Golf Course Conditions Update

As we enter the last few weeks of summer, we would like to remind everyone about the shared responsibility to keep our golf course and practice facilities in the best shape possible.  While we have an All-Star maintenance team that keeps our club in pristine condition, members and guests also share responsibility while practicing and playing.  This letter will be a light educational reading on how each of us can help improve the condition of our facilities, rather than hinder it.  I hope you will find this information refreshing and informative and will share this amongst members and guests alike.  Please take the time to read this and hold yourself, your guests, and fellow members accountable. 

The below information on fairway divots is from a blog post written by our Superintendent, John Slade.

Fairway Divots

There is often confusion as to when a divot should be replaced, and when the sand mix should be used.  To clear things up, let's keep it simple:

If your divot doesn't explode, and has some bit of soil with it, please replace it.

There are many variables that come into play in determining if the divot will live or not.  This obviously includes the weather, and the location (slope vs swale).  However, even in the summer, there's a decent chance that a replaced divot will survive.

Below you can see the divot on the right was replaced and has already knitted back in nicely.  In contrast, the divot on the left is, to be kind, a real head scratcher.

So, save that sand mix for the times when your divot can't be replaced. And please don't get too fancy--we've seen well-intentioned players make a sandwich with a sprinkle of divot mix, the divot itself, and a bit more mix on top for good measure.  Remember, more isn't always better.

Greens

               Ball marks on greens are an issue faced by all golf courses.  To combat this, please look at the below graphic on HOW to properly fix a divot from our Friends at the USGA.

Driving Range

               When hitting off the grass at our driving range, we ask you to make your divots in a straight-line pattern.  This helps the grass to grow back more rapidly.  The big square of divots that you (unfortunately) see on your television at the weekends on TOUR, do not allow the grass to grow back.  This is a (very) outdated practice that we hope to put to rest at the club going forward.  Below you will see a proper divot pattern versus an improper divot pattern from the USGA.  Please begin to practice in the manner of the middle divots.

Short Game Area

               Relatively new to the club, our short game area is a premium amenity that not many clubs have the luxury of having.  When using it, we have signage asking members to please fix their pitch marks and replace their tubes of golf balls.  While replacing the tubes may seem small and insignificant, any ball not accounted for creates problems for our maintenance team.  If these balls are in the rough and run over by a mower, not only do we lose the golf ball to damage, but the blades of our mowers will be damaged.  To help preserve equipment, please pick up the balls you hit with the tube and return the tube when you are finished.  Also, please make your divots in a straight line, try to replace the grass rather than seed, but seed if you must.

 

Bob Hennefer, PGA

Brett Fernandes, PGA

John Slade, GCSAA