If you have played a round of golf, whether you are a beginner or not, you know that every golfer has damaged a tee box, fairway or putting green at some point. As you swing through the ball, golf clubs dig into the ground, making what is called a divot. A golf ball that lands on the green also makes a ball mark on the putting surface. While playing on the course, as a common courtesy and to keep the course in top shape, it is important that golfers repair the damage they do while playing.
A lot of new and experienced golfers do not know how to properly repair a divot. When you play on the course, you should repair whatever damage you cause on the course as best as you can to keep the course in good shape and allow the players behind you to play on the best surface as possible.
Tee Box Divots
Most tee boxes have sand boxes located along the sides to help you repair damaged tee boxes. The sand box is a mixture of sand and grass and allows the tee box to re-grow the missing grass and level the surface once it's placed in the divot. Scoop out the sand and cover the divot. Press down on the sand so it will stay in play and level it off so it is an even level with the rest of the tee box grass.
Fairway Divots
Fairway divots are also increasingly common in the primary landing area of the surface. Bottles of sand are usually provided for and are attached to golf carts so you can make these repairs. The first thing you should do to repair these divots is to retrieve the original slice of grass that you cut out when you made your swing. After retrieving the clump of grass, you should place it back into the divot. Sprinkle a little sand over the top of the divot and press down with your foot to secure it in place. Make sure the clump of grass and sand is at a level with the rest of the playing surface. If, however, you are unable to find the clump of grass you sliced out of the fairway, then just fill the divot with sand and press down with your foot until it is level with the rest of the playing surface. Refill the sand bottles with extra sand on the tee boxes or at the turn.
Ball Marks on the Green
Fixing a green divot is entirely different from repairing a tee box or fairway divot. A ball mark repair tool is needed to make these repairs on the green. This device looks like a two-pronged fork, and it is specifically used to repair divots on greens.
Insert the ball mark repair tool at a 45 degree angle into the side of the divot. Gently push forward and up on the tool so the grass on the green is level with the rest of the playing surface. Using the tool will raise the divot slightly higher than the putting surface, but by gently patting that area in place with the head of your putter, you can put it in level with the rest of the surface. If you cannot cover the entire ball mark with grass and there are still dirt marks in place, then pour some sand on top of the mark and press it in place. You want to make the putting surface as smooth as possible for the other players playing behind you.
An experienced golfer knows that a better conditioned golf course is a course that is easier to play on. If you do not repair the divots you cause on the green, the tee box or the fairways, then you risk the other players behind you having a more difficult time playing the game. It may just be a matter of courtesy, but keeping the course in good shape is one of the primary aspects of golf etiquette that can keep the game fun and pleasurable for all.
Improve your game with our golf swing tips provided at Easy Pars. We have everything from the full swing to how to putt in golf to help you lower your scores.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jamie_L._Faidley
No comments:
Post a Comment