Greens Rolling at 10
Speedy
A Stimpmeter is a simple measuring tool used by golf greenkeepers to test how fast a green is. It was developed by Edward S. Stimpson and is now standard across golf courses worldwide.
Visually, it’s an aluminum bar about 3 feet long with a small notch that holds a golf ball. The greenkeeper slowly raises one end until the ball rolls out at a consistent speed. They usually roll several balls in opposite directions and measure how far each ball travels on the green before stopping. The average distance, measured in feet, is called the “Stimp” reading.
A reading of 10 means the ball rolled 10 feet on a flat part of the green before stopping.
For context:
8–9 = average club greens, fairly straightforward
10 = quick, smooth, quality greens
11–12+ = tournament-level pace, where putting becomes very demanding
So if Deer Park’s 7th green was running at 10, that’s a genuinely good speed — fast enough that you notice it immediately, but still very playable for members. Putts start to require a lighter touch, especially downhill or across slopes. On greens at 10:
Short putts feel more slippery
Downhill putts can run well past the hole
Reading subtle breaks becomes more important
Lag putting gets trickier because the ball keeps rolling
Many golfers would describe 10-speed greens as “true and lively” rather than frighteningly fast.
To give a visual sense of different green speeds:
If the measurement was taken on a flat section of the 7th, that’s important because slopes can heavily affect readings. Greenkeepers always try to find the flattest practical area so the result reflects the actual surface speed rather than gravity.
Visually, it’s an aluminum bar about 3 feet long with a small notch that holds a golf ball. The greenkeeper slowly raises one end until the ball rolls out at a consistent speed. They usually roll several balls in opposite directions and measure how far each ball travels on the green before stopping. The average distance, measured in feet, is called the “Stimp” reading.
A reading of 10 means the ball rolled 10 feet on a flat part of the green before stopping.
For context:
8–9 = average club greens, fairly straightforward
10 = quick, smooth, quality greens
11–12+ = tournament-level pace, where putting becomes very demanding
So if Deer Park’s 7th green was running at 10, that’s a genuinely good speed — fast enough that you notice it immediately, but still very playable for members. Putts start to require a lighter touch, especially downhill or across slopes. On greens at 10:
Short putts feel more slippery
Downhill putts can run well past the hole
Reading subtle breaks becomes more important
Lag putting gets trickier because the ball keeps rolling
Many golfers would describe 10-speed greens as “true and lively” rather than frighteningly fast.
To give a visual sense of different green speeds:
If the measurement was taken on a flat section of the 7th, that’s important because slopes can heavily affect readings. Greenkeepers always try to find the flattest practical area so the result reflects the actual surface speed rather than gravity.