Another type of grass common for greens is TifDwarf Hybrid Bermuda (other variants exist, but TifDwarf is one

of the most common), or simply

Bermuda grass. Bermuda is more common in regions that have very warm summers and mild winters, such as the Southern and Southwestern United
States. Red Bridge Golf Course was the first course in North Carolina to utilize a special Bermuda called Mini Verde. A green is generally established
from sod which has had the soil washed off of it (to avoid soil compatibility problems) and which is then laid tightly over the green, then rolled and
topdressed with fine sand. Another common and more economical approach for establishing a putting green is to introduce hybrid Bermuda sprigs
(the stolon of the grass which are raked out at the sod farm), which are laid out on the green.

Flagstick at Spur Valley Golf Course

Two downside factors of Bermuda greens are cost of maintenance, and also the existence of grain (the growth direction of the blades of grass), which
affects the ball's roll and which is called "the grain of the green" and not to be confused with "the rub of the green" which are idiosyncrasies
encountered getting through the hole. The slope or break of the green also affects the roll of the ball. The hole, or cup, is always found within the green
and must have a diameter of 108 millimeters (4.25 in) and a depth of at least 10 centimeters (3.94 in). Its position on the green is not fixed and typically
is changed daily by a greenskeeper in order to prevent excessive localized wear and damage to the turf. A new hole will be cut by a device that
removes a plug of the turf from the ground, and the reinforced cup is then moved, before the old hole is filled in with the plug cut from the new hole and
levelled. The hole has a flag on a pole positioned in it so that it may be seen from a distance, but not necessarily from the tee. This location marker is
officially called the "flagstick" but is also commonly referred to as the "pin". Flagsticks are made of either coated fiberglass, metal, or wood and have a
metal or synthetic bottom (called a ferrule) that is designed to fit in the hole cup.

Putting greens are not all of the same quality. The finest-quality greens are well-kept so that a ball will roll smoothly over the closely mowed grass.
Excess water can be removed from a putting green using a machine called a water hog. Golfers describe a green as fast if a light stroke on the ball
makes it roll a long distance; conversely, on a slow green a stronger stroke is necessary to roll the ball the same distance. The exact speed of a green
can be determined with a stimp meter. By collecting sample measurements, golf courses can be compared in terms of average green speed. It is,
however, illegal by the rules of golf to test the speed of a green while playing by rolling a ball on it, or by feeling or rubbing the green.

The cost of installing and maintaining grass greens constitutes a considerable proportion of the expense of installing and maintaining a golf course. To
save money, many low budget courses catering to casual players have sand greens instead of real grass. In recent years, artificial turf has also
become an increasingly popular surface as a less costly alternative to grass which more closely resembles the appearance and feel of real grass
compared to a sand surface.

Hazards[edit]
Main article: Hazard (golf)

Water hazard, sand trap, and dense vegetation on the 13th hole at
Ridgefield Golf Course, Connecticut
Holes often include hazards, which are special areas that have additional rules for play, and are generally of two types: (1) water hazards, such as
ponds, lakes, and rivers; and (2) bunkers, or sand traps.

Special rules apply to playing a ball that falls in a hazard. For example, a player may not touch the ground or water with their club before playing the
ball, not even for a practice swing. A ball in any hazard may be played as it lies without penalty. If it cannot be played from the hazard, the ball may be
hit from another location, generally with a penalty of one stroke. The Rules of Golf specify exactly the point from which the ball may be played outside a
hazard. Bunkers are small to medium areas, usually lower than the fairway but of varying topography, that are filled with sand and generally
incorporate a raised lip or barrier. It is more difficult to play the ball from sand than from grass, as the ball may embed itself into the sand, and the loose
nature of the sand and more severe sloping of many bunkers make taking one's stance more difficult. As in any hazard, a ball in a bunker must be
played without touching the sand with the club except during the stroke, and loose impediments (leaves, stones, twigs) must not be moved before
making the stroke.

Courses may also have other design features which the skilled player will avoid; there are earth bunkers (pits or depressions in the ground that are not
filled with sand but require a lofted shot to escape), high grass and other dense vegetation, trees or shrubs, ravines and other rocky areas, steep
inclines, etc.; while disadvantageous to play from, these are typically not considered "hazards" unless specifically designated so by the course (a ravine
or creekbed may be termed a "water hazard" even if completely dry)

Driving range[edit]
Main article: Driving range

Practice range with 43 tees (20 covered)

Often, a golf course will include among its facilities a practice range or driving range, usually with practice greens, bunkers, and driving areas. Markers
showing distances are usually included on a practice range for the golfer's information. Driving ranges are also commonly found as separate facilities,
unattached to a golf course, where players may simply hit balls into the range for practice or enjoyment.

There may even be a practice course (often shorter and easier to play than a full-scale course), where players may measure the distance they can
obtain with a specific club, or in order to improve their swing technique. Practice courses often consist of old holes of a previous design that are kept
and maintained for practice purposes or as substitute holes if one or more holes become unplayable; a 21-hole golf course, for instance, will have three
additional holes that can be used for practice or