Greens Predictability

[Mark_F]

I recently played a course with a friend, who, on his home course ( a great one) was a real whizz on the greens.  Virtually everything he putted was only ever short or long by a foot or so, and the direction, no matter how much break, was always spot on.

However, on unfamiliar territory, his directional radar was all over the place on a great many holes.

Obviously playing one course day in and day out for any length of time is going to affect your ability to read putts, but do really great greens defy the ability to easily guess their secrets, no matter how many times they are played?

[tonyt]

I don't think the allure of great greens for regular members' play is that they continue to baffle the player. More so, they stress the importance of execution. When the golfer strokes his 50 footer, within a few feet off the putter face, he is aware of his final fate ahead. It's not a weakness because after all, the guy may have putted there a thousand times. Because of the importance placed on him stroking it correctly, he is aware of the dangers standing over the putt. And that is what maintains the excitement and potential greatness of the green.

In my opinion, a set of greens where members can always knock 40-60 footers inside three feet is a mark of a lack of variables and dangers, which fail to reasonably endanger a slightly less than perfect putt.

[bg_in_rtp]

I'm confused about the point in question.  Are you asking if some courses lack excellences because familiarity can overcome a lack of execution, or are you asking the ability to gain familiarity over time is a lack of excellence?  

I can appreciate if you're trying to discuss the prior, but to me the latter is not unusual for any sport (or activity), not just golf.  For example, I've played rounds at Pinehurst #2 when my caddy (who had been there for 40yrs) could simply walk to the hole and point to the place when I needed to aim and if stroked properly, would finish near the hole everytime...and I doubt few people would consider the greens at #2 easy.  Or consider the pre-Manny Ramirez left-fielders at Fenway Park.  Those guys knew exactly how the ball would bounce off the wall as soon as it got over their heads.

I'd agree that there are flaws if poor execution is rewarded in a similar manner as excellent execution.