What causes the mottled color on the greens at pebble beach?

Answer 1

Regardless of rank, everyone acknowledges Pebble Beach's dramatic beauty. That's why casual TV fans sometimes hear the flowery odes to rocky Pebble and stare at the blotchy greens and wonder: "What are they talking about? I've seen pond scum that looked prettier."

Poa annua isn't pond scum. Poa annua is classified as an annual bluegrass, though not as blue as the Kentucky kind. Poa annua is also the most common weed on the planet, capable of climbing tall mountains and overrunning the bentgrass on modern greens.

Poa annua is not necessarily the enemy of a green. On many great courses, poa is the green. Poa just doesn't look like a perfect green because the grass has hundreds of strands in different colors forming mottled patterns. Because poa grows quickly and produces blunt tips, the ball can bobble later in the day.

That's why Tiger Woods complained about bumpy greens during the first round. "Awful," he said after shooting 3-over-par 74. Leaders generally have applauded the greens as fast and fair, although Phil Mickelson said that many putts don't hold their lines as the ball slows down.