What Golf Course Has the Fastest Greens?

The quest to find the golf course with the fastest greens often leads to whispered legends and Sunday television commentary, but one name consistently rises to the top: Augusta National Golf Club. This article will not only confirm the legendary speed of Augusta's greens but also introduce you to other courses famous for their slick surfaces, explain how speed is measured, and give you practical coaching advice for surviving - and even thriving - on frighteningly fast putting greens.

The Undisputed King of Speed: Augusta National

When you think of fast greens, you think of the Masters Tournament. Augusta National has built a reputation for having the purest, quickest, and most treacherous putting surfaces in golf. Players talk about them with a mixture of reverence and fear. These aren't just fast, they're billiard-table quick, with subtle undulations that turn a simple tap into a terrifying journey.

What makes them so fast? It's a combination of factors:

• Subsurface Systems: Augusta has a patented SubAir system beneath its greens. It can literally vacuum moisture out of the putting surface, allowing maintenance crews to control the firmness and speed with incredible precision, regardless of the weather. Rain on Wednesday? They can have the greens a-sizzling by Thursday morning.
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The greens are bentgrass, which can be mowed extremely low (around 1/8th of an inch) to create a glassy surface. -

A team of the world’s best superintendents works tirelessly. They double-cut and roll the greens daily, sometimes multiple times a day during the tournament, to achieve that signature pace. -

Speed is one thing, but speed combined with Augusta’s dramatic slopes is what makes the greens truly difficult. A putt that is just slightly off-line can catch a slope and trundle 40 feet away, or worse, end up back at your feet.

Officially, Augusta National does not release its Stimpmeter readings. They believe the feeling and challenge are what matter, not a number. However, reports from players and insiders consistently place them in the 14 to 15 range during the Masters - a speed that most amateur golfers have never and will never experience.

Honorable Mentions: More Temples of Slick Surfaces

While Augusta gets most of the spotlight, several other courses are legendary for their pace. The key difference is that some of these are accessible to the public, unlike the uber-private Augusta.

Oakmont Country Club

Located near Pittsburgh, Oakmont is arguably even faster than Augusta on a day-to-day basis and is considered by many tour pros to be the toughest test in golf. Famously, Oakmont’s greens are designed to slope toward the clubhouse, though this is more myth than hard fact. What isn't a myth is their terrifying speed. They have been known to Stimp at 14 or 15 for U.S. Opens. The design philosophy here is that a poorly struck putt should be punished severely. There is no forgiveness.

Winged Foot Golf Club

Host of multiple U.S. Opens, Winged Foot's greens are complex masterpieces. "The greens at Winged Foot are just wild," many pros have said. They are not just fast but have huge, sweeping undulations and internal contouring that make finding the right line nearly impossible if your ball is in the wrong position. A two-putt from above the hole is a massive victory.

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Another classic U.S. Open venue, Shinnecock's links-style layout on Long Island means the greens are frequently exposed to wind, which dries them out and makes them even faster. During the 2004 U.S. Open, conditions became so extreme that on Saturday, the USGA had to water the 7th green mid-round because well-struck approach shots were rolling right off its surface. The combination of firma, fast greens and coastal wind is a brutal test.

How is Green Speed Actually Measured? The Stimpmeter Explained

Talking about numbers like "14" or "15" is meaningless without understanding the tool used for measurement: the Stimpmeter. It’s a surprisingly simple device - a 36-inch long aluminum bar with a V-shaped groove running down the center.

Here’s how it works:

1. The operator finds a flat area on the green.
2. A golf ball is placed in a notch on the Stimpmeter.
3. The bar is slowly raised until it reaches a specific angle (approximately 20 degrees), at which point gravity causes the ball to release and roll down the groove onto the green.
4. Three balls are rolled in one direction, and the average distance they travel is measured.
5. The process is repeated in the exact opposite direction.
6. The average of both directions is the Stimp reading for that green. For instance, if the balls roll an average of 12 feet, 6 inches, the green "Stimps" at 12.5.

What Do the Numbers Mean in Practical Terms?

