[mrf6969]

I still do not have any idea what so called ambassadors do, especially on the executive courses but also on the Champs.
Of course, it is the players responsibility to rake the traps and fill in divots and repair ball marks and drive carts in a 90-degree fashion to preserve the fairways.
The ambassadors drive around the course doing nothing in my opinion. Could they not when they see a golfer not doing their due diligence say something?
Someone needs to monitor those that commit the infraction.

[Rocksnap]

New to TV, moved here FT last October. I’ve done my share of executive golf. I always get to know whom I’m golfing with. My observations are the snow birds are more prone to not fixing ball marks on the green nor filling divots with sand elsewhere.

[banjobob]

Originally Posted by Jim1mack

Just finished playing the Palmetto Executive course. The number of unrepaired ball marks on the greens is unacceptable. I repaired 2-4 marks on most greens. Given time I could have done more. I’m full time here and I view these courses as my own so I take care of them.

Tee times at these courses are filled every day this time of year so there’s lots of play this time of year. If golfers do not take care of these courses by the time the high season is over I fear the full time residents will again have reason to complain about conditions.

Abuse of the courses is an ongoing issue , ball marks hogged out cup edges , unraked sand traps , blame the old stiff lazy players.

[NoMo50]

Originally Posted by mrf6969

The ambassadors drive around the course doing nothing in my opinion. Could they not when they see a golfer not doing their due diligence say something?

Ambassadors are generally discouraged from "enforcing" the rules. If they try to get golfers to repair ball marks, rake traps, or...heaven forbid...pick up their pace of play, some of these entitled golfers will lodge a complaint against the ambassador. This has resulted in more than one ambassador being fired.

[Snakster66]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

Ambassadors are generally discouraged from "enforcing" the rules. If they try to get golfers to repair ball marks, rake traps, or...heaven forbid...pick up their pace of play, some of these entitled golfers will lodge a complaint against the ambassador. This has resulted in more than one ambassador being fired.

Apparently it's better to foster fights among the golfers. One group consistently has picnics on the green, while the group behind is forced to stand around and watch the grass grow. This, left unmanaged, leads to hostility. Seems pretty common sense that the person hired to monitor the course has the authority to build a fire under a slow group without fear of reprisal.

[DrHitch]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

...Many players don't launch the ball well and don't think they make a ball mark....Everyone needs to fix two ball marks on every hole.

YES...and when you're finished putting, put the sun behind you and you'll see ball marks better. Adopt a green on your favorite course to always repair.

[Bilyclub]

The greens on the 3 Hendry courses were in very good shape. It appears that whoever mowed the Sweetgum greens went down to the dirt on some holes.

[LonnyP]

Old entitled people don't think they have to repair them. And have you ever noticed how many cannot even bend over to pick up their ball let alone fix ball marks. They pay their amenity fees! LOL.

[MX rider]

I see this all the time as well. I usually fix 2 or 3 ballmarks on every green.
Too many lazy players just think someone else will fix it.

[SHIBUMI]

Been teaching for 30 years. The very first lesson starts with Proper Care of the Golf Course. Ball Marks, divots, and bunkers to start. This creates a washed golfer.
A person who respects the golf course first. A person who doesn't pee in the pool at the expense of others.

Golf is cow pasture pool. Imagine shooting pool with divots on the table. Not fun.

With 250 rounds of golf played in a day. Around 125 players don't hit greens. They are chipping. If the other 125 fix 2 ball marks it covers the field. It would be nicer if they did not have to do that. But that is a perfect world.

The unwashed golfer, one who has never been taught proper care of the golf course, or missed that part of their first lesson, does at some point need to be baptized.
Sorry to say it will be by the washed as it should. And this is why the washed don't want to play with the unwashed. Overtime the washed will move away from the unwashed so they are not babysitting each round. And they don't want to see a golf course abused in this fashion.

As a persons handicap lowers they start to gain more respect for the golf course.
And sometimes this is why clicks form. No washed player(educated to respect the golf course) will willingly play with an unwashed golfer.(no respect for the golf course who think the grounds crew is supposed to do that.

A washed golfer will do this care regardless of age or physical ability to bend over.
I have seen them get on one knee to fix a ball mark. Dropping divot sand at waist level only requires the strength to lift the bottle. The first move when you reach a bunker is to look for the rake. I have even passed people the rake if they have issues.

So, yes! The washed golfers need to baptize the unwashed wherever they can.
Otherwise, the group of unwashed will grow and conditions will worsen.

So, if you are unwashed, it's time to get baptized and show some respect for these Fields Of Dreams. And if you are unwashed, don't call yourself a golfer, your not. Your doing something, but it is far removed from golf.

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I've been around & in the golf business for 30+ years. Ball marks, not raking bunkers and not filling divots and people complaining about it, is never going to change ... until golfers call out those who don't do it.

If I see someone in front of me, walk through a bunker and not rake it, I call them out. If I'm close enough to see them not fill/replace a divot ... I say something.

Barring clubs providing babysitters on every hole, the only way it's going to change, is for golfers to call out their playing partners and others they see, abusing the golf course. See something, say something.

[Topspinmo]

I see lot golfers in late evenings all time practicing approach shots in last evening after closing times. When hit 15 or more from 60 plus yards out going to leave lot of dimples on greens. I sure they fixing all of them.

[dano121]

Isn't it part of the "Ambassadors" job to fix divots etc. It wouldn't hurt if they "Gently" kept play moving, as well.

[jimhoward]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

I see lot golfers in late evenings all time practicing approach shots in last evening after closing times. When hit 15 or more from 60 plus yards out going to leave lot of dimples on greens. I sure they fixing all of them.

At my club in Nashville we would periodically have divot parties in the evening. This was typically before a PGA or similar event was held. You send out one or two trustworthy members in golf carts with one free beer to each hole. They fill all the fairway divots and repair the ball marks that they see on their one hole. Then circle back to the club house for some socializing.

I wonder if that would work here.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by SHIBUMI

.....The first move when you reach a bunker is to look for the rake. I have even passed people the rake if they have issues......

My favorite is a bunker with footprints on the way in and on the way out within 1 foot of the rake. I'm surprised the idiot didn't trip over it. The other is a fairway bunker behind my house that is about 40 yards long. One day a "golfer" hit it in the bunker, hit it 5 yards, then another, then another 5 or 6 times and then exited the far side without even glancing at a rake. I couldn't resist, so I ran out of my lanai and raked the trap while the "golfer" was still only 20 yards out of it, so I yelled "your welcome". He gave me a one finger salute. You have no idea how close I was to removing his finger.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by dano121

Isn't it part of the "Ambassadors" job to fix divots etc..

Shouldn't folks who play golf, have some modicum of knowledge about what's expected of them, when playing golf?