Easier to relocate the pins for different reads as well as avoiding foot traffic to the same spots.
Due-Fun-489
I’d say the VAST majority of putting greens have holes…
ReasonableFriend4295
I won’t even be mad about it but I definitely wouldn’t have a full on practice session like this.
mulligan381
Reduces maint costs.
AzpRLoL
One of my local ranges has a mix of this + actual holes. These are a smaller target and its kind of nice to practice short range putts into them. Just my 2 cents.
Savings_Income4829
Honestly I like it better, when I warm up putting is all about figuring out the speed, but as a bonus now I have a even smaller target to get close too. Aim small miss small
Over_Leave
Never seen this in Australia, Mostly Victoria I’ve played in, Each practice putting green has 3-4 holes cut, some I’ve seen up to 19 holes cut
DoubleDebow
Whatever makes it easier on the greenskeepers. Doesn’t bother me one bit. I’m mostly looking for pace anyway, and if the greens busy, then I just putt to the fringe, like lagging for break in pool.
finbo25
Needs a sensor that sets of the ethereal sound of the ball dropping into the hole, then I’m in.
Legal-Description483
One course I play uses those, and has for 30 years.
Every other course I play has holes.
Intheswing
These markets don’t bother me. If you can hit the smaller target on the practice green, it makes your on course holes look so much bigger.
dcidino
If I had my way, I’d have at least one cup.
FatFaceFaster
Superintendent here: we have half and half on our PG and no cups at all on our chipping green.
It is exponentially easier to rotate the positions and avoid traffic stress with these while still providing ample targets on a busy putting green.
Changing holes on a putting green is not only time consuming but it leaves a plug which needs to heal and there are only so many places you can move them before you are forcing people to putt over recent plugs.
The stakes organically get moved around the green every morning when the mowers mow so no target location will ever be there more than 24 hours which is really good for the turf and saves a ton of time changing the cup. But also, if a golfer wants to change their angle for a different target/break they can move it themselves.
So if a golfer wants to just practice a pan flat putt they can move it to a location to do that. Or if they want a slider they can find a spot that gives them that.
Or if they want to be off to the side to work on a drill without bugging others they can do that too.
The ones I have have a tri-lobe shape to the bottom which “catches” the ball so you do get some feedback as to whether you “made the putt” or not. You just don’t get the sound of the ball in the cup.
I get it. I’m a competitive golfer long before I was a super. So that’s why we opted for 3 cups and 3 stakes on the putting green so golfers can use the cups if they’re adamant about it.
We put out 2 additional stakes out on tournament days when the green is packed.
Our CG is small and only for chipping (mowed at the same height as the PG though). But people don’t seem to mind just chipping to stakes.
Fun-Tart3867
Covid did a lot of that. Where’s the course located? I’m in NC and I’ve never seen a stick green like this and they never got rid of the holes. In California all my friends played gimme golf all 2020 because you only had to hit the big circle thing around the cup they didn’t want people reaching into the hole and touching the same spot. Could be they got inspired and liked the idea of not having to cut holes 🤷♂️
Ok-Raisin-456
putting green I use switches to these during the winter months, but goes back to regular holes once it warms back up.
Godlessheeathen666
This is one of the lowest rungs of importance in the world of golf. I would suggest that courses save money by doing this. The greens crews never have to change the holes.
Fragrant-Report-6411
Less maintenance eases traffic where the holes are as they can be changed frequently. I personally prefer them. I’d rather practice to a smaller object.
When I lad putt I do it to a tee in the ground.
ICantSeeDeadPpl
I’ve seen these for decades, definitely not a new concept.
OldChamp69
Easy to move locations to prevent wear and tear on the surface. A smaller target isn’t a bad thing when practicing anyway.
jakarooo
In the winter a lot of greens go fairly dormant. Cutting different pins the greens a lot of the times won’t heal and old cup marks will still be visible weeks later. Using the flags just allows the course to move pins and move traffic around the greens without leaving behind a ton of old cup marks. It could also just be a effort saving measure since this looks like a picture from the summer
Captain_Pink_Pants
These are perfectly fine. Practice green holes and the areas around them just end up getting thrashed anyway… What practice greens need more of are flat areas where you can just judge the condition and speed of the green. I’m not saying it needs to be like one big pool table… But it’s great when you can just hit flat, straight putts.
Carochio
Aim small…miss small.
anwright1371
Aim small miss small baby
Marksaheel
Love it. Not cutting cups!
ThrowinSm0ke
I’d rather cups, but it’s less ware on the practice greens, so I’m cool with it.
