Chula Vista Greens

[PaulUnderwood]

Wife and I played Chula Vista this morning I cannot believe the amount of ball marks on the greens. I would bet it would take me an hour just to repair the fourth green alone. Please take the time to repair at least yours plus one. It is our responsibility to observe all aspects of golf etiquette raking traps filling in divots and repairing ball marks thank you we are to be good stewards of the game.

[Mleeja]

I played Southern Star this morning and saw the same thing, numerous unrepaired ball marks. It only takes 30 seconds to repair a ball mark. My “rule of thumb”. Repair your ball mark and one other. With all the play the Executive courses are getting it is hard to keep the greens in good shape without everyone’s help!

[stan the man]

When in Rome I do as the Romans do

[JGVillages]

Wife and I played Chula Vista this morning I cannot believe the amount of ball marks on the greens. I would bet it would take me an hour just to repair the fourth green alone. Please take the time to repair at least yours plus one. It is our responsibility to observe all aspects of golf etiquette raking traps filling in divots and repairing ball marks thank you we are to be good stewards of the game.

Been here for 15 years and that problem is ongoing. This large facility is not a “country club”, it’s just a facility with a lot of golf courses, most at best in ok shape. Most players here are not “golfers”, they just play golf, thus the lack of golf course responsibility. Nothing wrong with that mix of players, but the problem exists because of it. Complain as you should but in 15 years of it, for myself, nothing has changed.

[Fredman]

Played an executive course a couple weeks ago and could not believe the the number of sand traps that were not raked. If u can’t rake the traps you don’t belong out there.
Would love to hear your excuses

[Bay Kid]

Seems to be normal everywhere not just TVs. Others figure someone will fix it for them. On the bright side I get exercise fixing the others destruction.

[kevko05]

Ive been here over 5 years and yes...this situation will never change. People that are "golfers" will fix their own and other marks to try and improve conditions. Truth is some people just dont care or so inexperienced in the game that they dont know they need to fix these marks. One solution would be to equip the ambassadors with a "pole" ball mark repair item where all you have to do is place the pole over the ball mark and push. Done. Dont have to bend over and manually fix each mark. Another solution would be to push all the tees back for a couple of weeks to make it harder for the average golfer to hit the green in the air and wait for the greens to recover before the tees are again moved up. As far as sand traps we rake where our ball settles and redrop the ball. Then rake our area afterwards. Enjoy the game and what it has to offer. The Villages has very challenging Ex courses and fun for all abilities and dont let a few negative issues get in the way of having a good time

[DonH57]

Wife and I played Chula Vista this morning I cannot believe the amount of ball marks on the greens. I would bet it would take me an hour just to repair the fourth green alone. Please take the time to repair at least yours plus one. It is our responsibility to observe all aspects of golf etiquette raking traps filling in divots and repairing ball marks thank you we are to be good stewards of the game.

I wouldn't doubt it a bit. Sad thing because Chula Vista was closed for quite awhile and all the tee boxes were redone and the greens were worked on as well. Didn't take long to screw it up for sure. Unfortunate!:shocked:

[karostay]

Same horse new jockey

[stanley]

I One solution would be to equip the ambassadors with a "pole" ball mark repair item where all you have to do is place the pole over the ball mark and push. Done. Dont have to bend over and manually fix each mark.

They are equipped but they can't do all the greens and catch all the ball marks during their shifts. That is one of their jobs believe it or not

[PaulUnderwood]

I am an ambassador and we have a tool to repair ball marks and when ever I have the opportunity to do so I will. The problem now is that in the afternoon shift there are so many golfers I can’t get on the greens to repair them.

[noslices1]

Played an executive course a couple weeks ago and could not believe the the number of sand traps that were not raked. If u can’t rake the traps you don’t belong out there.
Would love to hear your excuses

An ambassador told me a few years ago, he noticed a woman walk out of a trap without breaking it. He told her she should rake the traps when she gets in there. She told him, “I don’t have to rake the traps. I live in Bridgeport.”

