Technical “There are Square oiled green on Pinehurst No.2 (courtesy of USGA Golf Bulletin May 1901) Green size
Green sizes vary from course to course. An average green should be between 300m2
and 400m2 . . However, green sizes
can be much larger, sometimes upwards of 600m2
Reasons for increased size include the change in levels and the amount of lobes incorporated into the design and, therefore, the available pin positions required. The size also has to incorporate the movement and turning circle of a ride on mower, if that is what is used on the course, to ensure turf is not ripped with the tyres. This also ensures that the target is not too narrow, allowing the majority of the surface to remain pinnable. Pinnable areas on the green are portions of the surface that are relatively flat and at least three metres away from the green edge. When considering
pinnable areas, a golf course architect is looking to strike a balance between the interest created in the lobes of the putting surface, whilst maintaining as high a percentage of pinnable locations as possible. Alister MacKenzie was a true master of pushing these boundaries, as some of his more recognisable works attest. His greens at Augusta are considered, to this day, some of the most difficult tour challenges the professional golfer has to face. MacKenzie stood out within the golden age of design for creating incredibly challenging green contours. Sitwell Park’s par 3 includes some fantastically frightening height changes and more than five distinct lobes. Unfortunately, this green is no longer in existence, but many more exist of similar style. It should be noted that this is different to the type of green commonly
some examples of greens consisting of squares of oiled sand, including Pinehurst No. 2”
referred to as a MacKenzie green. The MacKenzie green is a two tiered
green with a simple straight tier drop. However, it is rare that MacKenzie actually used this in his designs and is, therefore, somewhat of a fallacy that his name is associated it. Green size should reflect the difficulty of the approach shot. Longer approach shots should generally be played to a larger green surface as if played to a smaller surface, or smaller surface entrance, the difficulty of the hole is dramatically increased. An approach shot should entice rather than completely block the approach, and the golfer should then be rewarded for successfully negotiating the hazards by finding his ball on a green perhaps larger than it looked on the approach. This effect can be created by careful placement of bunkers and other similar hazards.
MacKenzie’s stunning 12th green at Sitwell Park (courtesy of Golf Illustrated November 1915) DECEMBER/JANUARY 2012 PC 121
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