Many golf courses are preparing their greens today to play firm and fast. As we get a bit older, we no longer hit towering mid irons, or even short irons, that keep the golf ball close to the hole when it lands near the flagstick. As elder statesmen play the course, it seems that most of the pins set on the front of the green are impossible birdie holes for them when landing on the green.

To be perfectly fair for the older, low-launching golfers, the approach area of the green should be as firm as the green itself. This allows the low-trajectory players to land their balls short of the green and release onto the green. This is rarely found on golf courses.