Greenstester is a new piece of golf equipment, an alternative to the stimpmeter, it ensures the accuracy and consistency of your putting greens. We have just been mentioned in the Autralian TurfGrass Management Journal pages (39 to 41).
Check out what they have to say about the 'perfect green' and how the greenstester can help. Click on the image to view the article.
The Greenstester is a new and affordable tool used for objectively assessing the reliability of putting surfaces. It is an R&A preferred device for improving the test performance of "The Holing Out Test" by delivering a rolling ball onto the green from a constant angle, through a specially curved plane, which ensures no ball bounce.
The device is aimed at the hole, usually from a distance of 6 feet, in such a fashion that a series of ten consecutive "putts" can be replicated. These putts have the characteristics of a normal putt, i.e. the ball is subject to variable velocity, slowing down as it gets near the hole.
At lower velocities, the ball is more effected by the surface irregularities, which is exactly what happens to the golfer's putt. On a good surface, 10/10 "putts" will be holed from distances which vary according to the growing season. The worse the surface, the fewer "putt's" will be holed.
If more than 20% of "putts" miss the hole, concerns about the integrity of the surface may be justified. The R&A, led by Park have recently (2012) Finalised a Protocol for such "Holing Out Test", which undergoes continual review as more experence of using it is gained.
The test gives clubs an easy and affordable way of monitoring the reliadility of their putting surfaces throughout the year. Such testing should be carried out in conjuction with monitoring of firmness and speed. This test can be observed in the video below.
The Greenstester improves the test performance of "The Holing Out Test" by delivering a rolloing ball onto the green from a constant angle, through a specislly curved plane, which ensures no ball bounce. The ball is released by a special mechanical device, thus requiring no human intervention and constant delivery speeds.
The Greenstester, in fact delivers both "The Holing Out Test" and The Stimp reading, uniquely delivering two test in one.
The device is aimed at the hole, usually from a distance of 6 feet, in such a fashion that a series of ten onsecutive "putts" can be replicated. These putts have the characteristics of a normal putt, i.e. the ball is subject to variable velocity, slowing down as it gets near the hole.
At lower velocities, the ball is more effected by the surface irregularities, which is exactly what happens to the golfer's putt.
On a good surface, 10/10 "putts" will be holed from distances which vary according to the growing season. The worse the surface, the fewer "putt's" will be holed. If more than 20% of "putts" miss the hole, concerns about the integrity of the surface may be justified.
"The Greenstester is a significant improvement over the Stimpmeter than not only provides an accurate assessment of green speed, but also can be used to assess putting trueness."Stars A. J. Turgeon, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus of Turfgrass Management.
"The Greenstester offers Greenkeepers and golf professionals the ability to measure the consistency of putting surfaces quickly and easily. For too long the focus of greens assessment has been solely on green speed; the Greenstester will provide an indication on how true the greens are actually putting. This will be useful for both greens management and golf teaching purposes."Stars Megan Cushnahan, Agronomist New Zealand Sport Turf Institute
"The greens tester is a much more accurate way of defining both uniformity in green speed and also how true the surface is than any other tool available at an affordable price. The way it works in my opinion is more dependable than the traditional methods and is far more precise with less room for Human error.Stars Chris Haspell, Course Manager Castle Stuart Golf Links.
The ball release has far less room for bounce at the bottom of the slope thus giving a more consistent reading, it will be good to have in the armory for anyone endeavoring to produce quality putting surfaces."
"Having been a fascinated observer during the process which saw the Greenstester conceived, tested and manufactured, I can see nothing but benefit from its use. A simple and cost effective measuring tool that if used on a regular basis, will create a bank of meaningful and, more importantly, useful, statistical information relating to the performance of putting surfaces. From where I sit the golf industry is onto a winner and what's more golfers seem to be genuinely interested in finding out more when they have come across the Greenstester in use on the course.Stars Keith Adderley, Secretary, Temple Golf Club
Without doubt all golf clubs should have access to one of these very affordable tools which will benefit Course Managers, Secretary/Managers, Green Committees and golfers. One of the most exciting and affordable developments to hit the course maintenance market for many years."
Walton Heath Golf ClubStars Greenstester Clubs
The Berkshire Golf Club
St Andrews Bay
Royal Copenhagen Golf Club
Queenswood Golf Club
Spa Golf Club
Royal County Down Golf Club
University of Arkansas
Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links
Turnberry Resort
The Castle Golf Club
Elmwood College
Silver Lakes Golf Estate
Grange Golf Club
R & A Competition Committee
Portmarnock Golf Club
The Island Golf Club
The Rosslare Golf Club
Moray Golf Club
Hauger Golfklubb