By: Jimmy Biggs, General Manager/Head Pro
How do I read grain in the greens?
First I have to understand what kind of putting surface that I’m putting on. The two most common putting surfaces in golf courses near Myrtle Beach area are Bent and Bermuda grass. The Pearl East and West Course are L93 Bentgrass. Bent grass often has a very negligible amount of grain so I won’t count on it influencing my putt. Bermuda grass however has a broader blade which can influence the direction and speed of a putt.
There are a couple of ways to read the grain. One way is to look for the shine on the greens. If the green is shiny the grain is going away from you and the putt will be fast. A darker surface means the grain is coming towards you and the putt will be slower.
The other way to read the grain is to look for nearby water as water drainage can affect the grain. Prevailing winds can also affect grain on ocean courses. The most important thing you need to understand is that grain will have very little effect on the speed or the line of the putt until the ball begins to slow down from your initial strike. If you read the grain at all into your line, account for the grain to take effect in the last 1 or 2 feet.
