My name is Fintan Brennan and based here at Portmarnock Hotel and Golf Links, as Course Superintendent I have 18 years’ experience in golf maintenance and construction, and prior to that 15 years in the steel industry.

The management team at Portmarnock Links were looking at measuring the improvement in our greens surfaces, and investigating ways in which we could benchmark their performance through the year to monitor our maintenance activities. We wanted something objective and affordable that could guide our decision making.

In 2011, we saw a putting reliability test using a traditional stimpmeter supported on a simple stand it quickly showed us we needed to make something new, and it was then I started to make the first prototype with the help of my brother Ray, an engineer - together we developed the Greenstester as it is today.

Currently golf course green speeds are measured using a "stimpmeter". This is a hand-held inclined plane where the angle (20 degrees) is estimated by the operator and the ball tends to bounce on contact with the green. This means the result is subject to human error. 

Please take a look at the background to this innovative course management tool that can deliver "The Holing Out Test" and Speed readings and I will be more than happy to clarify how effective and instructive it has been for us at Portmarnock Links. You can contact me via the website , and I sincerely look forward to your feedback!

• Performing the "Holing Out Test"
• Measuring green speed

“The Greenstester is a significant improvement over the Stimpmeter than not only provides an accurate assessment of green speed, but also can be used to assess putting trueness.”  

A. J. Turgeon, Ph.D

Professor Emeritus of Turfgrass Management

 "The Greenstester offers Greenkeepers and golf professionals the ability to measure the consistency of putting surfaces quickly and easily. For too long the focus of greens assessment has been solely on green speed; the Greenstester will provide an indication on how true the greens are actually putting. This will be useful for both greens management and golf teaching purposes"

Megan Cushnahan

Agronomist New Zealand Sport Turf Institute

“The greens tester is a much more accurate way of defining  both uniformity in green speed and also how true the surface is than any other tool available at an affordable price.

The way it works in my opinion is more dependable than the traditional methods and is far more precise with less room for Human error. The ball release has far less room for bounce at the bottom of the slope thus giving a more consistent reading, it will be good to have in the armory for anyone endeavoring to produce quality putting surfaces”

Chris Haspell

Course Manager Castle Stuart Golf Links

      The ball release is consistent everytime, and the delivery of the ball to the surface from the curved ramp reduces or eliminates bounce. 

By investing in the Greenstester, your Golf Club will be able to achieve:

1)   Saving by only mowing and/or rolling when you need to do so

2)   regular monitoring of reliability on an annual basis

3)   checking reliability after disruptive remedial greenkeeping work

4)   checking reliability in advance of important club events or tournaments.

"Having been a fascinated observer during the process which saw the Greenstester conceived, tested and manufactured,  I can see nothing but benefit from its use. A simple  and cost effective measuring tool that  if used on a regular basis,  will create  a bank of meaningful and, more importantly, useful, statistical information relating to the performance of putting surfaces. From where I sit the golf industry is onto a winner and what's more golfers seem to be genuinely interested in finding out more when they have come across the Greenstester in use on the course. Without doubt all golf clubs should have access to one of these very affordable tools which will benefit Course Managers, Secretary/Managers, Green Committees and golfers. One of the most exciting and affordable developments to hit the course maintenance market for many years."