BreakMaster: Golf Course Management and Hole Location Guidelines

For as long as the game of golf has been played, golf course superintendents have been on the lookout for effective hole locations guidelines for setting up hole placements on the green. Understanding what constitutes legal hole placement and identifying when a particular hole location becomes 'non-conforming' under the Rules of Golf has been a continuous challenge.  

Fortunately, the USGA provided some valuable insights in the July-August 2008 issue of the 'USGA Green Section Record.' This article outlines helpful guidelines for establishing hole locations, highlighting the importance of using the BreakMaster Digital Green Reader as a pivotal tool in the process. The recommended USGA formula accommodates the increasing speed of greens and emphasizes the significance of slope, a factor where the BreakMaster excels. The accompanying chart published in the article serves as a reference for golf course superintendents, illustrating the relationship between Green Speed measured by a Stimpmeter and Maximum Slope as determined by the BreakMaster.  

By utilizing this chart alongside the BreakMaster and a Stimpmeter, golf course superintendents can swiftly identify green positions categorized as Critical Slope (non-conforming), Marginal Slope, and Recommended Slope (conforming), allowing them to set appropriate hole locations for both tournaments and daily play. The article, authored by Jerry Lemons, concludes, 'By using the chart and checking slopes near the hole, a hole location can be set far enough away from steep slopes and the edge of the green so that a well-executed shot that misses the hole will not run off the green, thus giving the player a fair opportunity to hole out.' It further emphasizes the advantage of digital tools like the BreakMaster, stating that every superintendent should consider acquiring this affordable tool to help determine 'conforming' hole locations.  

Before the BreakMaster was introduced, golf course superintendents relied on cumbersome digital levels, which only measured slope in one direction at a time. In contrast, the BreakMaster is compact and capable of measuring green slope in all directions, making it an invaluable asset for effective hole location management.  

(Originally Published: August 2008)

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