One of the most difficult questions to answer is “why can’t your greens be like the ones we see on TV - their greens are fast and smooth and look awesome.” While this is all true, they are fast (stimping 11-12ft or sometimes faster), smooth (minimum double cut and double rolled each day), and look awesome (TV camera filters can make the greens look green). That being said, to get the greens to that level of “awesomeness” is unsustainable.

As indicated in Part 3 the PGA Tour plays on green with speeds in excess of 11 feet. As we review how these speeds are attained we must look at the following:

Fifteen years ago, Burnaby’s Golf Operations Department recognized that the number of players taking up the game of golf was not going to make up for the numbers of players leaving the game.  Burnaby’s golf population was starting to decline.

With this situation in mind, it was decided that we could no longer wait for the future golfers to come to us, and that we had to take a basic level of introduction and instruction out into the community.

Over the past 15 years, Burnaby’s Golf Operations department has worked hard to take golf out to the children of Burnaby via the schools’ physical education classes.  In conjunction with the Burnaby School Board, Burnaby Golf has exposed the game of golf to students at the grade 5 and grade 10 levels throughout the City of Burnaby.  The basics of the program are as follows:

Over the next few newsletters, I will be breaking down the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) in hopes of providing you, the readers, with the knowledge necessary to understand the connection between body and swing.

Let me paint you a picture. Imagine, a 33-acre golf specific research and development center just minutes from the ocean. This golf center is fully furnished with driving range stalls, 3 PGA-caliber holes complete with bunkers, a mini-Scotty Cameron putting studio and a robot that hits golf balls 24 hours a day. No, it’s not heaven (although its pretty close) it’s the TPI Headquarters in Oceanside, California.

Water and electrolytes serve very important roles in the maintaining proper functioning within the body, and sweating can lead to excessive loss of both critical nutrients and electrolytes if not properly replaced. Dehydration adversely impacts health and exercise performance. To avoid excessive fluid and electrolyte losses, a person should begin exercising in a well-hydrated state. This means prior to strenuous exercise, drink approximatively 20 fl oz (500 ml) of liquid to ensure proper hydration at the onset of exercise.

Notice: On Monday, September 14th, Kensington Pitch & Putt will not open until 11:00am.

~Sorry for the inconvenience~

Every golf course green has a speed limit based on various factors. As we have learned in the two previous articles, the “Green Speed” has two MAIN components that encourage and/or limit the speed of greens. In part one, we explained that better mowers and light weight rollers are the key to “Green Speed.” To explain how the PGA Tour play on green with speeds in excess of 11 feet (on the Stimpmeter, see first article) we must ask how many times per day do mowers and rollers get used and at what height.

Q: Although I seem to hit the ball just as well as my friends on the Driving Range, I can’t seem to shoot a score as low as them. Why is that?

A: Improve your on-course Management

1. Imagine playing the hole from the flag backwards to the tee box: Using this image in your mind will help you develop a sense of where the trouble is. Good golf is as much about improving those playable misses as it is about hitting quality shots.

2. Know your strengths & weaknesses: Keep track of your stats both on the range and on the course. Track your fairways hit, greens in regulation (GIR), number of putts & Sand saves.

In the last issue we discussed how mowing and rolling were the two main visible parts of the equation for developing greens that have a smooth and fast ball roll. In this issue we will discuss what goes on behind the scene to ensure a quality putting green. This part of the equation is far more diverse and sciencifically related.

TURF HEALTH + SOIL PHYSICS + SOIL BIOLOGY + CULTIVATION + IRRIGATION make up the foundation of the science of green speed.

Green speed or ball roll has been measured on putting greens since before the invention of the “Stimp Meter.” In 1935 Edward S. Stimpson developed the first device to quantify the speed of greens, but it was not regularly used by the United States Golf Association (USGA) until 1976. In 40 years, putting green speeds have dramatically increased from two main factors: better mowers and light weight rollers.

In 1970, the US Open putting green height was about 5.5mm. The most recent mowers allow superintendents to mow grass below 2.0mm in height.

Question: How do I get the most out of my practice time on the Driving Range?

Answer:
1. Be methodical and specific:

• Focus your thoughts on what you intend to practice on.
• Be specific in setting your goals.
• The quality of your practice is more important than how many ‘swings’ you make.

2. Warm up your body and loosen your muscles:
watch video.

3. Specify your practice goals. For example, break your hour practice into 15 minute intervals.