Sharp edged, freshly cut hole versus old beat down hole

[bk52]

I have sometimes pondered whether a newly cut hole makes it easier or harder to hole putts. Those beat up older hole locations certainly suck in some slowly moving putts with their beveled edge, almost like a funnel. At the same time, however, the beveled edge seems to act like a banked turn at a race track and rejects a decent effort with a 90 degree to 180 degree lip out.

 

The sharp edge doesn't seem to create the race track effect except on slightly too strong efforts. Still, a ball wandering slowly to the hole has to be in; you can't count on a downward sloping edge to pull the ball home.

 

Anyone ever see any Pelz-type research on this? What does everyone else think?

[bwrichmond]

Hmm. Interesting question.

Don't know much about the beveled edge of an old hole vs. a new hole, but I think I'd rather play a new hole.

Also, there can be a volcano effect on older holes. When people go to grab their balls out of the hole, they rarely step within a foot of the edge of the cup. Repeat that over several hours / rounds of golf, and the area a foot out from the edges of the cup gets depressed more than the area within the one foot radius, therefore creating a minor volcano effect. At least I saw that on TV somewhere and it made sense to me.

[vbb]

Sharp or beveled, I've always found the holes at the golf courses I play much too small for my liking.

[mr_divots]

I think the only thing that bothers me is when they are set too DEEP and its almost like the hole is folding in on itself.

[geoangus]

Well the thing I find most annoying with a beat down hole is that the side getting the most sun tends to grow towards the sun, thus shrinking the hole a little (~1/8")

[GWD]

I played a course in Jamaica that looked like the holes had not be changed in a month. The grass had grown over the plastic cup edge and the hole consequently was considerably smaller than normal. It was also hard to see from even a moderate distance without having the pin in.

Anyway, the holes did not accept a putt on the edge at all. It had to be dead center or the ball just rolled on by...like the famous "cellophane bridge".

You can imagine the slowness and length of grass on the green for the greens to get in that condition.

So, in response to the OP's question, the hole condition does has an effect on putts under certain circumstances.

[bruinsPATSirish]

I would be very curious to see the outcome of a test on that one. I would have to put money on the freshly cut hole because it is a more defined and predictable edge... interesting though

[Graymulligan]

Give me the new one every time. I want a situation where if I hit it where it's supposed to go that there won't be any nonsense that keeps it from going in. That's far more important to me than maybe getting one to roll in the side door because the hole is tilted the right way.

[bk52]

[quote name='bwrichmond' timestamp='1388087716' post='8351011']

Also, there can be a volcano effect on older holes. When people go to grab their balls out of the hole, they rarely step within a foot of the edge of the cup. Repeat that over several hours / rounds of golf, and the area a foot out from the edges of the cup gets depressed more than the area within the one foot radius, therefore creating a minor volcano effect.
[/quote]

Very true. A local instructor calls it the "lumpy doughnut" but "volcano effect" is a pretty good name.

[bwrichmond]

[quote name='bk52' timestamp='1388157738' post='8354411']
[quote name='bwrichmond' timestamp='1388087716' post='8351011']
Also, there can be a volcano effect on older holes. When people go to grab their balls out of the hole, they rarely step within a foot of the edge of the cup. Repeat that over several hours / rounds of golf, and the area a foot out from the edges of the cup gets depressed more than the area within the one foot radius, therefore creating a minor volcano effect.
[/quote]

Very true. A local instructor calls it the "lumpy doughnut" but "volcano effect" is a pretty good name.
[/quote]

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