If you asked a group of golfers who played a certain course on a certain day about the condition of the greens, you might get some surprisingly different answers – especially among those who played early in the day and those who played later. Why is that? Sure, how well (or poorly) someone putted during the round in question influences their opinion, but putting green conditions really do change throughout the day – and there are many reasons why.
The turf on putting surfaces is a living organism and it is growing all day long. This plays a role in how conditions change. Golf course superintendents try to keep greens growing enough to recover from all the traffic and stress they experience while at the same time avoiding excessive growth that can lead to a significant drop in speed during the day. Nevertheless, greens that are growing will inevitably get a little slower as the day goes on.
Research shows that the average golfer cannot reliably detect a difference in putting green speed less than 6 inches on the Stimpmeter. Therefore, if speeds do not drop more than 6 inches throughout the day, golfers who play later probably wouldn’t notice the change in speed from morning to afternoon. Maintaining speeds that don’t change much throughout the day is achievable under favorable weather conditions but Mother Nature does not always cooperate.
Moisture in the form of humidity or rainfall impacts how putting greens perform. The “sticky” putting conditions experienced when humidity is high result from leaf blades retaining moisture and becoming fat. There is no maintenance practice that can be performed to overcome these conditions. If the forecast indicates high humidity, bring your heavy putter because the greens will likely feel softer and stickier throughout the day.
Rain during the day also has a significant impact on putting green conditions, especially firmness and speed. Given the frequency of pop-up afternoon storms throughout the summer in many regions, it is very possible that morning groups might miss the rain while those playing in the afternoon find themselves dealing with very different conditions. Should a midday rain event occur, putting greens will obviously be slower and more receptive in the afternoon and there isn’t anything the maintenance team can really do about it. However, greens that are built with good drainage will handle rain better and experience less of an impact from normal rain events.
Foot traffic, especially when putting greens are softer, will impact smoothness and trueness. Each step taken creates a subtle inconsistency in the putting surface and as more rounds are played throughout the day, putting greens will be less true and less smooth. This is especially true on greens with an excessive amount of thatch because this layer of organic matter can make the surface soft and spongy. One key reason why superintendents perform aeration and topdressing is to keep putting surfaces firmer and more resistant to footprints by removing and diluting the thatch layer with sand.
In addition to the number of rounds played, how foot traffic impacts putting green conditions depends on shoe selection and how golfers walk. USGA-funded research shows that rubber, spikeless shoes disrupt putting surfaces the least while flat outsoles with cleats are the most disruptive. If the spikes on your golf shoes look like they’d be a good choice for an NFL lineman, try to tread lightly! And regardless of shoe selection, walking irresponsibly on putting greens will negatively impact ball roll. Do not drag your feet, and avoid twisting while standing or walking. If you do accidentally leave a scuff, try to tamp it down with your putter; and if you really want to do your fellow golfers a solid, choose golf shoes with less-aggressive soles.
No matter the maintenance budget, putting green conditions change throughout the day at every course. Golf course superintendents tailor their programs to keep conditions as consistent as possible, but growing grass, changing weather and thousands of footsteps are going to have an impact.