Realestateuniverse
I actually like the sticks, though I do think they should have a few holes too. The sticks great for hitting long shots to gauge distance on lag putts. You’re not trying to make it, you just want to get it within a few feet of that target
4whateverwecando
My place started this during covid so hands weren’t reaching in the cups. Powers that be decided to keep it this way. Easier to maintain. I really don’t like it.
Whiteshovel66
It’s not new. Places had this when I was young. Is it becoming more common?
Mysterious_Worker608
Of all the problems I have with golf, this isn’t one of them.
Rude_Audience_9556
Cheaper
LetsGoSilver
A hybrid of this is ideal.
bdubwilliams22
Shrinkflation. But seriously, it’s easier to keep the greens up and you can move “hole” locations.
TapZorRTwice
Haven’t seen this at all in Winnipeg.
Successful_Walrus_89
A course near me has them . Not a very large putting green , maybe 10y by 15y. Has about 25 of the MF on there. Difficult to practice long putts. So you move a couple of sticks and get yelled at by the starter
Edit: of course MF stands for Movable Flag…
HayesDNConfused
Torrey Pines
nowordsleft4now
Posts like these remind me how so many people in this sub haven’t played golf for nearly as long as I have and I’m only in my twenties
Orions_Suspenders_
Practice greens are there for you to get an idea for green speed and make sure your rhythm feels good before a round. It’s not a putt putt course. Holes are unnecessary.
SomeSamples
That’s a practice green, right? Makes perfect sense. Less maintenance. Maintenance costs money. Sticking a flag in the ground is way way cheaper than actually putting in an actual green hole.
Waste_Statement2742
Laziness.
mehnotsure
Terrible.
go-vols-28
Annoying as hell when I’m warming up for a tournament round. If it’s not a tournament then eh, I’m still annoyed but I can deal with it.
LakeofFire
No different to me. You can judge speed control
greendevilbrew
This saves time and wear for course setup.
BobbaGanush87
The shadow doesnt make sense to me
-I0I-
These are so much better for practice greens. They still give an audible sound when you hit them just right, no more fetching balls out of the hole, aim small miss small, and you can move them to wherever you want to practice to.
Holes get worn out quickly and are annoying to change for grounds crew because a freshly cut plug will never fully match up with a worn hole and will take longer to heal. These prolong the life of the green and putts will roll truer, matching the greens on the course much better.
eaglescout67
More importantly what with saying “only having sticks ANYMORE”. I see this odd use of anymore more often. Is this a Canadian thing or just bad US English grammar?
Turfmade
Obviously, the greens being that mint, they had to bitch about something. Who cares why. Literally a smaller target to hit..better practice. Also, having someone go cut 14 cups on daily basis and change them in a way that certain parts of that green don’t get smoked from foot traffic is incredibly tough…It’s better for the green, for the sup, and for you.
jmr39
Likely it’s because it’s currently winter and the plugs from the old cup location don’t heal very quickly. With these flags they can move the location every day to limit wear and not have a ton of plugs in the putting green
48 Comments
Easier to relocate the pins for different reads as well as avoiding foot traffic to the same spots.
I’d say the VAST majority of putting greens have holes…
I won’t even be mad about it but I definitely wouldn’t have a full on practice session like this.
Reduces maint costs.
One of my local ranges has a mix of this + actual holes. These are a smaller target and its kind of nice to practice short range putts into them. Just my 2 cents.
Honestly I like it better, when I warm up putting is all about figuring out the speed, but as a bonus now I have a even smaller target to get close too. Aim small miss small
Never seen this in Australia, Mostly Victoria I’ve played in, Each practice putting green has 3-4 holes cut, some I’ve seen up to 19 holes cut
Whatever makes it easier on the greenskeepers. Doesn’t bother me one bit. I’m mostly looking for pace anyway, and if the greens busy, then I just putt to the fringe, like lagging for break in pool.
Needs a sensor that sets of the ethereal sound of the ball dropping into the hole, then I’m in.
One course I play uses those, and has for 30 years.
Every other course I play has holes.
These markets don’t bother me. If you can hit the smaller target on the practice green, it makes your on course holes look so much bigger.
If I had my way, I’d have at least one cup.
Superintendent here: we have half and half on our PG and no cups at all on our chipping green.
It is exponentially easier to rotate the positions and avoid traffic stress with these while still providing ample targets on a busy putting green.
Changing holes on a putting green is not only time consuming but it leaves a plug which needs to heal and there are only so many places you can move them before you are forcing people to putt over recent plugs.
The stakes organically get moved around the green every morning when the mowers mow so no target location will ever be there more than 24 hours which is really good for the turf and saves a ton of time changing the cup. But also, if a golfer wants to change their angle for a different target/break they can move it themselves.
So if a golfer wants to just practice a pan flat putt they can move it to a location to do that. Or if they want a slider they can find a spot that gives them that.
