Depending on where you live you may be entering the “high season” for competitions or for tourist golfers to descend onto your course. So, with this is mind, I think it is important to mention the dreaded pitch mark.
For the enjoyment of all golfers that use “your” local course, it is imperative that etiquette and course care is maintained, especially with an increased footfall on the course. It should be reasonable to assume that most golfers are educated enough to realize that they have an obligation to repair at least their own pitch mark on every green, but unfortunately the vast majority do not. (This is especially true of the visiting tourist golfer).
It is fact that during high season that the percentage of unrepaired pitch marks is far higher than during off-peak or low season, when the majority of players are members or friends of members. I want to repeat that there IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE for not repairing your pitch mark, every time you make one.
If your ball lands on a green there is a chance you have made an indentation on the green surface which, however small should be repaired. It takes just a few seconds to repair a pitch mark, which results in better greens for everyone.
There is another issue, which arises regularly when playing; how to correctly repair the pitch mark so that the green can recover in the shortest time possible. You should be repairing your pitch marks in the following manner:
Step One: Place you pitch mark repairer at the edge of the impression. (Never insert it into the impression)
Step Two: Gently push the edges of the pitch mark into the centre. Be careful not to “lift” the bottom of the pitch-mark up, as this will cause unrepairable damage to the root structure and lead to the grass dying rather than recovering.
Step Three: When you have finished “pushing” the grass inwards, gently tap down the uneven surface with the base of your putter.
Speed of play also deserves a mention, but for all the wrong reasons. Golf is becoming a game that takes too long to complete with rounds now averaging around 4 hours and 50 minutes. You must remember that it is your duty to keep up with the group in front rather than ahead of the group behind.
If you do lose ground, there is no shame in letting the faster group behind play through. There are two things that you should always remember, there is no such thing as a mulligan. If you hit a bad shot accept it and move on. The provisional ball is there to help avoid slow play, so use it when it is necessary, especially in competition situations. Simply changing the position in which you leave your bag trolley or buggy can save vital minutes in the round. So please be considerate and use your common sense, it will make the game more enjoyable for all.
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