This year, Aquaritin Turf is working with your local golf course superintendents to keep your favorite course in tip-top shape. And a big part of that starts with you!
In a sport where you share the playing surface with many others, a common set of “dos and don’ts” can make the difference between the best fun and a world of frustration. That’s what golf etiquette is all about.
It is true that every golf course has a groundskeeping team. However, with little help from you, we can improve playing conditions and minimize damage. Helping with small bits such as mending ball marks and fixing divots allows the course to remain playable through the day for the groups coming behind you.
Golf etiquette is something you can learn quite early in your golf journey. Read & watch on for some suggestions from top golf superintendents on how golfers can actively help keep courses in their best condition.
When it comes to golf course etiquette, one of the first things every golfer learns is to repair his and one other ball mark on the putting green. This helps avoid long term damage to the greens. The unrepaired ball marks of today become the mini speed bumps of tomorrow. No one disputes the need to fix ball marks, but opinions vary on the best way to do it. There is no one best tool for repairing ball marks. In fact, virtually any pointed tool will work as long as the proper repair method is used.
The ultimate goal is to have as smooth a putting surface as you can.
We all know that golfers can help with recovery on the tees and fairways by repairing divots properly and not taking a divot on practice swings. If you do take a divot, the turf should be replaced if it is still intact. If it’s not, the divot should be properly filled in with available mix until it is even with the base of the surrounding grass. Avoid creating divot mounds that could negatively impact playability or mowing equipment.
Whether you replace them or fill them, taking care of divots is good for the game.
Here are a few simple things to remember when playing from a bunker and what to do afterwards.
In general, you should always enter a bunker from the “low side” of the bunker. This is the side farthest from the putting green. This helps the maintenance staff maintain the bunker sides.
Find a bunker rake before you enter and take it in with you. There is no penalty for placing the rake in the bunker as long as you do nothing to test the condition of the bunker.
After you play out of the bunker, use the bunker rake to smooth out the sand.
Exit the bunker on the “low side” of the bunker, the same way you entered.
After you leave the bunker, you should remove the excess sand from your shoes by lightly tapping the sides of your shoes with your club or gently stomping them on the ground. This will prevent sand from getting onto the putting green.
Remember to leave the bunker in the best shape for the next player. Return the bunker rake to where the course tells you to. Sometimes that’s inside the bunker or just outside. Just make sure it is on the low side of the bunker or on the side away from the putting green.
Operation of golf carts includes consideration for the turf and the soil on a course. Here are some simple tips that prioritize the grass:
- Don’t drive your cart in worn out areas, it can exacerbate the issue. Give worn out areas time to regrow
- Don’t drive your cart on native grasses – they take more time to regrow. Also, standing water areas and saturated soils are particularly vulnerable to trauma so steer clear of these areas
Reducing damage to the turf and keeping everyone safe is the #1 goal!
The 90-degree rule states that a golfer should drive his or her cart along the cart path until the cart reaches a point where a 90-degree turn would cause the cart to drive sideways across the fairway directly to the ball.
Minimize the impact on the turf as much as you can when driving off the cart path.
For your pull cart or carry bag, there are few things to consider.
- Don’t put your bag down on the green. Best practice is to keep it 15-30 ft away from the edge of tees or greens
- Try not to put your bag down on the teeing area. Find a place for it on the rough, just beside the teeing area
- Don’t place your bag in the bunkers or penalty areas
- Make sure your bag is out of the way of play – both for yourself and your playing partners