Everyone who plays at a golf course has a responsibility to help keep the course in great shape. There are several things you can do as a player to help the course recover and make the experience for those playing after you that much better.
Replace Your Divots
This can either be done by taking the strip of grass dug up by your golf club and putting it back in the same orientation that it was taken out or by using the sand and seed bottle that can be found on the carts. If you take a clean divot that gets below the root structure of the grass (i.e., you cannot see any little white roots coming out of the ground where the grass was disturbed) then your divot can be replaced and will likely regrow. If on the other hand, the divot is a little shallower so that you can see the roots of the grass, it is best to use the pre-mixed sand and seed bottle. Just as taking care of the course is essential, so is maintaining your equipment. Learn about when to replace essential items like golf gloves in Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Golf Gloves.
Fix Your Ball Marks
Hitting a green is an awesome feeling. Especially when you are close to the hole and have a chance to make a putt or get under par. However, when your ball hits the green it oftentimes makes a ball mark. It is your responsibility to fix your mark by carefully pushing the area around the mark towards the center and then tapping down the excess ground material so that the surface is smooth for the players behind you. Just because the ball mark is not impacting your putt doesn’t mean it will not affect anyone else’s.
Rake The Bunkers
If you find your ball in a bunker, make sure that you clean up and level out that spot in the bunker where you played from as well as where you entered and exited the bunker.
TIP 1: Always walk to and from your ball in the bunker from the low side, which will most likely be the side furthest from the hole. This will keep the edge of the bunker in good shape.
TIP 2: Bring a rake with you into the bunker, and smooth it out after your shot. This way, you will not have to walk back and forth, disturbing the bunker more.
Pick Up Your Feet
This is probably the easiest thing you can do to keep the greens in good condition. On the bottom of many golf shoes are spikes. If you are not careful to pick your feet up the spikes can catch on the turf and scratch the green surface. This happens by accident very often, but if you do your best to walk without dragging your feet and fix the few mistakes you make by patting the scratches down with your putter, you will leave the course in better shape.
Stripe The Driving Range
The driving range gets a significant amount of use over the course of the season. By hitting shots one behind the other, you will create a divot pattern that not only uses less turf but actually helps the grass grow back and knit together more quickly.
TIP: There are signs on our driving range that show the dos and don’ts of a correct divot pattern. If you have any questions, please ask our cart personnel or any member of our team at the SportsNest.
EXTRA CREDIT
A golf course is a vast piece of exposed land, so the wind can cause trash to blow out of your cart or even out of the trash can. If you see trash on the ground, please pick it up and throw it away at the nearest trash bin!
We hope these tips come in handy the next time you play a round with us! Book a tee time today on our website or by calling the SportsNest at (602) 726-3026 ext. 202.
Properly handling your equipment, like your golf bag, is also part of respecting the course. Learn the best practices in The #1 Tip for Sporting Your Golf Bag on the Green.