I hear this question often during AimPoint Golf Green Reading Clinics. “How do I make my own green map and what should be on it?”  While surfing around the AimPoint Golf Forum, I found this discussion and thought it would be nice to share.

Let’s start with an example Mark posted:

AimPoint Golf Homemade Green Map

Here’s Mark’s answer to the question of how should it look.  “The first most important thing is slope %, then anchor points, then zero line directions if you have time. The reasoning is that you can find anchor points and zero lines while playing if you need to, but measuring the % slope is going to get your read as accurate as possible. Mark (H)igh and (L)ow anchor points, which will show you where crowns (between 2 low points) and saddles (between 2 high points) are and also where your zero lines will be running from and to.”

Here are a couple of thoughts of my own based on my experience making green maps while competing in the NJCAA National Championship.  I always, and I mean always, carry an Exelys Breakmaster

Exelys Breakmaster

and a 9″ digital level every time I go to map a green.  You need to make sure you are measuring the direction of the slope and amount of slope in that direction correctly.

I think most of us are comfortable knowing that the green is not a constant slope event.  For this reason, after I measure the area where I think the hole may be, I hit or roll 10 footers to see if it plays that.  You will run into instances where it’s 3% where the ball is and 1% where the pin is. After you hit one, you will have a good idea how it ‘plays’.  It’s the ‘play’ number you want to record on the map.

It’s also important to remember you don’t have to measure the entire green.  There will be places on the green that are unpinable. Focus your time on the areas of the green most likely to contain the pin.  I would also focus on areas that look like ‘run off’ areas and see how severe they are.  Mark them correctly on the map if they are false areas where the ball won’t stay put.

Now, if it is your home course, the first thing I would do is go out on the course and take some pictures right after a very fast and heavy rain.  This will give you low anchor points and other clear fall lines that capture water flow.  Keep adding measurements to data you already have until you have a very complete mapping.  This will take quite a while.  Know that going into it and accept it.  When done, you will have a distinct advantage teamed with your AimPoint Green Reading skills.

I hope you find this helpful. Please leave comments or questions about this post or any post in the blog.