Pin Positions is a short golf blog post that looks at the many ways that golf courses decide on the positions of the holes in the greens.
Let’s face it, as golfers, we all need that little extra help to keep our scores as low as possible.
Picture the scene, you turn up at the golf course and ask the staff about the pin positions.
Some may say, it’s position 2 today, or we are on C today. But what the dickens do they mean by that?
Pin Positions
There are many different systems, but most greens are split into 3, 4 or 6 segments.
Front Middle Back (This is denoted by a mini flag on the flagpole below the main flag. It could be positioned high, middle or low on the flag stick)
I have also seen golf courses with different coloured flags depending on where the hole is. (Yellow, Red and White flags)
ABCD or 1234 (Greens are split up into 4 segments)
ABCDEF or 123456 (Greens are split into 6 segments)
Pin Positions in Professional Golf will state how many paces the hole is positioned from the front of the green and also from the left or right side.
To keep it fair, most courses will try to have 6 holes at the front of the greens, 6 in the middle and 6 holes at the back of the greens.
Greenkeepers Decisions
It is the green staff that determines when and where the holes are moved to. The Competition Committee may also have something to say on that, too.
Changing the hole position usually happens every few days as the greens get worn where the previous holes have been.
The greenkeepers’ decisions depend on the weather or what condition the greens are in.
It also depends on where there are old hole locations, plug marks, pitch marks and other blemishes.
If the greens are not great or need a little more rest, then you may find that the greenkeepers put the holes at the front of the greens.
This will obviously help to rest the rear side of the greens.
It may be that the greens are very wet, so the greenkeepers may decide to place them on the highest part of the green.
As you can see, there are many factors to think about as to where the Pin Positions should be.
What are your thoughts about Pin Positions?
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