Punched Greens-how do you handle them?

[davep043]

I'd rather play aerated greens if it means fewer people on the course but I've never found that to be the case.

And if the course is full, there's no reason the course needs to offer a discount. And really, do YOU take a voluntary pay cut when you're feeling sick, but go to work anyway? You know you're not performing up to your normal standards, but I bet you still want your full pay. On the other hand, I agree, honesty is appropriate, tell the players who ask about it.

 

As for how it plays, I hit the putts harder. Sure, some will get a bad bounce and miss. On the other hand, I know that none of us hit perfect putts every time. Sometimes the odd bounce will actually cause the putt to go in.

[Ferguson]

This is something different. Someone wanted a special discount for having to play on punched greens.

 

There are some courses here (Northeast Florida) that lower their rates when they punch, which is why the GolfNow alert is helpful. Experience tells me when I see a great deal for the World Golf Village courses I automatically call over to see what they've been doing maintenance-wise. 99% of the time it's because they just punched.

 

 

*florida

[deadsolid...shank]

I'd rather play aerated greens if it means fewer people on the course but I've never found that to be the case.

And if the course is full, there's no reason the course needs to offer a discount. And really, do YOU take a voluntary pay cut when you're feeling sick, but go to work anyway? You know you're not performing up to your normal standards, but I bet you still want your full pay. On the other hand, I agree, honesty is appropriate, tell the players who ask about it.

 

 

 

But the work analogy is like the member course. You’re there a lot, so you’re going to have “better than average”days also. So hopefully over the long haul your production will be where it normally should be. Now if you were a temp and went in for one day while being sick, maybe they wouldn’t get their money’s worth.

 

Kind of like playing a public course one time only to get out there and find out about the aeration.

 

You can deal with substandard conditions becasue those are subjective and (hopefully!) not purposeful.

[mneumann]

Try to avoid them at all costs, if it cant be avoided just make the best of it, not like you can get frustrated at yourself for missing the putts, it's still golf.

 

I thought discounted rates were the norm, a lot of places around here are variable priced anyway, where they have a full rate and if you get to 1-2 days out and times are still available their website drops the prices of certain times to try to fill them.

 

I played a fairly high end private recently on reciprocal with a buddy, they were not hurting for business at all. When we walked in to check in they said hey just so you know we had a little issue on a couple of the greens and we are doing some sod replacement, mostly right around the fringes, maybe 5 holes. Due to this our rate for the time being has been reduced from 195 to 125, it shouldn't impact your play but we dont feel it's right to charge full rack if the course isn't up to standards. That was an awesome move, and we hardly even noticed the work on the course, wouldnt have thought anything of it if they hadn't told us.

[larrybud]

This time of year you have to ask when making a tee time. If they've been punched in the last 2 weeks, I'll just go somewhere else. What ticks me off is courses charging full rates, that's just not right.

 

 

So what you're saying is that the course should (via your proposal to institute "variable rates") charge more for greens fees when playing conditions are excellent?

 

I would hope "Excellent" is the baseline, and everything is rated from there.

 

Played a private club yesterday, they had their "aeration rates" in effect for 2 weeks after. 40 instead of 75 guest fee.

[larrybud]

I'd rather play aerated greens if it means fewer people on the course but I've never found that to be the case.

And if the course is full, there's no reason the course needs to offer a discount.

 

Perhaps no reason in the short term, except that you might piss off future customers because they got hit with full rates when the course was in lousy condition. Golf course managers are experts at looking at the short term*.

 

*See: 6 minute tee times.

[dlygrisse]

This time of year, ask. I don't mind them a week or so after the aereation. Rarely do all courses in an area do it the same day, so you can stagger where you play. I played last week and while they were still a bit bumpy and wobbly they were very puttable after a week. Adjust your expectations, you aren't going to be rolling a bunch that day, but niether is anyone else.

[Golfer4Life]

I just play them with very low expectations and don’t grade my putting. I don't worry much.

[NJpatbee]

I have never asked for a discount for aerated greens but I would appreciate notice before I book a tee time. At my (former) home course I would usually just play and deal with it like an extra windy or rainy day. If I plan to play at a high end resort course I will ask the conditions and go elsewhere if they just aerated.

[Hellstorm]

In my part of the world, its typically advertised on their website when they will be punching the greens and fairways. I don't play club golf so its all public for me. I have also noticed that some of the courses try to stagger when they do it so not everybody is punched at the same time.

[caniac6]

We make sure our ball is not sitting in a hole, and then, we play just like regular greens.

we generally just laugh at the funny bounces.

[jholz]

Punched greens suck, I agree. I also agree that courses should (and often do) advertise the fact. Showing up, paying full price, then finding out the greens have been punched is not cool.

 

That being said, I've gotten to the point where I don't really think they interfere with my putting that much. As long as the greens have been properly sanded, they run about as true as a torn up muni green late in the day.

 

Where they really kill me is chipping. I love seeing that perfectly hit chip bounce 90* sideways.

[Circaflex]

Re: I can't think of a single course in my region that doesn't have summer rates and reduced spring/fall rates.

 

 

This is something different. Someone wanted a special discount for having to play on punched greens.

 

Is this really something you have never heard of? You seemed to be so hung up on that part of the discussion. I know in Southern California, every single course I play public and private, will have discounted rates while the greens are being punched. Why wouldn't you get a discount when the field isn't in the regular condition? You arent getting the normal experience.

[RainShadow]

Hit the green, if the first put end within a 3 foot circle, its a gimme. No 3 putts count, Unless it's a tourney.

I try to avoid freely punched greens for at least 3 weeks.

