What course speed means and why it matters

Course speed is the Stimpmeter reading of how far a golf ball rolls on a level surface. Matching your home green to your local course speed makes practice transfer cleanly to the course.

Typical Stimp ranges

  • Municipal daily play: about 8 to 10 feet
  • Private club daily play: about 10 to 11.5 feet
  • Tournament prep: about 12 to 13.5 feet
  • Tour setups: 13 to 14+ feet

Local grasses, weather, and daily maintenance can shift speeds. Always measure in similar conditions to when you play most.

How to measure your local course speed

Ask the pro shop or superintendent for the current Stimp. If it is not posted, request permission to measure on the practice green.

  1. Pick a level, clean, dry area with at least 12 feet of roll.
  2. Use a USGA Stimpmeter and 3 balls. Release 3 putts in one direction, measure and average.
  3. Repeat in the opposite direction. Average both directions for the course speed.

How to measure your home putting green

  1. Clean debris and let the surface dry.
  2. Lightly cross-brush to a neutral starting point so fibers stand evenly.
  3. Measure with a Stimpmeter using the same two-direction, 3-balls-per-direction method. Record the average.

Tuning an artificial green to hit a target Stimp

Infill level

  • To go faster: add small, even amounts of clean kiln-dried silica sand across the surface, then brush to settle. A firmer, fuller profile reduces friction and increases speed.
  • To go slower: remove a small amount of infill evenly, then brush fibers up. More exposed fiber increases friction and reduces speed.
  • Work in small increments and stay within manufacturer limits for total infill depth.

Grooming and brushing

  • Faster: brush with the nap to lay fibers down.
  • Slower: brush against or cross-grain to stand fibers up.
  • Use a stiff nylon broom or power broom with light pressure. Avoid metal bristles.

Rolling and compaction

  • Light rolling can increase speed by firming the surface.
  • Use a light lawn roller only if allowed by your turf system. Make one or two passes, remeasure, and avoid over-compaction.

Cleanliness and moisture

  • Debris and dampness slow the surface. Blow off leaves and allow the green to dry before measuring or tuning.

Surface and base selection

  • If you cannot reach your target even after tuning, you may need a denser, shorter pile putting product and a firmer base. Design choices set your speed window.

A repeatable dial-in workflow

  1. Set your target speed from your course reading.
  2. Measure your home green baseline.
  3. If you are slower than target, add small infill amounts, brush with the nap, and consider a light roll. If you are faster, remove a bit of infill and brush fibers up.
  4. Adjust in small, even passes across the entire surface. Remeasure after each pass.
  5. Record settings: infill weight added or removed, brush pattern, any rolling passes, temperature, and sun exposure.
  6. Verify both directions. Aim for an average within about 0.5 foot of your target.

Maintenance to hold speed

  • Weekly: blow off debris, light cross-brush to maintain uniformity.
  • Monthly: measure speed and make minor grooming adjustments as needed.
  • Seasonal: top off infill if levels settle, check seams and edges, and relevel any low spots in the base.

Safety and warranty notes

  • Use only clean, kiln-dried silica sand for putting surfaces.
  • Follow your turf system guidelines for maximum infill depth and any rolling limits.
  • Test changes on a small area first and measure before scaling up.

Want it dialed from day one?

FusionTurf systems are designed for predictable speed tuning within common course ranges. If you want your green built to the speed you play, connect with a FusionTurf dealer for a spec that matches your local course and your practice goals.