Ava Romero
Golf green mapping is an increasingly popular way to improve your golf game. Green maps are available in print and digital formats and can be used by professionals and amateurs alike. Green maps can show you the best location to place your ball, helping you to minimise errors and strokes. You can buy blank green books to fill in yourself, or use a green-mapping app, such as TheGrint, GolfLogix, or Slopegraide and Roll Maps.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To help golfers visualise the green and plan their game |
| Tools | Green maps, yardage books, apps, digital levels, laser scanners, GPS devices |
| Data | Slope, severity, contours, hazards, bunkers, hole location |
| Rules | Images of putting greens must be limited to a scale of 3/8 inch to 5 yards (1:480) or smaller |
| Availability | Available in print and digital form, with some apps offering free trials |
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What You'll Learn
Using a free app to make green maps
Golf course mapping is an increasingly popular phenomenon, with green-mapping books and digital maps available to both professionals and amateurs. While some courses may not be mapped, it is possible to create your own green maps using a free app.
One option for creating your own green maps is to use a free app like TheGrint, which offers a limited number of green maps to Free and Pro Members. TheGrint App has over 10,000 golf courses with greens mapped, and this number is growing. The app provides insights about your golf performance, as well as GPS coordinates and green maps. You can also track your scores and stats and play games with friends.
Another option for creating your own green maps is to use a free app like Hole 19, which offers a large number of features at no cost. Hole 19 has over 42,000 courses mapped and provides precise GPS distances to the green and hazards. It also gives you a bird's-eye view of the hole, showing you where the hazards are and the distances to the front, middle, and back of the green. Hole 19 also works on Apple Watch, broadcasting distances and allowing you to keep track of your scoring.
Additionally, you can use a free app like GolfLogix, which provides green maps, yardages, and flyovers. It also offers putting break assistance and allows you to track your shots and fine-tune your distances. GolfLogix can be connected to your iWatch, providing convenience and ease of use.
When creating your own green maps, it is important to follow the rules and guidelines set by the PGA, USGA, and R&A. There are size limitations for maps, with every 5 square yards not exceeding 3/8ths of an inch square. You can add as much detail as you want within these size constraints.
By using free apps like TheGrint, Hole 19, or GolfLogix, golfers can create their own green maps, track their performance, and improve their game. These apps offer a range of features that can enhance the golfing experience and provide valuable insights for golfers of all levels.
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Using a digital level to measure slope
While mapping a golf green, you can use a digital level to measure the slope. Digital levels are battery-operated, portable devices that provide faster and more accurate angular measurements. They are used for horizontal, vertical, and angle measurements. They are easy to use and can be placed on the surface to be measured to get accurate readings on the digital display.
- Power up the digital level and set your preferred measurement units, such as degrees, percent slope, or mm/m.
- Check if the display is flashing or blinking, indicating that the surface is not level.
- Gently place the digital level on the golf green surface you want to measure. Ensure that you hold it still and upright.
- Wait for about 5 to 10 seconds for the sensor to stabilize before trusting the reading. The display will stop blinking when it's ready.
- If the surface is level, the display will show 0.0 degrees (or 0% slope). If not, note whether you need to adjust the surface up or down on one side to reach 0.
- Make the necessary adjustments, recheck, and repeat until the surface is level.
Some digital levels have additional features such as a hold mode to freeze the reading, automatic shut-off to save battery life, and the ability to switch measurement types. When choosing a digital level, consider its accuracy, measured in degrees or percent slope. Look for a device with at least 0.1-degree (or 0.2% slope) accuracy for finish work. Additionally, consider the size and weight of the level, especially if you need to carry it around.
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Reading greens with your senses
When approaching a green from a distance, it can be easier to see how the green tilts and if there is an obvious tilt. Pay attention as you approach the putting surface from the fairway. Greens are built to drain rainwater, so they have low points to which the water runs. If you can identify those areas, you’ll have a better understanding of the green.
You can also walk around each green and write down where the breaks are and where there are clear ridges in the green. For example, instead of thinking, "This one breaks left to right," consider the degree of the break and how you need to play it.
You can also measure the break on every green and feel it with your feet. On very hot days when no one is playing, check the slope on the greens in about 20 places per green. Get measurements for critical distances like false fronts and ridges in the green by walking them off to the edge of the green.
If you want to use a combination of your senses and technology, you can use a BreakMaster digital green-reading device, which measures slope in one or two directions.
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Using a green-reading app
First, it's important to choose a reputable and reliable green-reading app that suits your needs. Some popular options include GolfLogix, TheGrint, Tour Read Golf, and BreakMaster. These apps offer a variety of features, such as green maps, GPS capabilities, and slope measurements. Some apps may require a subscription or membership, so be sure to consider the cost when making your decision.
Once you've selected your app, take some time to familiarise yourself with its features and functionality. Calibrate the app as needed and explore its different modes and settings. For example, some apps may allow you to measure slope in degrees or percentages, while others may offer interactive maps or video tutorials. Understanding how your chosen app works will help you get the most out of it.
When you're out on the course, using a green-reading app can provide valuable insights. For instance, if the golf course has greens mapped, you may see a sloped green icon or an animated target over the green on your app. Tap on this icon to access the green map, which will display colours and arrows indicating the terrain's movement and slope direction. The colours will vary from grey (no slope) to red (a very steep break), while the arrows will show the break direction.
Additionally, some apps allow you to plot the exact location of the pin and your ball, orienting the map on your screen to match your perspective. This feature can help you visualise your shot and strategise accordingly. Take advantage of these tools to improve your decision-making and shot accuracy.
While green-reading apps can be incredibly beneficial, it's important to remember that they are typically designed for practice and personal improvement. Using such apps during competitions may not be allowed, so be sure to familiarise yourself with the rules and guidelines of your golf club or tournament.
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Using a yardage book
Yardage books are an excellent tool to help you map a golf green and improve your game. You can buy blank yardage books online, or make your own, and they are not very expensive.
If you're making your own, there are many templates available online that you can copy and paste to each specific point on the hole. You can also use Google Earth Pro to get screenshots and work out the carry distances from any tee box on the course. It is important to note that there are rules about the level of detail you can include in your yardage book. The PGA, USGA and R&A state that every 5 square yards of the green must be no larger than 3/8ths of an inch square, and there are size limits on the document itself.
Your yardage book should include carry distances to specific points, such as bunkers, the widest part of the fairway, and hazards. You can also add notes about the club used, wind direction, and where your ball ended up. Working backwards is a good way to approach this: start at the green and work back towards the tee box, finding the ideal approach shot distance/club, and then figuring out what you need to do off the tee to get into this position.
There are also yardage book apps available, which are GPS-enabled and provide distances to greens, targets, hazards, and bunkers. These can be a great, easy-to-use alternative to a traditional paper yardage book.
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Frequently asked questions
A golf green map is a tool used to help golfers read the terrain of a golf course. It can be used to determine the best location to place your ball and can be accessed via printouts, smartphone apps, or GPS handheld devices.
Golf green maps use colours and arrows to indicate how the terrain moves. The colours and numbers illustrate the sharpness of the slope, with grey representing no slope (0-1) and red showing a very steep break with over 9% inclination.
You can use a combination of Google Earth Pro for images of the course and Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator to make outlines of the greens with traps and green details. You can also use a digital level or a device such as the Exelys Breakmaster to record the break on the greens in degrees of slope.
Examples of golf green map apps include TheGrint, GolfLogix, and Slopegraide and Roll Maps. These apps can provide accurate reads of breaks and undulations, and some offer additional features such as tracking your scores and stats and playing games with friends.
