What Is a Temporary Green in Golf?

Encountering a small, oddly placed flag on the fairway instead of the manicured surface you were expecting can be a confusing moment for any golfer. This is a temporary green, and while it might seem like a frustrating surprise, it’s a vital tool courses use to keep the game going and protect their most valuable assets. This guide will walk you through exactly what a temporary green is, why courses use them, and how you can adjust your strategy to play them effectively and keep your round on track.

What Is a Temporary Green in Golf?

A temporary green, sometimes called a "winter green," is a substitute putting area used when the main, or "permanent," green is unplayable. It's usually located on the fairway in the approach area, a short distance in front of the permanent green. You can typically identify it by a few key features:

• Shorter Grass: The area will be mown much lower than the surrounding fairway, though rarely as short or smooth as a real green.
• A Painted Line: Many courses will paint a white or colored circle around the perimeter to clearly define the putting surface.
• A Different Hole: The hole itself is often smaller and shallower than a regulation cup, as digging a full-sized hole in the fairway isn't practical.

While their condition can vary greatly, the purpose is always the same: to provide a target and a putting area so the hole can remain in play while the real green rests and recovers.

Top Reasons Courses Use Temporary Greens

Seeing a temporary green can bring a sigh of frustration, but course superintendents don’t use them lightly. They are a necessary measure to protect the long-term health and playability of the course. Here are the main reasons you'll encounter them.

1. Essential Turf Maintenance and Recovery

The health of the putting greens is paramount to any golf course. These surfaces endure incredible stress from foot traffic, mowers, and the elements. Temporary greens provide a window for critical maintenance.

• Aeration and Sanding: This is the most common reason. Core aeration involves pulling small plugs of soil from the green to relieve compaction, improve drainage, and allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots. The greens are then "topdressed" with a layer of sand, which fills the holes and helps create a smoother, healthier surface over time. During this healing process, which can take a week or more, the greens are bumpy, sandy, and extremely vulnerable to damage. Directing play to a temporary green is the best way to let them recover properly.
• Disease or Pest Control: Like any other plant, a putting green's turf is susceptible to fungal diseases (like dollar spot or brown patch) or damage from pests. Treating these issues can require chemical applications and time for the turf to heal without the stress of play.
• Reseeding or Resodding: If a green suffers severe damage, an area (or the entire green) may need to be repaired with new seed or sod. The new turf needs weeks to establish a strong root system before it can handle foot traffic and ball marks.

2. Protection from Extreme Weather

Weather plays a huge role in course management, and temporary greens are a superintendent's best friend in protecting against mother nature.

• Frost Delays: This is a big one, especially in the early mornings of spring and fall. When frost forms on the grass blades, the water inside the plant cells freezes. Walking on frozen grass crushes the blades. As the sun rises and the frost thaws, the crushed cells can't recover, resulting in bruised or dead grass that leaves ugly, brown footprints. This damage can last for weeks. Using temporary greens until the frost thaws allows the round to proceed while protecting the sensitive permanent greens.
• Heavy Rain and Waterlogging: After a downpour, greens can become completely saturated. A waterlogged green is soft and spongy. Playing on it leads to deep footprints, severe ball marks that are hard to repair, and long-term soil compaction. Shifting play to a better-draining fairway area prevents this damage.

3. Course Construction and Redesigns

Less common, but still a factor, is when a course is undergoing renovation. If a green complex is being completely reshaped, rebuilt, or regrassed as part of a larger project, a temporary green allows the hole to remain open for play, even if it’s a slightly different experience.

The Rules: How to Handle a Temporary Green Situation

Okay, so you’ve arrived at a hole with a temporary green. What do the Rules of Golf say? Navigating this situation is fairly straightforward, but knowing a few key points can save you confusion and strokes.

Can You Post This Score for Handicap?

This is the most frequently asked question. Generally, the answer is no. For a score to be acceptable for handicap purposes, you must play by the Rules of Golf and play the hole at its designated length. When a temporary green is in play, the hole is significantly shortened. The USGA and R&A guidelines specify that rounds played under these conditions are not valid for posting. Your best bet is to always confirm with the professional staff in the pro shop.

