Can six feet make all the difference?

[mike_malone]

 Yesterday I played Aronimink and felt that from six feet in I had no fear of any putts. Now this may be because I am just insane but on most holes at Rolling Green those last six feet cause constant anxiety. Can this be a good test of a course's quality?

[Patrick_Mucci]

Mayday,

I think it's an indication of the degree of contouring and/or slope on the greens, but it doesn't tell the entire story.

[mike_malone]

 I thought that the height of the slopes within the greens were higher at Aronimink but this may explain why the bottom of these slopes were flatter. Meanwhile where the slopes aren't as severe  more subtle slanting can exist.

[Bruce Katona]

I'm fearless from 6" in.

[Tom_Doak]

I played Crystal Downs yesterday and I cannot relate to having no fear over six-footers.

[Neil White]

Mike,

If the greens are running smoothly then yes my confidence from 6 foot in can be boosted.

Obviously a lot though depends on which side of the hole I find myself.

Neil.

[John Chilver-Stainer]

For me it can be the speed as well as the flatness.

If I only have to take the blade of the putter back an inch and virtually just tap it on a flat very fast (11-12) surface it's a cinch.
 
I also feel good on a relatively slow surface (7-8) where I can stroke the putt confidently without worrying about it running miles past the pin.

It's the one's inbetween that put me in 2 minds how to putt that get me!!!

[Brian Colbert]

Aronimink's greens are so pure in the fall that you just have to get the ball started on the right line and it's going to go in 99/100 times. That results in much greater confidence for the player, even if there's some break to the short ones.