Basics of a Cup-Rotation System

By: Jeffrey D. Brauer


Most agronomy books tell us that a hole location recovers in 14 to 21 days. It really varies with:

• Climate and microclimate, with low sunlight, high-humidity greens recovering slower;
• Turf type, with Bermuda recovering faster than bentgrasses;
• Play levels, with low round layouts recovering faster than high-round courses;
• Aggressiveness of the maintenance program (I have seen big differences attributable to this factor alone).

Your superintendent should give you a number of cup locations he or she is comfortable with. There are exceptions, but generally all greens should have the same system to keep the course playing as intended. If you are rebuilding greens, it never hurts to err on the side of conservatism, designing for closer to 20 distinct pin locations.

We consider a minimum pin location to be a handy 8 feet. It matches the typical heavy foot-traffic wear area around any cup location and your pins are probably 8 feet long, so they can be used as a neat measuring stick for minimum distance from a recent placement.

There are many ways to implement the one-to-21-day cup-rotation system. Some use a tic-tac-toe board system, with either six or nine spots, depending on green size. Others use a hubcap in the middle, and four to six "spokes." Common systems are shown in this diagram:

The numbers are suggested rotations, designed to put each pin as far as possible from the location the previous day for maximum effectiveness. Each system allows those who regularly play on a certain day, such as Saturday, to see a different pin position each week, presuming (with the six-day system) you don't change pins on days your course is closed.

Each system requires an extra 8 to 12 feet around the perimeter to establish both the minimum distance from and a 2- to 5-foot collar (depending on presentation preference). Fitting a rigid system on some "freeform" greens sometimes requires some mathematical compromise.

The six- and nine-pin systems divide nicely into 18 holes, allowing two or three pins in each location for variety. For courses with big greens, the nine-pin system allows each hole to have the cup in a distinct area on each nine for maximum variety.

You should "tweak" the basic system to make your course play its best. Most courses look for a rotation that provides a nice daily mix of general pin locations:

• Left/middle/right and front/middle/back;
• Six each hard, medium and easy pin locations, well spaced with good rhythm;
• Play well in typical winds or cold temperatures.

Many facilities balance out hole yardage by coordinating green- and tee-marker locations, putting back pins where tees are moved forward, and vice versa, so the course is always near its rated yardage. I usually encourage the opposite so the course (and each hole) plays very differently from day to day (which I think makes for more interesting golf).

Also, many courses have special rotations for unique or special occasions. Guest days may feature all easier front locations, while the club championship might feature a harder balance of difficulty. Superintendents usually also have a rotation of pin positions on higher green points for wet days, place pins to minimize impact of some maintenance procedures, or reduce wear and tear by placing them nearest the cart path on hot days to minimize walking across the green and relieve stress.

Creating a cup rotation can be a fascinating exercise in balancing all the required factors. Many clubs review it endlessly to improve the playing experience.

Jeffrey D. Brauer began his career as an apprentice in the Chicago area in 1977. His first project was Kemper Lakes, which shortly after hosted the 1989 PGA Championship. He formed GolfScapes in Arlington, Texas, in 1984. In the last 29 years he has designed and consulted on a wide spectrum of projects, ranging from partial renovations to international resorts. His recent work includes teaming with the design team of Pascuzzo and Pate on a remodel of the world-famous La Costa Resort & Spa in California, and renovations at Superior National Golf Course in Lutsen, Minn., and Mesquite Municipal Golf Course in Mesquite, Texas.

He has been a member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects since 1981, serving as President during its 50th Anniversary year in 1995-96. Jeff still studies the classic works - both old and new, and has played more than 75 of the best courses in the world.

Jeff gives many presentations and is a regular architecture columnist for many publications and websites, including Golf Course Industry and Cybergolf.com. He has also been a strong advocate for the "Tee it Forward" campaign and strives to make his courses fit the description of "fun to play every day."

Jeff's work has been spotlighted in most of the world's major golf magazines. Golf World ranked him as one of the top-20 golf course architects and Golf Inc. ranked him as the world's fourth-best value in golf architecture in 2010. Jeff's portfolio and reputation keep him at the forefront of desired designers for new courses, reconstruction and renovation projects. For more about Jeff, visit http://www.jeffreydbrauer.com/sites/courses/layout.asp?id=859&page=48451.