Tips from the Maintenance Crew

We all enjoy playing on a course that is well maintained. Typically a course in excellent playing condition is the result of efforts by the maintenance crews and players who care about the game of golf. Those rules of etiquette that good players follow really do make an impact on the course and are provided below as reminders as we approach the up coming season.

Ball Mark Repair

Have you ever hit that putt that was surely going in the hole, only to be deflected away by a ball mark blemish on the green? Ball mark repair is a very important aspect of golf course etiquette and is time sensitive. If not fixed in a timely manner the injured turf will dry up in a matter of minutes and death of some grass can be expected, leaving pits on the green. We can all benefit by being responsible and fixing our ball marks before walking off away form the hole. If you see another mark while you are on the green that another player missed, please go ahead and fix it. The players that follow behind you will appreciate it.

If you have questions on how to repair a ball mark properly, ask any member of the Pro Shop or Maintenance Staff.

Divot Repair

You have probably played on courses that provide players with containers of sand and seed mix to repair divots. Other courses ask that the player repair the divot by replacing it. Why the two methods? It depends on the grass.

The fairway grasses at Tara Hills and Eagle Hills Golf Courses consist of a mixture of different Kentucky bluegrasses. Because Kentucky bluegrass seed germination is slow, seeded divot mixes are not our preferred option for a fairway divot fix.

Often, simply replacing the torn out turf to the divot hole allows the grass to re-root and heal itself. The proper way to fix a divot on a fairway is to place the divot back in the hole created by the swing and firmly step down on the divot. Time is important. If done immediately following the shot the divot should fully recover.

Other tips that add to great course conditions for everyone

When you finish raking the sand trap after taking your shot from the bunker, replace the rake outside the bunker in a line that is parallel with the line of play. This minimizes the chances that it will affect the next player’s shot.