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Glade Springs Village Property Owners,
I am pleased to report that our spring aeration was a success. With Mother Nature on our side, we were able to core-aerate greens, tees, and collars on both courses, along with using a ground-driven slicer to open up our fairways and approaches and allow them to vent. Topdressing was applied to our greens and tees as well as a few select approaches, such as the par 3’s. The recent favorable weather that we have received helps with a speedy recovery from the aerification process. Now that this task is in the books, the 2024 golf season will really hit its stride. This means that we will see a significant increase in traffic on the courses, along with an increase in wear and tear. Therefore, on-course etiquette is more important than ever.
Golf course etiquette is an all-encompassing term that refers to demeanor, adherence to course maintenance rules, dress, and other important issues. However, the most common and beneficial are ball mark repair, divot replacement, and raking bunkers. Imagine what the courses would look like if we ignored these activities for just one day? It would look like a battlefield.
So, why is it so important to fix ball marks? The basis for ball mark repair and divot replacement is for competitive and agronomic reasons. Balls that land in unrepaired divots place a golfer at a disadvantage, just as having to putt over a ball mark. By leaving turf damaged (unrepaired), it becomes susceptible to disease and/or infestation of weeds, resulting in a lower-quality of playing surface. This necessitates the need for attention by golf course superintendents and their staff, thereby taking them away from more pressing duties. As a general rule, a ball mark repaired within 10 minutes will heal with a smooth surface within 2-3 days whereas an unrepaired ball mark may take as long as three weeks to heal and the result would be an uneven surface.
And what about replacing divots? As a general rule, please replace any divot on the course unless you have access to our sand compost mix. The mixture can be used anywhere on course but it is recommended to focus on the tees and fairways. We do not have seed added to our recovery mixture to minimize bentgrass contamination in our roughs. You can find our divot mix on golf carts and at replenish stations located at on course bathrooms and the starter building. If you are replacing a turf divot, please replace the divot so the grass can send down new roots. Do your best to replace the turf in the same direction it came out, and tamp down firmly so the mower won't pull it back out.
Bunkers: Aren’t they troublesome enough? Imagine playing from them when they are left unraked. Follow the tips below to help alleviate uneven surfaces and inconsistent poor lies:
- Enter and exit the bunker at the point closest to your ball; this will ensure you do not displace too much sand
- Alternate between pulling the sand toward you and pushing it away from you to make the surface even; this will make the bunker surface even without sand displacement
- All holes and footprints should be smoothed over upon exiting the bunker
- Be sure there are no indentations in the previously disturbed sand
- After rake completion, the USGA recommends that the bunker rake should be placed outside the bunker, laying flat and facing the direction of play
- USGA reminds golfers that the proper term is “bunker,” and never “trap.
Thank You,
Patrick Murphy,
Golf Course Superintendent
Glade Springs Village Property Owners Association
If you need to reach Patrick, you can email him at Patrick Murphy's Email
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