Large Greens versus Small Greens

[Nigel Islam]

I've been fortunate to play a lot of golf at places such as The Old Course with huge greens and also at places such as Harbor Town with small greens. I was wondering if anybody has a preference as to the size of greens they play on and why?

[BHoover]

I like medium sized greens because I'm a proponent of compromise. Even better in my opinion is a course with a mix of large, medium, and small greens.

[JESII]

I like large greens (although I've never been to St Andrews) because I love long putts.

[Thomas Dai]

Number of pin positions vrs level of traffic. Firmness vrs softness. Slopes vrs hoc/speed. Slopes vrs frequency of wind and strength. Lots of considerations, compromises etc.
My general preference is small....but I like chipping and pitching!
Greens big in area can play small/smaller though......mini-greens within a big area.
Atb

[Anton]

Gotta have variety.  Not enough courses mix up or experiment with variety.  Seems all of them want wide fairways, big greens, big bunkers, etc.  That just means higher maintenance budgets. 

[Joe Zucker]

I have come to enjoy green sizes that do not necessarily fit the hole.  For example, large greens on short par 3s or small greens on long par 4s.  I think I like these holes so much because of their rarity and therefore, variety they add to the course.  I agree with the comments for variety in size, but I would add variety in green size relative to what you would expect on a certain type of hole.

[Kalen Braley]

I've always felt that smaller greens would be a good way to toughen up a course instead of adding length. However, I do get it wouldn't work for a high traffic scenario, so would have to be a private, limited play solution.

P.S. I do know this is the case at pebble, but given they are poa combined with the high traffic, people just have to live with the greens not being the greatest most of the time

[Jeff_Brauer]

I have come to enjoy green sizes that do not necessarily fit the hole.  For example, large greens on short par 3s or small greens on long par 4s.  I think I like these holes so much because of their rarity and therefore, variety they add to the course.  I agree with the comments for variety in size, but I would add variety in green size relative to what you would expect on a certain type of hole.

Joe, I agree and often put my smallest green on the longest par 3 and 4 holes.  It tests long iron play for good players, and generally, I believe most average players will be hitting a wedge from just short, so no real penalty.


And, when starting from scratch, I usually separate out the par 3, short 4, long 4 and par 5 holes, and make sure each type gets at least one small green and one bigger than average as an attempt to get the variety you are talking about.


In general we tend to associate small greens (usually round) with older courses.  But, in reading all the old dead guys, I recall a quote something like "greens shouldn't be too large.....10,000 SF is more than enough!  I believe those guys liked 7000-8000 foot greens and they later shrunk.  All in general, of course.