| | Keeping A Golf Course Looking
Pristine Commences With Proper Etiquette
November 18, 2008
By James Francis Moore
For the purpose of this article, consider the following
definitions of good players and good golfers. Good players have
low handicaps, usually hit the ball a mile, and occasionally
post very low scores. Good golfers fill divots, repair ball
marks and practice good etiquette each and every time they are
on the course. Anyone who has ever worked in golf course
maintenance will verify that, unfortunately, the two terms are
not mutually inclusive. In fact, good players often are the
least likely to be considerate of the games of lesser mortals.
|
This is not to say that all good players are bad golfers. In
fact, practicing good etiquette on the course seems to be slipping
across the board regardless of handicap. And the timing could not
be worse. All but the wealthiest courses are finding it harder to
make a profit these days, with large increases in fuel, fertilizer
and labor. Since labor almost always represents the largest budget
item, it typically is the first to be targeted when budget
reductions are necessary. When forced to choose, most courses with
reduced available labor place a higher priority on agronomic
necessities than the niceties of completing tasks that good golfers
normally do for themselves. Unless we can somehow encourage players
to become better golfers, the overall quality of many courses will
decline rapidly during tough economic times.
For those who wish to become better golfers, here are the ways you
can help your course the most.
Filling Divots
Golfers often ask if they should replace their divot, fill it with
whatever has been provided in the divot buckets, or just leave it
for the crew.
 |
| Applying too much sand or mixture to a
divot can cause damage to mowing equipment. (James F.
Moore/USGA) |
The best option is to fill the divot with the material provided
by the maintenance staff.
Typically, this is straight sand, although occasionally a
sand/seed mixture is used by courses using cool-season
turfgrasses.
Replacing a divot is the second-best option, assuming the divot
is deep enough to include a significant amount of soil. Without the
soil, the divot quickly dries out and is pulled back out of the
ground during the next mowing.
Do
- Fill divot holes with the material provided by the maintenance
staff.
Don't
- Overfill the hole, which results in a sand mound that can dull or
damage the mowing units.
Ball Marks
Few aspects of etiquette generate more discussion than the fixing
of ball marks (at least now that most courses no longer allow
spiked shoes) and even superintendents disagree on the best method
of ball mark repair.
The inability to agree on a single best method stems from the
fact that ball marks are not all the same. On soft greens, a shot
that descends from a very steep angle produces a deep, almost
circular ball mark. On the same green, a shot that comes in low and
hard will produce an elongated tearing of the green, and it often
removes a plug of grass and soil. Ball marks on soft greens take
time to repair properly.
Compacted soil needs to be lifted gently and the raised sides of
the ball mark need to be gently pushed back toward the center. The
elongated mark needs to be kneaded back together by pushing in from
the sides, stretching the turf rather than tearing it. Replacing
removed turf seldom accomplishes much so it is best to leave it
out.
In contrast, very firm greens can resist ball marks so well that
they can be hard to find at all. On such greens the marks will be
slight indentations that require a minimum of effort to repair.
These marks can be repaired with a very slight lifting to restore
smoothness.
Do
- Restore surface smoothness by gently pushing from the sides and,
in some cases, gently lifting the compressed area.
Don't
- Aggressively twist (like that so often used by pros on national
television), which does more harm than good.
Bunkers
Among the first rules of etiquette taught to young players are to
rake the bunker smooth of footprints and repair divots after the
shot. Unfortunately, either through laziness or disdain, many
players refuse to extend this courtesy to their fellow golfers.
Shoving sand around with your foot or the clubhead is no substitute
for raking.
 |
| Climbing into a bunker on the high side can
be detrimental to liners and grass faces. (James F.
Moore/USGA) |
However, for those who are willing to rake, it is important to
do the job correctly. Avoid pulling sand down the bunker face when
raking.
Doing so results in very shallow sand on the face, leading to
exposed soil that is easily erodable. Also, many bunkers are
constructed with liners or lining material installed on the slopes
to reduce the problems of sand erosion. These liners should always
be covered with at least 2 to 3 inches of sand.
It is equally important to avoid pulling sand out of the bunker and
onto the adjacent turf. Piles of sand around the bunker edges can
cause serious damage to mowing equipment. Sand raked out of the
bunker will also result in a poorly defined bunker edge, making it
difficult to determine whether the ball is in or out of the hazard.
