When I was a kid, we used to visit the "wacky shack" at Astroworld.  There, the water would seem to flow up hill, balls would roll up hill, and everything was just a little "off."  Leaving there, you are a little out of sync for a short time.  

Every once in a while, you encounter a green where putts seem to break up hill, not just a little, but quite a bit.  They are not really breaking up hill, but the green coupled with the surrounding terrain simply fool you.  You can hit the putt 5 times, play there 5 times, and still not quite be able to clearly "see" what is going on. I recall one short par 3 at Treyburn in NC, and my home course in Texas has two putts on two different greens that will do this.   A first time visitor to the course will never read the putt correctly.  

My question is:  Are you evil genius architects doing this to us on purpose or is this simply a function of the surrounding terrain overcoming what the golfer views on the green surfaces?  

Just between us two, it is 5 and 15, but only in certain pin locations.  It is helpful when trying to beat your guests, since they walk off doubting their eyes and then expect it to happen again on every hole thereafter.  

Just between us two, it is 5 and 15, but only in certain pin locations.  It is helpful when trying to beat your guests, since they walk off doubting their eyes and then expect it to happen again on every hole thereafter.  

AGC???

Hey Cary:  are you just yanking my chain (I happen to be left eye dominant), or is it really the case that it only happens to left eye dominant players?  Is there some physics-type reason?

I have no idea if this has anything to do with it but the only  greens I know of that have a putt that really does appear to break uphill are somewhat "bowlish" or "swalish" in shape---eg the 8th at Merion and the 11th at Pine Valley.

I have no idea if this has anything to do with it but the only  greens I know of that have a putt that really does appear to break uphill are somewhat "bowlish" or "swalish" in shape---eg the 8th at Merion and the 11th at Pine Valley.

Tom,

A week ago, I would have had no idea what the specifics would be concerning Merion. But, now I know! I am sure we had this exact discussion while we were there, no?

Joe

"Tom,
A week ago, I would have had no idea what the specifics would be concerning Merion. But, now I know! I am sure we had this exact discussion while we were there, no?"

Joe:

We sure did, that's the hole---the 8th at Merion. Obviously it doesn't break uphill but where we were rolling the ball looks like it does. I know that putt from experience and when most people read it they play left to right break and it actually goes the other way---not a lot but it does. That's the green you told me you could feel it in your feet and you mentioned that fellow who basically read greens with his feet.

Bob - the far more ubiquitious than I Mr. Naccarato has likely been there more recently than I have, but I can attest that about 6 years ago, that gotcha was still in effect.

One of the Gotten
TH
 

So, when this occurs, is it planned by the architect, or is it just a happenstance?   Did someone stand over a drawing board and devise this on purpose?  

Apparently, in the late 60’s the Ponds Institute discovered a Surlyn magnet. Architects would embed a strip of this magnetic material underneath the surface of the green on the high side. Of course, this didn’t work for the better golfers because they used Balata golf balls, thereby creating the myth that pro golfers were better putters than the average club amateur.

The latest product along these lines is a Urethane repellent. It is mixed with the soil during green construction, but only repels the golf ball where the soil is exposed to the air, which of course is the 1 inch space between the cup & the greens surface. This doesn’t work in professional tournaments due to the inside of the holes being painted, therefore elevating the myth that professionals are better putters than the average club golfer.

What's the problem?  Putts can certainly break uphill.  It will happen when the green has strong grain and the grain is pushing up the hill or, even more so, slightly towards you and up the hill.

I've seen quite a few of these situations on quite a few courses.  The putt doesn't break down the hill (as you would expect) for most of the roll, but at the end, it can actually go uphill.

Count yourself a good reader of grain when you can read and make a putt that refuses to break down a slight incline because the grain is pushing it up the hill.