I love putting, and would just as soon not play than to have to play on crap.

[Big Ben]

I don’t necessarily agree with a price reduction but a courtesy to know they are plugged is always appreciated. I might consider offering a free dog and soda at the turn, something simple.

[Mikey5e]

As bad as it was this past Saturday, it reminds me of what can be done if a course wants to serve its customers the best it can and still aerate the greens. A particular local Course aerates only half the green at a time, then cuts the hole well into the unaerated side of the green. It may be more hassle for the course because of the extra work, but they have gained my respect and loyalty just the same. By the way, this course has some of the nicest greens I have ever seen for a municipal golf course. The owner is almost ocd when it comes to the quality of the putting greens. The fees for 18 holes are very very reasonable, although not the most difficult course, it is a very relaxing and pleasant course to play. I have never heard of a course aerating just half the green at a time, but these guys do, and have some beautiful putting greens as well.

[PappyVanWinkle53]

Just like what some others have said.....anything outside 10 feet (which is where a vast majority of your approaches are likely to end up), you’re highly unlikely to make anyway....so just two putt and move on. Maybe you will get lucky and hole it. If you’re scrambling, you should be putting it within gimme range anyway to give yourself a decent shot at saving par. It’s just not worth getting bent out of shape over something that doesn’t have that big of an effect at the end of the day.

[MichaelJScott]

Man up.

[BiggErn]

This time of year you have to ask when making a tee time. If they've been punched in the last 2 weeks, I'll just go somewhere else. What ticks me off is courses charging full rates, that's just not right.

 

 

So what you're saying is that the course should (via your proposal to institute "variable rates") charge more for greens fees when playing conditions are excellent?

 

Yes, they have their regular rate, discount it when the greens have been punched. The course where we play our 9 hole league does that, more courses should follow their lead. Similarly, most have early/late season rates vs prime season rates, i.e. charging less before May 1 and after Oct 1 or thereabouts.

 

 

Why the discount? It's maintenance - just like fixing a sprinkler head, re-sodding part of a fairway or rebuilding a bunker (sand trap).

 

Maybe because most will go somewhere else that’s in good condition rather than pay full to play temporarily mutilated greens.

[PappyVanWinkle53]

As far as price reduction goes, I’m not bothered one way or another.....however, when I played Pebble last year, they had punched the greens a week and a half beforehand....they let me know before i booked (a month out) that it was on the schedule to be punched and even offered $100 off the greens fees! Sanded perfectly and putts rolled beautifully.

[LUMA]

Don't take your puts seriously. When they punch, I just work on the rest of my game. If it's within 2 or 3 feet, I just pick it up and move on.

[Rohlio]

Just hit a second ball at the first green... Then you are no longer playing by the rules of golf and you can just quit keeping score... Just focus on hitting it close, don't bother putting, drink a few beers and enjoy your day

[MonteScheinblum]

Hit every putt as solid as you can and understand the results will be the same as dealing with your wife after she got in a fight with her best girlfriend.

 

Not matter what you do, no matter what you say, no matter how good the intent, plan or execution of the plan is, it’s going to end poorly for you, so just accept it.

[Golfjack]

I hate them, but I've learned to just be more even keel about the annoying thing on a golf course like slow play and bad bounces or conditions. It's still golf and time away from other worries in life lol.

[oikos1]

This time of year you have to ask when making a tee time. If they've been punched in the last 2 weeks, I'll just go somewhere else. What ticks me off is courses charging full rates, that's just not right.

 

 

So what you're saying is that the course should (via your proposal to institute "variable rates") charge more for greens fees when playing conditions are excellent?

 

A lot of courses already take this approach. However, no discount for punched greens. Good time to play fairways and greenies and finish eighteen under two hours.

[aliikane]

I avoid them if at all possible. I have no problems with poor fairways, but aerated or poor slow greens is something I don't like. And also greenside bunkers that have no sand.

[HitEmTrue]

Just hit a second ball at the first green... Then you are no longer playing by the rules of golf and you can just quit keeping score... Just focus on hitting it close, don't bother putting, drink a few beers and enjoy your day

 

As easy as it is to break the rules, doing what you said does not remove the handicap posting requirement.

 

 

[HitEmTrue]

Just played a course with freshly aerated greens, and walked off the course after nine holes. It was Saturday, the course was very slow, very hot out, and the greens had just been aerated. There was not much enjoyable going on, as there was really too much against the effort to have a positive outlook to this round. There were two foursomes in front of us with no business playing from the back tees. The weather was in the upper 80s with hardly a breeze, and the greens were basically unputtable in my opinion. I can't remember walking off the course before, but this round I felt it had to be done. Why waste my time on an unenjoyable around? How have aerated greens affected your play and outlook before? Have you ever walked off because of it?

 

Going out on a limb here...no eagles that day? :)

 

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Just hit a second ball at the first green... Then you are no longer playing by the rules of golf and you can just quit keeping score... Just focus on hitting it close, don't bother putting, drink a few beers and enjoy your day

 

As easy as it is to break the rules, doing what you said does not remove the handicap posting requirement.

If you're not trying to play for your best score that also removes the posting requirement.

[naval2006]

I think the custom anywhere is if the greens are punched the discount runs because people will choose not to play the course and go someplace else. In the case of club members it's just maintainance and there isn't much you can do about it, they won't offer a rebate or something of the sort because your greens need aireation.

 

Regarding putting on punched greens, it's simply helpless. You just play for the sake of the game but there's no way you can plan a decent round around punched greens. However I've seen people holing out more than average on aireated greens: bad putters who whack the ball on sandy uneven soil and it goes down the drain with that short hard thump.