Getting Back-to-Front Green Slope Correctly

By: Jeffrey D. Brauer


While we do want a general back-to-front slope on most greens, it is problematic to drain even midsize greens all to the front. Ditto for any green where large mounds or slopes allow surrounding surface water to drain on the green. Most greens drain in two directions to reduce drainage flows to one area - the front 1/3 to 2/3 off the front, and the rest to one side, usually the naturally low side.

We must also consider traffic patterns. Directing drainage concentration to either the frontal approach or the "walk-up" area between cart parking and green causes problems. If possible, we put the cart path on the high side, which can also be used to direct water away from the green. Also, approaching the green from the high side allows golfers to see where the ball is on the green. Overall, it is better that the back swale to the side drains away from the cart paths.

As seen below, this typical pattern two swales (front, with the back half of green off to the side) can create situations where the back of the green doesn't hold shots as expected, because the side swale on the back half of the green yields no net up slope to assist in holding the shot.

However, any dividing ridge makes a portion of the green drain away from the golfer, and should a ball land there, it will not hold. Some ways I combat this in design are:

• I make sure the back swale exit swale is about a foot higher than the front one. If both are the same, it makes for an almost domed green, which will never hold.

• The back half of the green should rarely slope away from the line of play, as it causes a "dome effect," making it hard to hold any shot hitting the middle of the green back.

• I angle the back swale at least partially to the front of the green. Swales exiting 90 degrees to play, or anywhere off the back don't hole shots. (See below.)

• As noted previously here, a flatter slope on the front of the green limits ball marks there, but it also helps in keeping the back to front slope throughout the entire green. Often, the back half side slope is steeper in the direction of flow, but only the minimum 1.3% on the line of play.

As seen above, this sometimes affects bunker placement, thereby affecting the entire design. As in the example above, a bunker front-right and a bit short of the green may be impractical, at least on too many holes, as it will catch the typical "short and right" sliced/faded approach. This suggests alternate hazards, like grass bunkers or fairway chipping areas. It shows how all 18 greens must be considered as a whole to balance out challenges.

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.