The 'gnome's Secrets
 

We've played some practice rounds together. And, you have a routine that you use when mapping a green. How many details are you writing in the yardage book about the green complex, when you're stepping off the depth?

recon!!!
 

This is a great question and one that I was definitely going to get to at some point, but since you asked....

When I am preparing for a tournament I spend most of my time "mapping" the greens and a surrounding area of about 30 yards to include bunkers, swails, or anything else not seen from the fairway. There are several ways to do this but my procedure is as follows:

1. Either buy a yardage book of the course if it has a quality drawing of the green or go to google earth and print out pictures of the course and each green. You would be surprised what kind of detail you can get from this. Google earth will also give you an exact "true north" position for each hole. This is important for "grain" and wind direction. If neither of these is available I draw it as acurately as possible.

2. Once I have a green diagram, I pace the green depth front to back, side to side, and also diagonally if I feel I may be coming in from an odd angle such as par 5's or short par 4's.

3. As I am pacing these areas I also note distances to ridges, bunker edges, downslopes, etc, and place directional arrows on areas where there is significant slopes or run-off areas.

4. Once I have the green and surrounds complete I look for potential hole locations and mark those. Once I have these I create "go spots" and "no-go spots". When playing a tournament I often do not have the luxury of guessing. I need to know that I have a "green light" to a flag or not. I also make note of green "breaks", firmness, and pace.

I try to play at least two practice rounds in order to become familiar with the course. I do not spend as much time mapping the course because most things are in front of you and I use a rangefinder. If I am not able to use a rangefinder then I spend more time mapping the course as well.

Hope this helps. I would love to hear from some of the pro caddies out there to see what they do for their players.

Google Earth Edge
 

Wow, golfgnome. I have never heard of this. Thanks!

Question: what is the relationship between 'true north' and grain / wind direction?

:clap:

Jeff,

Wow, this is going to be a GREAT sub-forum. I am really looking forward to your insight on taking it to the course. Great first lesson!

The next sub-forum you will have to start is time management. I don't know how you do it PRO!

Thank You,
Kevin

I use true north as a reference only. When the wind is coming from the West/Northwest I can mark it on each hole so the "swirls" do not confuse me. Also if you are playing in an area where everything breaks toward the ocean, or Indio, or whatever, I can always have that reference.

For those who play on bermuda, grain is always an issue. The grain will typically grow toward the west (setting sun). Once again having a reference helps to eliminate doubt and is by no means an absolute.

Interesting stuff Jeff. Keep it coming.
Do you think this is OTT for a normal weekend player? Or is it a case of having as much information as possible (good input good output etc)
Alex

I do not believe you can have too much information, especially on the golf course. I try to make every course a "home course" and use this to my advantage. If I play a hole poorly during a practice round or am not comfortable with it, I will play it over until it is and only recall the positive way to play it.

As far as a weekend player is concerned I think it is wise to know the "safe spot" on every approach, even if it is not on the green. Laying up or even knocking it over may not be a bad play, especially if that is the safe spot.

Looking at the hole
 

I understand that looking at the hole, you will see one
side somewhat ragged and the other side clean cut.
Bermuda Grass. Do to the way the hole cutter works,
the cutter will tear, more than cut, on the rough side
which is the way that the grain is growing.

Do you have any experience with this.

Donn

reading Bermuda
 

Caution: The following advice is from someone that wants Bent rolling a 15.

I've seen people that putt really well using that technique. But, I (personally) have not had as much success with that. The only way that I can putt on Bermuda is to do a 360 degree walk-around.

This is good for the last couple of feet to the hole. The best way to see grain is "shiny"=fast, "dull or dark" = slow. If you get both then pray!

The Short Course -- Between the Ears
 

It is no exaggeration to say that the average PGA TOUR player knows the golf course he's just played for only one week better than the average member who has played the same course for ten years.

These guys are good, and their golf playing skills go far beyond merely swinging the club.

:salut:

The grass is growing across the hole. The cutter cuts the roots on one side. The burnt edge is the result.

The "Burnt Edge" . . .
 

. . . Common terminology among those who make their living at such things. For the rest of us . . .

Cool!

Thanks, Henny!

:salut:

I use the compass exactly the same for wind, Indio, etc.

I use it as a reference for grain, but I prefer to rub the green for a truer test in areas where I anticipate pin placements. I often find grain following slopes and working towards water rather than going to the Southwest. When the slope goes to the Southwest, the grain can become very strong.

I mark the grain in the book as a reference for wedges shots and full shots to help anticipate spin or skip.

Great stuff guys.

What is 'Indio"? Hope I dont look too stupid here.

Thanks
OB

Toronto SouthWest
 

We're talkin' the California desert, O.B., where the sun shines 354 days each year . . . Palm Springs and the surrounding parts: Indio, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta and Rancho Mirage.

:sunny:

http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses...?dest=Indio+ca

Where all putts break toward Indio, or . . .

Whatever! [Add Valley Girl accent.]

:laughing9

Thanks Yoda

And I was just in Palm Springs for New Years. OMG.

So this refers to reading the "lay of the land" in a mountainous area with a compass? Is that right? Google earth maybe for topographical maps?

These guys are good and thorough too.

Regards
OB

Lowering Your Score With . . . A Compass and Your Hand?
 

C'mon, guys. Where have you ever heard stuff like this?

Determining and marking grain to anticipate wedge shot "spin or skip" into the pin? Again . . .

C'mon.

Hats off, HennyB.

Thanks!

:salut:

Indio is down valley. World around you seems flat but is actually tilted slightly down valley.

Henny

It occurs to me that your job description has gotten a lot longer of late. Adding surveyor to everything else you guys do. Wind reader, confidence whisperer etc etc etc etc etc.

Good luck at the Hope if that is where you are at.

And all the best for the coming season.
OB

Shiny/Dull
 

Seems to me, that when the sun is behind me the grass looks shiny.
When the sun is in front of me, the grass looks dull. Should I be looking
at the grass from the side?

what a great thread!

:salut:

I thought I knew my home course! Turns out, I know Jack @##@!!!!

Once again just a reference. Walk around and you should see one side shinier than the other. this would be "down grain" and will be faster and less likely for a ball to check up as well.

greens and sheens
 

Jeff

Since we are talking green reading, sheens etc . Do you have any thoughts in regards to sunglasses; polarized , non polarized, green, brown? Is there a trend on tour or is it a personal preference sort of deal.

I have trouble wearing them but bright low light can make it hard to get a read sometimes. Almost as hard as hitting it where I am aiming but that is another story.

Really enjoying your threads.

OB

I wear Peakvision because they have the least amount of distortion I have found, and they do not change the colors much. They tend to take the glare out and I can wear them in even low light situations. My eyes are very light sensitive so I have a hard time functioning without them.

I do not know what is popular on tour but I would love to know if something is better. I do know that many players do not wear them to read greens or putt. Once again personal preference prevails.

coke bottles
 

For those that wear prescriptions, Peak Vision has a great product. More than a few have gotten headaches looking through my specs.

scrips for greens
 

OAKLEY hands down