Friday, January 11, 2013

New Year's Resolution from the USGA

The following list is from the USGA green section and if followed by all members will make 2013 a great New Year.

Understand the importance of sand for greens and playing conditions. While sand can be a problem with ball roll when moisture is present it is critical for quality greens, approaches, tees and, in many cases, fairways.

Fix all your ball marks and others if you see them. Fix them properly by pushing the displaced area back, rather than lifting the ball mark.

Fix all your divots and fill them properly. The “3-foot drop” technique not only does not work, it can also damage mowers.

Remember your bunker etiquette. Bunker maintenance is labor intensive and therefore expensive. Good bunker etiquette helps everyone and frees up resources for other areas of the course.

Follow directional signs to minimize damage to turf. Paying attention to course signage reduces damage and greatly increases the likelihood of a good lie for your next shot.

Pick up your shells and peels. The shells of most nuts and the peels of most fruit are not rapidly biodegradable. Not only are they unsightly, if you don’t put them in the trash someone else has to do it for you.

Keep all four tires on the paths. You are not on a public road so don’t feel like you need to always move aside for oncoming or following traffic.

Understand that ultra-fast greens equal longer rounds of golf. Four putts and five hour rounds of golf are not fun for anyone.

A simple “Thank you” can be a wonderful gift. Take the time to thank the staff that worked all year to produce a course that you enjoy playing.

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