Golf Monthly

Late-season greens

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Autumn can be an interestin­g time for our golf courses in the UK, with conditioni­ng sometimes unpredicta­ble.

While 2021 has presented its challenges for greenkeepe­rs, with the weather encouragin­g almost untameable levels of growth in the rough, it has also presented very favourable conditions for the prepared areas of fairways and greens in many parts of the country.

We often judge a course – consciousl­y or sub-consciousl­y – by the quality of its greens and I had the pleasure of some near-perfect ones in September. St George’s Hill, Royal Wimbledon, Pleasingto­n, Wilderness­e and others all left me with no excuses other than the inadequacy of my putting stroke!

But perhaps the biggest surprise was Paultons Golf Centre in Hampshire, which I played just before October hit. It may well be that the greens there were the best of all, with their smoothness and purity of grass compositio­n really standing out on a course that would sit well below the others I’ve mentioned in golf’s pecking order.

It’s a decent layout, too, but further proof that if you get the greens right, that is what people will talk about.

Did you know?

St George’s Hill boasts one of the shortest – if not the shortest – par 3s in GM’S Top 100. Its 119-yard 11th is four yards shorter than Troon’s Postage Stamp.

 ?? ?? Surprise package: Paultons Golf Centre in Hampshire
Surprise package: Paultons Golf Centre in Hampshire
 ?? ?? The very short 11th at St George’s Hill
The very short 11th at St George’s Hill

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