Taking care of the course.

     The snow finally melted last week and we were able to open the course and play some golf. I was very excited to finally see some grass and I am sure everyone was ready to get out on the course and enjoy a round of golf. Unfortunately in this state of elation, most everyone forgot about proper course etiquette and doing their part as a golfer to repair any damage to the course. Divot replacement was  limited, and several times carts were driven off the path to hurry around their playing partners so they could save 5 or 10 seconds. Fortunately the greens were still frozen so ballmark damage was limited.
     I can not stress enough the importance of replacing divots and repairing ballmarks. Both of these practices take seconds to perform and have a huge impact on the conditioning of the course. Ideally I would love to see all divots replaced and then topdressed to seal the edges but we need to start with just replacing the divot. This is especially important this time of year when the turf is dormant. Getting into the habit of replacing divots now will lead to good habits for the rest of the season and will play a big role in keeping the course in good condition throughout the year.
      If you are one of the few that did your part thank you and keep up the good work. Also, if you see someone not doing their part give them a hard time. Make them aware of the impact on the course and get them going in the right direction. If you are reading this and you are one of the many that did not replace their divot or repair their ballmark there is still hope. You still have a chance to do the right thing and be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. Show some pride in your course and follow proper etiquette when playing golf here or anywhere else. If everyone takes care of their own divots and ballmarks the course will benefit and be in better shape for it.
     Hopefully we will see an improvement in this area and if you have any questions about the course please stop me on the course or shoot me an email at andy.tomlinson@ourclub.com.