[karostay]

Powers to be have put lot of time and $$$$ into the executive golf venues it showed hats off unfortunately a few don't care and the scars show

[jebartle]

My most memorable experience, when I asked golfer in my 4-some if she was going to rake after her ball landed in bunker,, she told me she lived in Harmeswood. Huh!
Soooo, I raked it, I live in LaZamora, obviously the guilt trip didn't work. Fortunately, most Villagers are thoughtful.

[Mortal1]

[QUOTE=kevko05;1894295 One solution would be to equip the ambassadors with a "pole" ball mark repair item where all you have to do is place the pole over the ball mark and push. Done. Dont have to bend over and manually fix each mark. Another solution would be to push all the tees back for a couple of weeks to make it harder for the average golfer to hit the green in the air and wait for the greens to recover before the tees are again moved up. As far as sand traps we rake where our ball settles and redrop the ball. Then rake our area afterwards. Enjoy the game and what it has to offer. The Villages has very challenging Ex courses and fun for all abilities and dont let a few negative issues get in the way of having a good time[/QUOTE]

You've never used the tools they give the ambassadors...I did for 10 months...it's a shoulder, elbow and wrist killer. I did my best but it's up to the golfer to fix their pitch marks. Most do not! There are numerous reasons why they don't fix them: don't see the ball land on the green, don't care and don't know how to do it properly. Those tools also do a minimum amount of good.

Move the tees back? Then the golfers will move forward. Non-solution.

Assuming these issues interferers with someones enjoyment is not proven....therefore an assumption. Strange as it may seem some folks are just trying to get it out there to do what you are supposed to.

Still with quite a few people having poor eyesight and trouble bending over it's a non-issue with me. If I'm playing with someone who leaves a pitch mark I fix it...if they leave a bunker unraked I rake it for them with no comment from me. I guess I'm hoping they take the hint, but I don't rely on it.

[kevko05]

They make it look so easy.

BMS - True Surface Pitchmark / Golf Ballmark Repair Tool - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4YIRr9jbk)

[bjp1673]

Played an executive course a couple weeks ago and could not believe the the number of sand traps that were not raked. If u can’t rake the traps you don’t belong out there.
Would love to hear your excuses

I think because we had a period of time when there were no rakes because of covid fears and no one could rake the traps it has made the problem much worse now. A lot of people are afraid to touch the flag pole or the rakes in the traps. I don’t have an answer to the problem, just an observation. We played with someone who’s ball went in the water about a foot. I got the ball out and they almost freaked out because I had touched their ball.

[DonH57]

I've been raking bunkers since they placed the rakes back in the bunkers. I guess if you wanted to feel really safe supply your own rake or wear gloves or hand sanitizer after handling the rakes. Have there been any reports of covid from handling rakes or pulling flags? It seems no one has an issue with their ball rolling all over a green that could have spittle all over it though!

[ficoguy]

Our seasonal visitors think we should fix their ball marks, especially those with the Statue of Liberty license plates. "Can we get some sawft buttah ovah heah becuz the bread's too hahd?" "Can't you open another cash register - there's already 2 people in line?" And on it goes...and now add vaccine tourism....

[rjn5656]

Played churchill yesterday. Ball marks were not the issue. Greens are in terrible shape with lots of sand covering where there should be grass.

[rjn5656]

I meant Mira Mesa, Chula Vista's partner course.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I played Chula Vista Tuesday and the OP is correct. I couldn't believe how many ball marks I saw. It's especially a shame since they recently resodded those greens.

I tried to fix several but what a lot of people don't realize is that if a ball mark is not fixed with 24 hours, it cannot be repaired. This is especially true this time of year when the grass is not growing.

In the past, I've seen ambassadors with a long ball mark tool going over greens. I haven't seen of very often but I don't understand why this isn't a regular part of their duties.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

They make it look so easy.

BMS - True Surface Pitchmark / Golf Ballmark Repair Tool - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP4YIRr9jbk)

Those are good tools and a lot of superintendents use them. I think that every ambassador should have one and they should go over every green after the last group of the day.

The one issue that I have with that tool is that most ball marks are not the same as the mark made by simply stepping on the ball and creating a small depression. Many of them actually tear a piece of turf out. Although this tool will fix that type of mark it does not do as good of a job as a person with a ball mark tool and the proper technique.

[HORNET]

There is an old curiosity in The Villages, fix you ball mark and at least three others before you leave the green!