When will they learn.....
 

Played Palmer Cherry to Laurel yesterday, the first day LV was open after months of renovation. Conditions were great, fairways had decent grass, greens were running about 10-10 1/2, bunkers were great. However, turned to LV at 11:20 and noticed the following:

15+ unrepaired ball marks on each green
Dozens of divots not filled in
Half the bunkers with unraked footprints
The edges of the cups were raggedy.

At most 22 foursomes came before us

So, unfortunately, I'll give it 3 weeks, maybe less, before the conditions deteriorate to the level of the rest of our courses.

So the question is: When will our golfers learn that taking care of the course is everyone's responsibility, that there is no "entitled" superclass that need not rake, fill or repair. And stop sticking your putter in the hole to retrieve the ball or yanking the flagstick out with the ball in the cup. I wish we had cameras on every hole and institute a system of fines or revocation of golfing privileges for the offenders.

A real country club membership costs mega dollars per year. Live life like a millionaire on a retirement budget. What class of golfer did you expect to be playing here ?

That's a non-sequitur.

You don't have to be a touring pro to rake a bunker, fill a divot or repair a ball mark.

Au contraire. It is pertinet facta.

Agree, I have always respected the courses I played on & so did the other golfers I played with & we were certainly not highly skilled. Do you think using the putter to retrieve the ball or trying to pop it out with the flag are due to arthritic knees? It is not something I had seen before. As to not raking a trap & so on, is that laziness? Ignorance? Entitlement seems a stretch, but maybe it is one of those three, depending on the golfer.

Maybe they were playing "hurry up" golf and couldn't take the time to rake or fill. Gotta get out of the way of the next high-speed golfers in a hurry to get to the 19th hole.

Seriously though, I agree with you. Golfers are as responsible for the condition of the courses as the maintenance crews.

Please explain: How so?

You can get a suction cup or "basket" that goes on the end of your putter, gently remove the flagstick and then carefully retrieve you balls if you are so "arthritic" that you can bend down to put a ball on a tee but not to get your ball out of the cup.

The lack of raking I attribute to 50% laziness, 50% entitlement. I don't think many golfers think the rakes are there for the Wednesday morning garden club meeting.

and you don't even have to bend to fill a divot

I was really rooting for 'ignorance', you know people just moved to TV & took up golf, never having had fathers, brothers, what have you teach them the game & it's associated responsibilities. Then we might have had a chance with posts like this to improve the general knowledge. No chance whatsoever with laziness &/or entitlement.

And the solution to that is a bit more Draconian: Anyone new to golf, been playing less than 10 years or anyone with a handicap, let's say above 20, be required to take the "good golf" course before they are granted playing privileges.

Great thread, and I agree with everything you've said until this post. Your criteria is much too restrictive. It should be EVERYONE, no matter their age, handicap, or how long they've been playing, should take the Good Golf course before being allowed to play on the courses.

Yes, some will take offense because they have been playing "Forever", these are, in my experience for the last 10 years living in The Villages, the ones that need the "refresher" the most. A good golfer will not be offended, they will appreciate the emphasis on the care of the course which improves for the play of the game for all. The less experienced should be exposed to not only how to help maintain the course, but why. Show them an abused bunker, fairway, tee box, and green, and give them the opportunity to putt on a POS green that's been abused by the players, or chip out of a deep footprint on the edge of a bunker, and then on one that has been property cared for, open there eyes! Show them the difference in maintenance cost. Educate them on why it is important! The better the play them more they will love the game, they better they will play (I have to exclude myself from the last part of this statement, nothing is going to help my game).

Agree, Good thread.
Everyone blames the deteriorating conditions on the maintenance, where really WE can keep the courses nice, especially in the high season

1) I think those playing championships have played more golf and should know better. You’re not paying $50 to play if you’re a beginner or not that good - youll play executive; and have more fun

2) The golfers aren’t even using the rakes, BUT the rakes that are out are 12”; a 20 or 24” rake is much easier to rake and you get a better finished product.

3) The best system that works is loss of golf privilege or loss of access to tee time system for a week or month. I don’t know how that can work here; but technology can help. Upgrade the ID system with RFID tags - or require tags on carts. Rangers don’t need to confront abusers, just be around and see when people don’t rake or fix divots - boom; shut down ID to reserve tee times for a week. Heck, shut down the whole 4 some and it will become self monitoring. Will fix itself in a month.

Could also have 2 levels of good golf course - one for those with index above 15 and one below - different content.

I totally agree with this. Why do we "require" villagers to watch a video and take a course before they can step on a pickleball court. But we do not require them to attend Good Golf class before they get golf privileges. It makes no sense.

I missed these "requirements".