John: Reading the Green, okay, very important. How do you read a green? You can read it with your feet. Yeah. My feet first, there are other things, the eyes too, feet, eyes, now the first thing, very simple. When I came here this morning, what did we all find, in fact? Do you remember? We found that the watering system had been on all night. As you put your foot down, it’s like a squeegee mop. You could see the water coming up through the grass.
Now this immediately tells me, that my putting will have to be just a little bit stronger, okay, because if I putt through surface water, then obviously the ball is going to roll much, much slower. So, feet will tell me one thing. It will also tell me the contrary, it will also tell me when it’s dry, when it’s very, very dry, okay.
Now, if you remember also, 10 minutes before we got to work we have the man cutting the green and had we arrived a little earlier, we would have again seen that the grass was quite long. Here now, the grass is cut finally, so I have got to judge my distance depending on what I see. I see and feel a little water, I see that the green has been cut and I would also see if it hadn't been cut, okay. So those are the two elements that are very, very important.
And now there is another one. All putting greens, unfortunately are not like pool tables, like this. They have certain elements of slope, okay and we have to see this. Now, I can’t ask a beginner or two beginners like you to spot this right from the word go, it’s too difficult. All I can do is give you some generalizations. Alright, come and help me read the green. Okay. Right. Both of you here, one here and one here.
First off all, before we do any putting, take a look at what I saw, Ruth come in a little closer, try and get the same line as me. Okay, high point? Yeah, alright look behind me, lowest point. Okay, also a little slope this way. Okay, so when I looked here, I estimate that we have to putt a little bit to the right. But to be sure, get down on the knee, come down with me like this, take a look. Now, if you’re not sure tell me, but do you see what I see?
Ruth: It’s slanting to the left.
John: Slanting to the left, exactly.
Remy: Yes. Yes.
John: Okay, now time will tell, and we will tell you how much. I know it’s about 3 centimeters because of experience.
Remy: I think we don’t know, it’s too difficult.
John: At the moment, yeah I agree, but you do know that it must come a little bit from right to left, okay. Yes? Okay I am sure you don’t believe me. You are going to try it. Okay, off you go. Not to worry. Little bit on the right.
Ruth: Too much on the right.
John: Too much on the right, exactly and that’s not hard enough. Now, wait one moment, can we start that again? Now, have you forgotten that the first part of this putting lesson was strength. We were reading the green not from direction, but from strength. It’s still a little wet, okay. So, come on now, remember that, off you go, check it out. When you’re ready get the right distance, feet little closer together, Ruth very good. Now then, up you go, nice putt. That gives us a 2 putt. Ruth, you’re just about in 2 putt area, that’s okay. Again please. Nice one, very good. That’s in 2 Putt, well Ruth, you’re a bit short. So, why don't we move those, okay, I’ll just move those out of your way. Alright, now up a little strong. You got -- try and get the same length as Remy. He did very well. Now, that’s too weak. Try again. Remy, you have got it, you have got it, you got it, oh, beautiful. That’s the way.
Remy: I am looking.
John: Now, you are a good putter.
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