Keeping Your Greens Clean Of Ball Marks

Not only is repairing a ball mark one of the most important aspects of golf etiquette, it is essential to maintaining a smooth, level putting surface. Even the smallest divot or cavity on a putting surface disrupts an accurate ball roll. It is generally the seasoned golfers that know this. They are also the ones that will carry around divot repair tools in their pockets during play. But what about the rest of the golfing community?

Some golfers either were never shown proper use of a repair tool or are too new or inexperienced to the game to understand the importance of repairing divots. Did you know that using ball marker repair tools incorrectly is worse for your greens than not using them at all?

Make no mistake - It is the responsibility of golf professionals and superintendents to promote ball mark repair. So what can the golf staff do to assure continuous and daily repair of ball marks on greens? Consider these:

• Offer free ball mark repair tools specifically designed for the soil and grass of your greens. Or, add a small ($0.25 a player?) surcharge to each green fee to offset costs.
• Post proper ball marker repair methods in the pro shop, locker rooms and stick labels with these methods on all the golf carts and push carts.
• At the beginning of each season, mail a ball mark repair tool to all members with proper methods that explains the importance of usuage in an attached brochure.
• Promote repair in monthly newsletters and all club correspondence to golfers.
• Place a small and appropriate notice on each table in the clubhouse requesting ball mark repair.
• Promote proper ball mark repair during all teaching lessons and specifically with new or younger golfers.
• Issue policy cards to all guests and new golfers that states to repair ball marks.
• Place a petition on the bulletin board in the locker rooms signed by the golf professional and golf course superintendent asking golfers to sign his/her name as a personal commitment to repair ball marks.
• Make sure the ranger is armed with ball mark repair tools to hand out to each player at tee time, and make sure each player knows the correct method on using them before they leave the green.
• Place instructions on proper ball mark repair above urinals and on the back of stall doors in the restrooms in a small picture frame.

*Make sure to let golfers know that the best of them will that even if the ball doesn’t land on the green, they should always find at least one divot to repair on each hole.