Should there be a standard green speed on public courses?

[BlackDiamondPar5]

[quote name='mackepa' timestamp='1405860862' post='9740183']
Coming from someone who's family has been in the golf course business for many, many years, the shorter you cut a green the harder and more expensive it gets to maintain it. Add that with the fact that green designs vary greatly from location to location it can be near impossible to cut greens really low without destroying the surface in a matter of days. One of our courses in particular that is a very popular course will never have super fast greens but we go out of our way to top dress our greens weekly to fill in the imperfections and give the ball a smooth roll.

We like to look at it as would a typical player rather putt on a mid speed green that will roll true or a super quick but bumpy green with patchy burnt surfaces?
[/quote]

I posted a link to a golfwrx article farther up in this thread yesterday that you may find interesting.

[mackepa]

[quote name='Andy L' timestamp='1405861769' post='9740255']
[quote name='mackepa' timestamp='1405860862' post='9740183']
Coming from someone who's family has been in the golf course business for many, many years, the shorter you cut a green the harder and more expensive it gets to maintain it. Add that with the fact that green designs vary greatly from location to location it can be near impossible to cut greens really low without destroying the surface in a matter of days. One of our courses in particular that is a very popular course will never have super fast greens but we go out of our way to top dress our greens weekly to fill in the imperfections and give the ball a smooth roll.

We like to look at it as would a typical player rather putt on a mid speed green that will roll true or a super quick but bumpy green with patchy burnt surfaces?
[/quote]

I posted a link to a golfwrx article farther up in this thread yesterday that you may find interesting.
[/quote]

That was a good read and I agree about the pace of play comments in the article. I played in a tournament earlier this year on some slick greens and borderline stupid pin placements. They wanted us to play in 4:15 minutes. It was utterly impossible given how many players were 3 putting and having to measure putts from every angle. I surely don't mind fast greens, in fact they are rather fun but I understand the economical impact they can have on a business and it just isn't plausible in a long term scenario for a standard public facility.

[teejaywhy]

[quote name='monster967' timestamp='1405742884' post='9733399']
I have played multiple courses lately with wildly varying green speeds. For me, putts are harder to make on slow greens. I feel like I can't trust my stroke and subconsciously must swing harder, therefore causing me to close the putter face, etc. I believe the game is meant to be played on fast and firm greens like in the old country. I know courses cater to the general public, but I believe that if you can't putt fast greens then don't play. I might be in the minority here but what do you think? should there be a minimum standard speed around 9 or 10 at least?
[/quote]

A minimum standard speed?

No matter the climate?
No matter the soil?
No matter the turfgrass?
No matter the slope and contour?
No matter the maintenance budget and price point of the course?

Right...

If you don't know anything about golf, then don't play.

[az2au]

Have you ever playing in Ireland or Scotland? A lot of time the FWs are faster than the greens at links courses. I've seen them be scary fast but usually they are relatively slow compared to most places I play.

[SwingBlade]

[quote name='az2au' timestamp='1405890158' post='9743227']
Have you ever playing in Ireland or Scotland? A lot of time the FWs are faster than the greens at links courses. I've seen them be scary fast but usually they are relatively slow compared to most places I play.
[/quote]

That's just how it often is on true links courses. I played with an Irishman once who putted everything within 50 feet of the edge of the green. And his I usually positive results were mind boggling. I've also played two different courses in the 48 hours immediately following a U.S. Open and another course 12 hours after the finish of a PGA Championship. IMO there is no way the vast majority of golfers would have the slightest desire to routinely try and putt in that environment and the degree to which play would slow down would be beyond unacceptable as well.