Speaker: Mark Broadie
Title: A Simulation Model of Putting
Affiliation: Columbia University
Date: Friday, November 30, 2007.
Place and Time: Room 101, Love Building, 3:35-4:30 pm.
Refreshments: Room 204, Love Building, 3:00 pm.

Abstract. We propose a simulation model for putting in the game of golf. The model includes parameters for the physical skill of a golfer as well as the golfer's ability to read the slope of a green. For a given putt, there is typically a region of aimlines and velocities that lead to a successful putt, i.e., a holeout. A putting strategy involves the choice of an aimline and an initial velocity which takes into account the uncertainty in execution and the uncertainty in green reading. We solve a stochastic dynamic program to find the strategy which minimizes the expected number of putts. The model is compared to data from professional and amateur golfers.