Or if they want to be off to the side to work on a drill without bugging others they can do that too.
The ones I have have a tri-lobe shape to the bottom which “catches” the ball so you do get some feedback as to whether you “made the putt” or not. You just don’t get the sound of the ball in the cup.
I get it. I’m a competitive golfer long before I was a super. So that’s why we opted for 3 cups and 3 stakes on the putting green so golfers can use the cups if they’re adamant about it.
We put out 2 additional stakes out on tournament days when the green is packed.
Our CG is small and only for chipping (mowed at the same height as the PG though). But people don’t seem to mind just chipping to stakes.
Covid did a lot of that. Where’s the course located? I’m in NC and I’ve never seen a stick green like this and they never got rid of the holes. In California all my friends played gimme golf all 2020 because you only had to hit the big circle thing around the cup they didn’t want people reaching into the hole and touching the same spot. Could be they got inspired and liked the idea of not having to cut holes 🤷♂️
putting green I use switches to these during the winter months, but goes back to regular holes once it warms back up.
This is one of the lowest rungs of importance in the world of golf. I would suggest that courses save money by doing this. The greens crews never have to change the holes.
Less maintenance eases traffic where the holes are as they can be changed frequently. I personally prefer them. I’d rather practice to a smaller object.
When I lad putt I do it to a tee in the ground.
I’ve seen these for decades, definitely not a new concept.
Easy to move locations to prevent wear and tear on the surface. A smaller target isn’t a bad thing when practicing anyway.
In the winter a lot of greens go fairly dormant. Cutting different pins the greens a lot of the times won’t heal and old cup marks will still be visible weeks later. Using the flags just allows the course to move pins and move traffic around the greens without leaving behind a ton of old cup marks. It could also just be a effort saving measure since this looks like a picture from the summer
These are perfectly fine. Practice green holes and the areas around them just end up getting thrashed anyway… What practice greens need more of are flat areas where you can just judge the condition and speed of the green. I’m not saying it needs to be like one big pool table… But it’s great when you can just hit flat, straight putts.
Aim small…miss small.
Aim small miss small baby
Love it. Not cutting cups!
I’d rather cups, but it’s less ware on the practice greens, so I’m cool with it.
I actually like the sticks, though I do think they should have a few holes too. The sticks great for hitting long shots to gauge distance on lag putts. You’re not trying to make it, you just want to get it within a few feet of that target
My place started this during covid so hands weren’t reaching in the cups. Powers that be decided to keep it this way. Easier to maintain. I really don’t like it.
It’s not new. Places had this when I was young. Is it becoming more common?
Of all the problems I have with golf, this isn’t one of them.
Cheaper
A hybrid of this is ideal.
Shrinkflation. But seriously, it’s easier to keep the greens up and you can move “hole” locations.
Haven’t seen this at all in Winnipeg.
A course near me has them . Not a very large putting green , maybe 10y by 15y. Has about 25 of the MF on there. Difficult to practice long putts. So you move a couple of sticks and get yelled at by the starter
Edit: of course MF stands for Movable Flag…
Torrey Pines
Posts like these remind me how so many people in this sub haven’t played golf for nearly as long as I have and I’m only in my twenties
Practice greens are there for you to get an idea for green speed and make sure your rhythm feels good before a round. It’s not a putt putt course. Holes are unnecessary.
That’s a practice green, right? Makes perfect sense. Less maintenance. Maintenance costs money. Sticking a flag in the ground is way way cheaper than actually putting in an actual green hole.
Laziness.
Terrible.
Annoying as hell when I’m warming up for a tournament round. If it’s not a tournament then eh, I’m still annoyed but I can deal with it.
No different to me. You can judge speed control
This saves time and wear for course setup.
The shadow doesnt make sense to me
These are so much better for practice greens. They still give an audible sound when you hit them just right, no more fetching balls out of the hole, aim small miss small, and you can move them to wherever you want to practice to.
Holes get worn out quickly and are annoying to change for grounds crew because a freshly cut plug will never fully match up with a worn hole and will take longer to heal. These prolong the life of the green and putts will roll truer, matching the greens on the course much better.
More importantly what with saying “only having sticks ANYMORE”. I see this odd use of anymore more often. Is this a Canadian thing or just bad US English grammar?
Obviously, the greens being that mint, they had to bitch about something. Who cares why. Literally a smaller target to hit..better practice. Also, having someone go cut 14 cups on daily basis and change them in a way that certain parts of that green don’t get smoked from foot traffic is incredibly tough…It’s better for the green, for the sup, and for you.
Likely it’s because it’s currently winter and the plugs from the old cup location don’t heal very quickly. With these flags they can move the location every day to limit wear and not have a ton of plugs in the putting green