A greenie in golf refers to when a player is able to hit the green in regulation on a par 3 hole. This means the player was able to hit their tee shot onto the green in one stroke without needing any additional shots. Greenies are a fun way to add a little competition or side betting during a round of golf.
What does it mean to hit the green in regulation?
Hitting the green in regulation simply means that you were able to hit your ball onto the putting green in the number of strokes that are expected for that hole. So for a par 3 hole, hitting the green in regulation would be hitting your tee shot onto the green in one stroke. For a par 4, you would need to hit the green in two strokes or less. And for a par 5, the green must be reached in three shots or less.
Here are the shots needed to hit a green in regulation based on the par of the hole:
- Par 3 – 1 shot
- Par 4 – 2 shots or less
- Par 5 – 3 shots or less
So any time you are able to reach the putting green in the pre-determined number of shots for that hole, you have hit the green in regulation.
What does it mean to get a greenie?
Getting a greenie simply means you were able to hit the green in regulation on a par 3 hole. So if you tee off on a par 3 and your ball lands on the green with your tee shot, you have made a greenie!
Greenies are tracked specifically on par 3s since those are holes where you are expected to be able to reach the green in just one stroke. Par 4s and 5s allow for more strokes so hitting the green in regulation is not as difficult on those holes.
When you get a greenie, it means you hit an accurate, quality tee shot right onto the green. It’s very satisfying for golfers to see their ball land on the green on a par 3 after just one swing.
Why are greenies significant in golf?
Landing a greenie is significant for a few reasons:
- It demonstrates accuracy and quality ball striking off the tee.
- It puts immediate pressure on your playing partners to match your shot.
- It gives you a chance to make birdie.
- It avoids the need to hit difficult recovery shots around the green.
For most amateur golfers, par 3s present a stiff challenge. Being able to consistently hit greens on par 3s shows a strong all-around game. Making a greenie requires solid contact, proper trajectory, and accurate distance control.
When you hit a greenie in a group format, it also applies pressure to your playing partners that they now need to match your quality shot. It’s always tougher to hit a green when your playing partner has hit a great tee shot that you feel like you need to equal.
Getting a greenie also leads to more birdie opportunities. Rather than having to scramble for par from around the green after a wayward tee shot, a greenie lets you putt for birdie right away.
Finally, landing on the green avoids the challenging chips, pitches, and bunker shots that often surround par 3 greens. So a greenie provides a major advantage for trying to score well on a par 3.
How are greenies tracked?
There are a few ways greenies are typically tracked:
- On the scorecard – Some scorecards have a section for marking down greenies
- On a separate greenie sheet – Groups will use a dedicated greenie tracking sheet
- Mobile apps – Golf apps can track greenies digitally
The most basic way is simply marking them down on the scorecard. Some scorecard have a greenie column or section where you can write down what holes you made greenies on.
You may also use a separate greenie tracking sheet. This allows you to keep greenie stats over multiple rounds. Some groups even play for a dollar amount per greenie, donating the winnings to charity.
There are also mobile apps like Golfshot that allow you to easily track greenies digitally. These apps make it fun and convenient to track greenies during your round.
How are greenie winners determined?
There are a couple main ways to determine who wins the greenies in a round:
- Total greenies – The player with the most total greenies in the round wins
- Longest greenie streak – The player with the longest streak of consecutive greenies wins
Using total greenies is the simplest method. The player who reaches the green in regulation the most times on par 3s wins the greenie competition for that round.
Using longest greenie streak adds some additional strategy. You’ll want to try to make consecutive greenies to build your streak, even if you don’t have the total greenies lead.
You could even do both by awarding one prize for most greenies and one for longest streak if you want to spice up the competition.
What are some fun greenie games or contests?
Here are some fun games or contests to play involving greenies:
- Money per greenie – Each player contributes an amount to the “pot” and wins a portion based on greenies made
- Greenie skins – Carry over skins from hole to hole until someone makes a greenie
- Greenie bonuses – Award bonus points or strokes for making greenies
- Progressive greenies – Increase the points awarded for each consecutive greenie made
Money per greenie is the most common format. Each player contributes a set amount, say $1, per par 3. At the end of the round, the winnings are divided based on proportion of greenies made.
Greenie skins work like normal skins, but the skin carries over until someone makes a greenie to win the hole. You can decide to carry over just one skin or have multiple in play.
In a points format, awarding bonus points for greenies provides extra incentive. Or in match play, give 1 shot bonuses for each greenie as a reward.
Finally, making progressive greenies more valuable as streaks build encourages players to really go for consecutive greenies.
How can you practice hitting more greenies?
Here are some tips to practice your par 3 tee shots and hit more greenies:
- Play par 3 courses – Get extra practice on the tee shots you need for greenies
- Focus on 150 yards and in – Master wedge and short iron distance control
- Target small greens – Aim for tight pins and small targets
- Simulate pressure – Add consequences to misses to get used to par 3 stakes
- Analyze miss patterns – Determine if you tend to miss short, long, left or right
Par 3 courses are an ideal place to work on dialing in your greenie shots. You’ll get to hit a lot more tee shots into greens and learn precise wedge and short iron distances.
Really pay attention to your yardages and shot patterns inside 150 yards. Most par 3s fall in this range, so become an expert at these scoring shots.
When practicing par 3s, target small greens and tight pins. Don’t just aim for the middle of the green every time. This will help sharpen your accuracy.
Find ways to simulate pressure on what may seem like easy shots. Challenge yourself to make 5 greenies in a row or come up with mini-games to raise the stakes.
Finally, study the miss patterns on your par 3 tee shots. Do you tend to hit it short? Long? Left or right? Correcting these tendencies will bring you closer to more greenies.
Conclusion
A greenie in golf is when you are able to hit a par 3 green in regulation, meaning reaching the putting surface in just one stroke. Greenies demonstrate strong ball-striking and accuracy, while leading to more birdie opportunities. They are a satisfying achievement for amateurs looking to improve their all-around game.
Keep track of your greenies as a way to add some friendly competition to your next round. Come up with fun contests to win prizes or cash for the most greenies. And practice your par 3 tee shots to start logging more greenies and improve your scoring potential.