Putting and the Flagstick

Once your ball comes to rest within the designated perimeter of the temporary green (usually that painted circle), you treat it exactly like a regular green. This means:

• You may mark, lift, and clean your ball.
• You may repair ball marks and spike marks on the surface. (Although ball marks are less common on firm fairway turf).
• You can have the flagstick attended, have it removed, or leave it in, just as you would on a permanent green.

What If the Permanent Green Is in Your Way?

Here’s a fantastic rule to know that can be a real game-changer. When a temporary green is in use, the permanent green for that hole is considered Ground Under Repair (GUR). Therefore, you are entitled to free relief.

If your ball comes to rest on the permanent green, or if the permanent green interferes with your stance or the area of your intended swing for a shot to the temporary green, you get a free drop. To take relief, you find your nearest point of complete relief (the spot where the GUR no longer interferes with your ball, stance, or swing) and drop your ball within one club-length of that spot, no a closer to the hole.

Example: You miss your approach shot long and your ball is sitting on the back of the permanent green. The temporary green is between you and the permanent green. You cannot chip from the main green. You must find your nearest point of complete relief off the green, drop your ball, and play from there.

A Coach's Guide: Strategy for Playing Temporary Greens

Playing to a temporary green requires a totally different mindset and strategy than playing to a normal one. The fairway surface is harder, slower, and less predictable. Forget trying to hit a high, soft-landing shot, it's time to embrace the ground game.

Step 1: Adjust Your Approach Shot

This is where you'll make the biggest adjustment. A temporary green will not receive a ball like a regular green. It will behave like a firm fairway - because that's what it is.

• Take Less Club and Plan for Roll: The ball will not spin and stop. It will bounce forward and roll out significantly. Your goal is to land the ball well short of the temporary surface and let it release onto it. A good rule of thumb is to take at least one less club than you normally would and aim for a spot 10-15 yards short of the putting area.
• Play a Bump-and-Run Shot: This is the perfect time to play a low, running shot. Instead of a full swing with a wedge, consider a three-quarter swing with an 8 or 9-iron. This will keep the ball lower, get it on the ground sooner, and give you more predictable roll-out. The less time the ball spends in the air, the better.

Step 2: Master the Art of the "Fairway Putt"

Putting on a temporary green is an adventure. The surface isn't smooth, the grass has more grain, and the ball will bobble. Success here is less about perfect lines and more about perfect pace.

• Choose Your Weapon: Putter, Hybrid, or Iron? On a very smooth, tightly mown temporary, your putter is still often the best choice. However, if the area is a bit rough, the ball can be easily knocked offline. Many players have better success using a hybrid or a mid-iron (like a 7-iron) with a putting stroke. The slight loft of these clubs helps lift the ball out of any minor imperfections and gets it rolling more smoothly on top of the grass. Experiment to see what feels best.
• Give It Enough Pace: A fairway putting surface is going to be exceptionally slow compared to a real green. Your number one priority is speed. You will need to hit your "putts" much more firmly than you think. Forget about dying the ball into the hole. Focus on a confident-stroke that gives the ball enough energy to get to the hole.
• Don't Over-Read the Break: While you should still look for the general slope of the land, don't waste energy trying to find intricate reads. The bumps and imperfections on the surface will be the biggest factor influencing the ball's path. Focus almost exclusively on getting the distance right. A two-putt on a temporary green is a great result.
• Shift Your Mindset: Do not let these quirky conditions derail your mental game. Accept the challenge for what it is. A temporary green levels the playing field a bit - no one is going to be holing 30-footers. Make your goal a simple two-putt. Lag it close, tap it in, and walk to the next tee with a smile, ready for a real green.

Final Thoughts

Temporary greens are an essential part of maintaining a healthy and beautiful golf course for the long term. Understanding why they are used and how to strategically navigate them can turn a moment of frustration into a display of savvy course management.

Playing in unconventional conditions is where having a good plan becomes so important. When the course throws you a curveball like a sudden temporary green, it can be tough to know the right play, like whether to use a putter or a hybrid for that tricky fairway "putt". That’s where tools like Caddie AI become incredibly helpful, allowing you to get instant, smart advice on a shot you’ve never faced before. Having that expert opinion in your pocket helps you feel confident and make the best decision, no matter what surprises the course has in store.