To give you some context on Stimp readings:

• 6-8: Slow. A typical municipal or public course with high traffic. You have to give the ball a firm rap to get it to the hole.
• 9-10: Average. This is a common speed for most private clubs and well-maintained daily-fee courses. It's a pace that’s fair for most skill levels.
• 11-12: Fast. Now we're entering a more serious territory. This is standard for high-end private clubs and many college tournaments. The pace requires a very delicate touch.
• 13+: Tournament Speed. This is what you see on the PGA TOUR. At this speed, gravity becomes a huge factor. Downhill putts hardly need to be touched.
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Major Championship Speed. This is Augusta, Oakmont, and Winged Foot at their nastiest. Playing on these greens feels like trying to putt on your kitchen countertop.

Your Coaching Corner: Taming Lightning-Fast Greens

So, you've found yourself on some speedy greens. You don't need to panic. Adjusting your technique and strategy can make all the difference. As a coach, this is what I would tell a student to focus on.

Adjusting Your Putting Stroke

The number one mistake golfers make on fast greens is using their normal putting stroke. They take a long, flowing backswing, which generates too much energy, and then they try to "decelerate" through impact to soften the hit. This is incredibly inconsistent.

The Fix: Shorten your backswing and feel a gentle "pop" or "tap" at the ball. The length of your backswing should control the distance, not how hard you try to hit the ball. On ultra-fast greens, your backswing for a 15-foot putt might feel like what you’d normally use for a 5-footer. Use your bigger muscles - your shoulders and torso - to create a pendulum motion. Keep your wrists quiet. Think of your putting stroke as getting smaller and more precise.

Mastering the Short Game Around the Green

Fast greens change everything about chipping and pitching. Flying a high sand wedge that lands and stops right by the hole is next to impossible. The ball will hit the firm surface and just keep running.

The Fix: Embrace the ground game. This is what separates smart players from hopeful ones.

• Use Less Loft: Instead of grabbing your 60-degree wedge by default, assess if you can use a pitching wedge, 9-iron, or even an 8-iron. A lower-lofted club will launch the ball lower with less spin, so it will land sooner and run out predictably like a putt.
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Your goal is no longer to land the ball at the hole, but to land it on a spot on the front of the green that will allow it to release and trundle toward the cup. Pick a landing spot, not a finishing spot. -

If the fairway in front of the green is mown tightly (the "fringe" or "apron"), a putter is often your best bet. A "Texas Wedge" takes all the guesswork out of flight and spin. A bad putt is almost always better than a bad chip.

Smarter Course Management: Leave It Below the Hole

This is arguably the most important strategic adjustment. On fast greens, there is a massive difference between an uphill putt and a downhill putt.

An uphill putt allows you to be aggressive. You can put a confident stroke on it, and if you miss, it will likely only go a foot or two past. A downhill putt, especially one with a side break, is defensive. You’re often just trying to die the ball into the hole, and if you miss, it can easily race 6, 8, or even 15 feet by.

The Fix: Let this fact dictate your approach shots. When looking at your target on an approach shot, don't just aim for the flagstick. Determine where The flag is on the green (front, middle, back) and its relationship to the surrounding slopes.Do whatever you must to leave your ball below the hole, even if it means being 25 feet away. A 25-foot uphill putt is far, far easier and less stressful than a 6-foot downhill slider on a green stimping at 13.

Final Thoughts.

While Augusta National reigns as the mythical icon of green speed, courses like Oakmont prove that world-class, challenging surfaces exist elsewhere. Understanding what a "fast green" truly means through the lens of a Stimpmeter gives you a new appreciation for the skill of professional golfers and the art of greenkeeping.

Learning to manage these slick surfaces is about making smarter decisions a with your stroke, your club selection around the green, and your strategy on approach shots. When you’re faced with a tough lie and a glassy green, guessing is the last thing you want to do. To help take that uncertainty away, we developed Caddie AI to give you on-demand a strategic advice. You can snap a photo of a tricky chip shot, describe your situation, and get an expert recommendation on the best way to play it, helping you turn potential disasters into manageable pars.