Explaining the Elevated Green in Golf
An elevated green is a putting green that is higher than the surrounding elements of the hole it is part of. A golfer who encounters an elevated green will be playing her approach up to that green, because she will be hitting from an area (whether fairway, rough or tee) that is lower than the elevated green's surface.
On a par-3 hole, an elevated green is one on which the green sits at a higher level than the tee box. On par-4s and par-5s, the same might be true of an elevated green. Or, on those holes, the elevation might be achieved by a building up a mound and perching the green on top of it. In that specific case, the green could also be called a mounded green, push-up green, pedestal green or tabletop green.
But any green that sits at a higher level than the surrounding parts of the hole is called an elevated green.
With elevated greens, it is at least very difficult, often impossible, to run the ball up to the green on the ground. That means they require more precision in the approach shot. And if a golfer is short or long or off directionally on an elevated green, the ball might roll off and down the side, sometimes winding up back well below the surface of the green again.
And some elevated greens to which the fairway runs up have false fronts, adding another element of difficulty.
The higher an elevated green is, the more difficult it is for a golfer in the fairway to see the putting surface or the full length of the flagstick.
"Par is always a good score" on a hole with an elevated green, Johnny Miller has said.
Want some tips on playing an elevated green? There are multiple instructional videos on YouTube worth checking out.
Photo credit: 
