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.
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.
Dont �
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.
Dont
� 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.
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.
Dont
� 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.
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.
Dont � 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
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.
James Moore is 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.