Ball Marks
 

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.

Most likely, preaching to the choir... We are normally the first group out in the morning and I still find 1 or 2 additional marks to fix per hole.

Played in a league back in MN that always followed the state High School championship and they never fixed one mark, or it felt that way. They had their coaches with them if they didn't instruct them to do it, then they should have done it...

How do you get ball marks on the green?

FAr too many playing that do not know what the players responsibilities are.....and far to many just think it's someone elses job....like sanding divots and raking traps.

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.

I played 18 at Cane Garden one day and fixed 72 ball marks. Unacceptable. For the people that think they are privileged and entitled that can’t fix their ball marks and sand their divots, get off you’re high horse and start taking care of our courses.

It been a problem on every course I have ever played on and every club at which I have been a member.

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

Half of players (everywhere not just here) don't even carry a divot repair tool. You can use a tee of course, but many have never even been formally taught how to correctly repair a ball mark.

The last thing we need is for some of these people to bend over to try and repair a ball mark. Half of them can't even get their ball out of the hole without a ball retriever on the end of their putter. Fixing a ball mark will lead to falling over head first and next we have a medical emergency on our hands. I will gladly fix two ball marks on every green.

There are times I can't find my pitch mark but I always repair others. Sometimes marks can't be seen until hours later.

You can go to the gym and watch people not put their free weights back. Problems everywhere not just on the golf course.

Played Bonita Pass on Monday. Fixed two or three ball marks every hole. It gets old especially at my age! But still lucky to still play.

Which brings us to another problem----horribly damaged edges of cups. People should learn to take the ball out correctly----gently place hand palm facing flagstick and carefully remove ball. Better yet, take the flagstick out before putting like we had to do for 700 years prior to the new rule. DO NOT stick your putter in the cup, carelessly use a suction cup or other such device, nor forcefully yank the flagstick out to get the ball to pop out. Thank you---now go do it!!!!!

Folks from right around NYC will do that a lot. Folks from right around Columbus, Ohio just cuss to themselves.

Two is the magic number for ball mark repair. Ideally yours and one other but not necessarily.

Less than two and ball marks proliferate. More than two slows down play and becomes a chore.

One man’s opinion.

Short video on how to repair a ball mark.

How to properly repair a pitch mark. Using the Gannet™ divot repair tool. - YouTube