[Kim Haneul's FunFun Golf] Two-Level Green Putting

Focus on Distance Control Over Hole-in-One
Practice Strokes at the Boundary Between 1st and 2nd Levels
No Head-Up, Secure Sweet Spot Distance

The driving distance of weekend golfers is steadily increasing, thanks to better equipment and training. Golf courses take this into account when designing their layouts. Since many golfers can now target the green with short irons, the difficulty level is adjusted accordingly. This often means reducing the size of the greens or creating two-tiered greens. As a result, amateur golfers are often left with challenging putts. This time, we will discuss how to tackle two-tiered greens.

First, you need to do your homework on foot. Simply measuring the distance roughly and putting can easily lead to three-putts. Even tour players find two-tiered greens difficult to putt on. When facing a two-tiered green, instead of trying to hole the ball, you should aim to get it close and finish with two putts.

You need to understand how the ball rolls after going from the first tier to the second tier. Practice strokes should be made not only on the first tier but also on the second tier. First, find the boundary between the first and second tiers. Use practice strokes there to get a feel for the distance. Then return to the first-tier green where the ball lies and take practice strokes again.

It requires the wisdom to think of the distance in two parts: the distance the ball travels uphill and the distance remaining to the hole. Add these two distances to judge the total distance. This approach greatly helps in finding the right distance. On a downhill slope of the second tier, you must always hit the ball past the hole. If you hit it too softly because it’s downhill, you may face difficulty again. Leaving an uphill putt for the second stroke makes the play easier.

When taking practice strokes, do not look at the ball; instead, focus on the hole cup. This helps you calculate the distance more accurately. The key on two-tiered greens is a solid hit. Like other clubs, the putter has a sweet spot. If you hit the ball thinly, it won’t travel the intended distance. While practicing, look at the hole cup and take practice strokes, but when putting, avoid lifting your head and try to keep your eyes on the ball longer.

On two-tiered greens, speed is more important than the line. If you hit too softly, the ball will roll back down; if you hit too hard, it will overshoot the hole. You need to control the speed well to place the ball near the hole. To emphasize again, matching the distance is the key on two-tiered greens. When taking practice strokes with the putter, it’s good to visualize “If I hit it like this, the ball will go like that.”

Former 14-time winner on the Korea-Japan Tour and Sportainer