THE COURSE
I
n most golfer satisfaction surveys,
having great greens to putt always
ranks No. 1. Welcome to Rancho Del
Sol, where day in and day out the
putting surfaces are exceptional.
What makes the greens at Rancho Del
Sol so consistently good? According to
Operations Manager Clint McCrory, the
foundation is simple: "They are bent
grass and they roll very true."
Indeed, not only does bent grass yield
the velvety texture that golfers prefer, but
their thin blades provide less resistance
than other grasses and so allow for a
smoother, purer roll. That's why putting
on the greens at Rancho Del Sol is a
pleasure, not a penance.
"They're classic style," says McCrory.
"They do not have a lot of distinct levels,
but they do have a lot of subtle undula-
tions. There are not many flat or straight
putts here."
Adding to the pleasure is that the
greens are invariably fast, running in the
10.5-to-11 range on the Stimpmeter.
However, whether you're playing at
Augusta National or Rancho Del Sol,
quick greens often pose perplexing put-
ting puzzles. To help you successfully
navigate those speedy putts, McCrory
has a few helpful tips…
> To start, hit some warm-up putts
before the round so you'll be accustomed
to the pace.
> Remember to play more break on the
greens than usual.
> On short, fast putts, increase the pace
of the putt to reduce the amount of break.
> For long putts, pick an intermediate
spot short of the hole as your target.
> To improve touch and feel, employ a
thinner grip, choke down a bit on the
putter and lighten your grip pressure.
Tightly squeezing the club makes it more
difficult to keep the club on line.
> Last, but never least – practice,
practice, practice!
ROLL
MODELS
What makes our greens
so good and how you
can master them
> C L I C K H E R E TO B O O K T E E T I M E S
On long putts at Rancho Del Sol,
aim for an intermediate target.
