COMMUNITY: Read your way to better putting

Editor's note: Steve Charters is in his 12th year as a pro at Twin Pines Golf Course. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Charters competed at Central College in Pella and has been a pro for 19 years in Dubuque and Cedar Rapids.

One way to become more consistent at putting is to improve and invest more effort into reading the greens.

While we don't want to spend a ton of time reading putts - so pace of play doesn't get compromised - you can do some additional reading of the greens while maintaining your pace of play.

Don't wait to start reading a putt once you get to your ball. Start reading the green - and the land around it - while you're approaching the green. Look for the highest point and the lowest point to get an idea of the flow of the green. Secondly, look at the putt from behind the ball but also behind the hole so you can see the line the ball might take as it nears the hole. Plus it can help fortify your behind-the-ball idea of the break.

I look at putts from behind the hole first, before I mark, right when I get to the green. This helps give me a better idea of the break and not waste additional time on the green.

Reading greens better can go a long ways to cutting those three putts out and shaving strokes off your score.

- Steve Charters