Miles Bennett
Golf is played on a golf course, which is a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a cup. The word green refers to the putting surface, and it is generally established from sod which has had the soil washed off of it to avoid soil compatibility problems. The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland is often described as the Home of Golf, and Musselburgh Links is generally regarded as the first recorded golf course.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Harleston Green |
| Location | Charleston, South Carolina, United States |
| Year Established | 1786 |
| Course Type | Social club, not a competitive sports pursuit |
| Course Layout | A rough but busy rectangle wedged between Calhoun and Beaufain streets from Rutledge to Barre |
| Caddies | Slaves served as the earliest caddies |
| Course Decline | After 1800, homes began to crowd and invade Harleston Green |
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What You'll Learn
The name 'green' refers to the putting surface
The name "green" in golf refers to the putting surface. A golf course consists of a series of holes, each of which includes a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". The cup holds a flagstick, known as a "pin".
The word "green" has two proper meanings in golf. The first meaning is of Scottish origin and defines all territory of a golf course or all areas outside the confines of the clubhouse. Thus, it can be used in relation to all outdoor areas of a golf course. In keeping with this meaning, a greenkeeper is someone responsible for maintaining all areas of the golf course outside the clubhouse. The second meaning, most commonly known today, refers specifically to the area of short grass surrounding the hole, known as the putting green.
The term "green" in proper golf terminology does not refer to any particular colour found on a golf course. The grass used for greens can vary, but one of the most common types is TifDwarf Hybrid Bermuda, or simply Bermuda grass, which is more common in regions with very warm summers and mild winters, such as the Southern and Southwestern United States.
The first golf club in the United States, established in 1786, was called Harleston Green and was located in Charleston, South Carolina. It was likely more of a social club than a competitive sports club. The roots of the South Carolina Golf Club can be traced to Charleston's Scottish merchants, who likely introduced golf to the area.
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Early courses were on links land, soil-covered sand dunes
The first golf courses were links courses, which developed in Scotland. The word 'links' comes from the Anglo-Saxon word 'hlinc', meaning ridge, and refers to an area of coastal sand dunes. Early courses were on links land, soil-covered sand dunes, which provided the perfect environment for golf. The sandy soil meant the land drained well, providing a firm golfing surface all year round. The undulating ground provided an enticing challenge for golfers, and the dunes offered sheltered spots for greens. The dunes were also generally poor soil, so there was little competition with farmers for use of the land.
The dunes were typically covered with grasses, shrubs, and trees, which helped anchor the sand. As dunes formed, plant succession occurred. The conditions on an embryo dune are harsh, with salt spray from the sea carried on strong winds. Rotting seaweed, brought in by storm waves, added nutrients to allow pioneer species to colonize the dune. In the UK, these pioneer species are often marram grass, sea wort grass, and other sea grasses. These plants have deep roots that bind the sand together, and the dune grows into a foredune as more sand is blown over the grasses. The grasses add nitrogen to the soil, meaning other, less hardy plants can then colonize the dunes.
Dunes usually form in bands parallel to the beach, getting taller and more chaotic the further away you get. The vegetation on the dunes starts to change as you move further from the beach towards the back of the dunes. Dune systems can also shrink as a consequence of storm events, rising sea levels, or an interruption to the supply of sand. The oldest dune systems date back 9,000 years, but all dunes are naturally dynamic, presenting conservation challenges in a landscape where little space is allowed for mobile habitats.
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Greens can be made from Bermuda grass
While Bentgrass is the most common type of grass for greens, Bermuda grass is also used. Bermuda grass is more common in regions with very warm summers and mild winters, such as the Southern and Southwestern United States. It thrives in hot weather and is, therefore, better suited to southern states.
Bermuda grass greens have some downsides. One of the biggest factors is the cost of maintenance. Bermuda grass also has grain, which is the direction in which the grass is growing. This can affect the roll of the ball, with the ball typically breaking in the direction the grain is growing. This can be challenging for golfers, as they need to properly read the grain to make accurate shots. Maria Fassi, who ranks inside the top 25 on the LPGA Tour in putting, notes that:
> "You can have a better idea of what the grass is like based on the color. It’s easier to notice those things, but you have to make sure you pay attention to all of those to make sure you have the perfect read."
