Golf Course Practice Putting Green

This should be maintained to the same standard of the greens on the course.

A putting green helps golfers’ ‘warm-up’ for and ‘cool-down’ from, a round of golf and should therefore provide the same playing characteristics as the main greens so as to help golfers develop and improve their skills.

This green might have a variable number of holes cut at different times of the year. During the winter period it might be sensible to have a greater space between holes to help spread wear which cannot easily recover during this low to no growth period, with 6 to 9 holes being typical.

During the summer and main growth periods either side of it then the number of holes might be 9 to 12. The size of the putting green will clearly influence the number of holes that can be provided at any one time, having different distances to practice both short and long putts.

Ideally any practice putting green will be located away from surrounding trees as not only will this reduce the potential for shade being cast on the green but also it is surprising how far tree roots extend laterally within the soil. These can offer significant competition for available water during the drier periods of the year, with noticeable light-browning and thinning of the sward occurring where irrigation is not amply supplied.