10 Guidelines to Pin Positioning

Sunday, July 01, 1990 -

Many golfers participating in certain competitions have made complaints regarding the unfair positioning of the pins. Whilst the organising committee of a golf competition bear the responsibility of positioning the holes - that duty may sometimes be neglected or performed by an unqualified person.

This article on pin placements was issued by the R&A in August 1987. Competition committees of the various clubs should do well to follow the guidelines presented. MGA vice-president, Mr Tan Kok Kee stresses, "The first and most important factor to remember in pin placement is good judgement in deciding what will give fair results. In a competition played over several days, we should always bear in mind that the first hole of the first round is as important as the last hole of the last round. The old concept of making the course progressively harder round by round is fallacious".

Many factors affect the selection of good hole positions, but the primary objective is to give reward to a good shot and punishment to a bad one.

The following specific points should be considered:

Take into account, where appropriate, the design of the hole as the architect intended it to be played. Determine the length of the shot to the green and how it may be affected by the probable conditions for the day - wind, rain and the holding quality of the green. In this connection it is recommended that a weather forecast should be obtained from the local meteorological office. If rain is likely, holes should not be cut where water would accumulate.

There must be enough putting green surface between the hole and the front and the sides of the green to accommodate the required shot. For example, if the hole requires a long iron or wood shot to the green, the hole should be positioned deeper in the green and farther from its sides than would be the case if the hole requires a short pitch shot.

In any case, it is recommended that generally the hole be positioned at least four paces from any edge of the green. If a bunker is close to the edge, or if the ground slopes away from the edge, the distance should be greater, especially if the shot is more than a pitch.

Consideration should be given to allowing a fair opportunity for recovery after a reasonably good shot that just misses the green. On the other hand, the penalty for failure is something which a player must take into account in deciding whether or not to attack a particular pin position. Much will depend on the standard of the competitors.

An area two to three feet in radius around the hole should be as nearly level as possible. In no case should holes be positioned within three paces of a very severe slope or ridge or of a recently used hole. If the design of the green dictates that the hole be positioned on a slope, the hole should be cut vertically, not with the slope. A player putting from above the hole should be able to stop the ball near the hole.

Consider the condition of nearby turf, especially taking care to avoid old plugs which have not completely healed.

There should be a balanced selection of hole positions for the entire course with respect to left, right, central, front and back positions. For example, beware of too many positions on one side or the other of the green with a resulting premium on drawn or faded shots.

For a competition played over several days the course should be kept in balance daily as to degree of difficulty. The course should not be set up appreciably more difficult for any round - balanced treatment is the aim. The idea of making the course progressively harder round after round is one which should be avoided. One form of balanced daily treatment is to select six quite difficult hole positions, six which are moderately difficult and six which are relatively easy.

One should also try to keep a balance of using the left and the right of the green, e.g., first nine, four to the left, four to the right and one in the centre. The