Although most players are concerned only with how the ball got into
the bunker and how they are going to get it out, good golfers know
that it is important to consider how to get themselves in and out
of the bunker as well. Climbing in and out of the steep side of a
bunker can cause significant damage to liners and the sod on the
bunker face. Entry and exit should always be from the low side.
Do
- Push sand up the bunker face and enter and exit from the low side
of the bunker.
Don't
- Climb out of the high side of the bunker, which causes damage to
liners and grass faces.
Carts
Nothing causes more damage to golf courses than the improper use of
golf carts. Superintendents expend many labor-hours repairing this
damage and trying to prevent it in the first place. The problems
are many, and most could easily be prevented with common sense.
 |
| Carts should always be kept off tees and
greens. (James F. Moore/USGA) |
One of the most common is players driving their carts on the
banks of tees and the banks and approaches of greens. Driving too
close to the greens is particularly troublesome, since the wear and
tear on the turf in this area directly affects playing quality.
These areas are frequently irrigated and therefore more susceptible
to damage. Ropes, signs, and painted lines are all too frequently
ignored by players who are too lazy to walk from the path to the
green.
Unthinking cart drivers frequently pull two wheels off the path,
presumably to make room for other carts to pass. Since they
invariably do this next to greens and tees, it is no coincidence
that ruts are commonplace in these areas immediately adjacent to
the path.
Although this is a great practice if you have a flat on the
highway, it is unnecessary on the golf course. Seldom will someone
need to pass a parked cart. Should a marshal, drink cart, or
maintenance vehicle need to get by, they can easily pull off the
path and around the parked cart.
Do
- Avoid wet areas, stay off green and tee banks, and follow all
directional signs, ropes, and lines.
Don't
- Pull half off the path, as it is unnecessary and causes damage to
high visibility areas.
Ropes
Ropes are a necessary evil on every course that receives heavy
play. No superintendent enjoys putting ropes up. They are constant
maintenance headaches. Unfortunately, they are the most effective
means of directing cart traffic and protecting areas of the course
that are prone to damage.
Many golfers step on the ropes rather than over them - presumably
in an effort not to trip. Unfortunately, this practice pulls out
the stakes that the ropes are attached to, leaving the rope lying
on the ground. Someone on the maintenance staff then needs to fix
the stakes and retighten the rope. Superintendents can help avoid
this problem by installing ropes closer to the ground, making them
easier for golfers to step over. Installing the rope
approximately
high deters most carts and reduces the likelihood of tripping.
Ropes also should be installed with gaps for walkers pulling carts.
Do
- Pay attention to ropes and the areas they are intended to
protect.
Don't
- Don't step on the rope, step over it.
The Small Things Make A Big Difference
There are many other small things golfers can do to help their
course play and look better, and in the process free up the
maintenance staff for more essential work.
Picking up broken tees helps prevent damage to costly mower reels.
Not overfilling trash containers prevents trash from blowing across
the course.
Replacing a sign or rope stake that has been knocked down keeps the
course looking neat and helps prevent damage.
If a leak is spotted, let a maintenance staff worker know about it
so it can be fixed before turf damage occurs from traffic through
the area.
Lose the herd mentality when driving your cart - avoid following
the same path of the carts before you.
Avoid taking divots on your practice swings.
Chip to the chipping green - not the practice putting green.
When practicing putting, avoid standing in one place for extended
periods - doing so can cause damage to the green.
Put bunker rakes where the superintendent has directed them to be
placed.
Conclusion
Part of the inspiration for this article stems from a group of men
with whom I am fortunate enough to play golf regularly. Not only
are these men good players, they are outstanding golfers. It is a
real pleasure to watch these men work their way around the course
during a round. They don't just avoid damaging the course; they
improve it in the process of enjoying their round! They leave
the course better than they found it. And contrary to what you
might think, none of this results in slow play. Imagine your course
receiving 30,000 rounds per year from golfers like these fellows.
JamesMooreis director of USGA Green Section's Construction Education
Program. This article first appeared in the November-December 2008
issue of the USGA Green Section Record. For more information, visit
www.usga.org/turf
.
| | |
| |
|