U.S. Women's Amateur Champion Rose Zhang also commented on the challenges of Bermuda grass, saying:
> "On Bermuda, you definitely have to worry about how the grain grows on the greens. I think in general it’s just getting a feel for the speed of the greens that way as well. It’s definitely very different from the way Bentgrass rolls."
Despite these challenges, Bermuda grass is still used on the putting greens of some very fine golf courses. In fact, it was noted that in 1961, some golf courses were still using common Bermuda grass on their putting greens. The first dwarf Bermuda grass was Tifgreen, which was released in 1956 and obtained by crossing a special selection of common Bermuda grass with a fine-leaved African Bermuda grass. Today, TifDwarf Hybrid Bermuda is a common type of grass used for greens, especially in warmer climates.
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Greens may be shared between holes
Golf is played on a course that consists of a series of holes, each of which has a tee box, a fairway, the rough, hazards, and a green with a cylindrical hole in the ground, known as a "cup". The cup holds a flagstick, known as a "pin". While many holes are designed with a direct line of sight from the teeing ground to the green, a hole may bend to the left or right.
The greens may be shared between holes in some golf courses. For instance, traditional links courses are often arranged with holes in pairs along the coastline. Players would play "out" from the town through a series of holes to the furthest point of the course, and then "in" along the second set of holes. The holes may share fairways and sometimes greens, such as at St Andrews, to economize on land use. However, in modern times, this is rare due to the potential for injury from balls coming from the other hole.
When two holes are on a single green, the hole not in use is considered ground under repair. If your ball is on the green, you are allowed free relief if the other hole intervenes on the line of play, and the procedure under Rule 16.1d applies. If your ball is off the putting green, you would have to do your best to avoid the other hole.
Firstly, check the Local Rules to see if the greens have been divided into two or are treated as a whole. If it’s the former, and you are on the other portion of it, you’d be required to take relief from a wrong green under Rule 13.1f. There is also another Local Rule that prohibits relief from a wrong green when the only interference is to the player’s stance, so make sure you study the scorecard and the notice board to see what the club is doing.
The green typically does not include any fully enclosed hazards such as sand or water. However, these hazards can be placed adjacent to the green. Depending on the shape of the green and surrounding hazards, and the location of the hole, there may not be a direct putting line from a point on the green to the cup. Golfers use a method known as "reading" the green to enhance their chances of making a putt.
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The first recorded golf course was Musselburgh Links
Musselburgh Links is unique in that it is played almost entirely within a racecourse, which was built around it in 1816. The course is short, at only 3,000 yards long, and has a sandy base, characteristic of a true links course. The first tee box is tucked into a corner where the stables meet the clubhouse, and golfers play over the racing track from the first tee. The famous 4th hole, a long dogleg right par 4, also requires golfers to tee off over the racetrack.
The course originally consisted of seven holes, with an 8th added in 1838 and a 9th in 1870, making it a par 34. There is documented evidence that golf was played at Musselburgh Links in 1672, when prominent lawyer Sir John Foulis of Ravelston lost a match against two men known as Lyon and Gosford. It is also claimed that Mary, Queen of Scots, played nearby at Seton in 1567.
Musselburgh Links has a rich history in the sport of golf and was once certified as the oldest golf course in the world by Guinness World Records. However, this record was recently reassigned to St Andrews. Musselburgh was one of the three courses that staged The Open Championship in rotation in the 1870s and 1880s, hosting a total of six Opens, with the first in 1874 and the last in 1889.
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Frequently asked questions
A golf green is the putting surface at the end of each hole. It is where the cup, or hole, is located.
A golf course is the grounds on which the sport of golf is played. It consists of a series of holes, each consisting of a tee box, a fairway, the rough and other hazards, and a green.
The Musselburgh Links is generally regarded as the first recorded golf course. The Old Course at St. Andrews is also described as the "Home of Golf".
