers should understand and accept the limitations of these
living systems we call greens. Golfers should also heed the advice of
superintendents who manage, nurture and protect these ecosystems. And
finally, many golfers must change their attitudes about the competitive
aspect of green speeds. They should, in the footsteps of Mr. Stimpson,
strive for fairness, not fastness.
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