FIXING BALL MARKS:
Fixing ball marks is a fundamental part of golf etiquette. The rule of thumb is not only fix your ball mark but also 2 to 3 others you might encounter upon arriving to the green
it directly impacts both the playability of the course and the long-term health of the putting surface.
1. Impact on Playing Conditions
- Ensures Smooth Putting: Unrepaired ball marks create indentations and uneven surfaces that can knock well-struck putts off-line.
- Fairness for All Players: Leaving a blemish creates an unfair hazard for the golfers playing behind you, who may find their ball resting in your unrepaired crater.
- Prevents Mower Damage: Raised or uneven turf from improper repairs can be "scalped" by mowers, leading to permanent brown spots and further surface degradation
2. Turf Health and Recovery
- Accelerates Healing: A ball mark repaired within 10 minutes typically heals in 2–3 days. If left unrepaired for just two hours, it can take several weeks or even months to recover.
- Prevents Disease and Weeds: Open scars on the green serve as entry points for fungal diseases and invasive weeds like Poa annua, which can compromise the entire putting surface.
- Protects the Roots: Proper repair techniques (pushing toward the center) keep the grass roots intact, whereas prying or lifting can tear them and kill the plant.
3. Economic and Maintenance Benefits
- Reduces Labor Costs: Maintenance teams spend significant time and money manually fixing neglected marks. Effective player repair allows the grounds crew to focus on more complex course improvements.
- Lowers Green Fees: Efficient course maintenance helps keep overall operating costs—and subsequently player fees—lower for everyone.
RAKING BUNKERS:
While playing during the Golden Ocala event this past Monday, unfortunately 4 of my approach shots to greens ended in greenside bunkers. Also unfortunate was that I found unraked foot prints in all 4 of those bunkers – and it wasn’t because there weren’t enough rakes around these bunkers. Granted some of the bunkers were somewhat steep in spots but if I could find unraked foot prints, someone was nimble enough to get into these bunkers.
So please, I know some courses do not have adequate rakes for bunkers but please do your best to make sure you rake out bunkers if you were like me and ended up in a bunker.
COURSE FEEDBACK ON ARRIVAL TIME TO GOLF COURSE FOR YOUR TEE TIME
We’ve recently heard from a few of our partner courses that some golfers are arriving only a few minutes before their scheduled tee times. I want to let you know that most of you do not show up to your tee time with only a few minutes to spare which is fabulous. The rule of thumb in showing up for a tee time is as follows:
- If you only want to stretch or putt a few before play, 30 minutes before play is more than adequate
- if you want to hit balls, stretch and putt for example, 1 hour is optimal so you don't feel rushed
- if you want to have something to eat at the club prior to play, hit balls, stretch and putt, then 1 1/2 hours is optimal
I hope these guidelines make sense to you. Having managed clubs for 20 years prior to coming to Paradise Golf, I developed these guidelines so that the club can provide a good experience for you, not just a round of golf!
