Some rules are unfair

**ghalfaire** · October 23, 2012

So yesterday on the #9 hole, a par 5 with a dogleg left and water protecting a narrow green and with bunkers protecting also, I hit a great drive down the middle to the corner. Then instead of trying a 5 wood to the green I laid up with the 7 iron and was perfect in the middle of the fairway. When I got to the ball in was in a divot some as**--, well someone, had failed to repair. It just seems darned unfair to me to have to hit from a 3/4 inch divot in the middle of the fairway. If there is an unfair rule this is the one.

OK now I feel better even though I ended up with a 7 on the hole.

**dak4n6** · October 23, 2012

I know that sucks, but I would vent on the jackwads that don't replace their divots, not on the rule.

Now that I have joined a CC, I have become more aware of unfixed divots, and it drives me nuts. I probably replace an average of 4 divots on every fairway every round I play (along with a few ball marks on every green). Why are people so fricking lazy???

**Datsyuk** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

So yesterday on the #9 hole, a par 5 with a dogleg left and water protecting a narrow green and with bunkers protecting also, I hit a great drive down the middle to the corner. Then instead of trying a 5 wood to the green I laid up with the 7 iron and was perfect in the middle of the fairway. When I got to the ball in was in a divot some as**--, well someone, had failed to repair. It just seems darned unfair to me to have to hit from a 3/4 inch divot in the middle of the fairway. If there is an unfair rule this is the one.

OK now I feel better even though I ended up with a 7 on the hole.

Would playing off a freshly replaced chunk of sod and roots or some sand that might be 3/4" deep or 3" deep be better than an empty divot? Maybe not. Next time ask yourself whether you'd rather risk putting that 5 in a greenside bunker or risk getting a poor lie in the popular layup position.

**dak4n6** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

Would playing off a freshly replaced chunk of sod and roots or some sand that might be 3/4" deep or 3" deep be better than an empty divot? Maybe not. Next time ask yourself whether you'd rather risk putting that 5 in a greenside bunker or risk getting a poor lie in the popular layup position.

Yes playing off a replaced divot would in most cases be better. Plus, most divots will self-repair in a few days if watered.

**bigwave916** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by ghalfaire

So yesterday on the #9 hole, a par 5 with a dogleg left and water protecting a narrow green and with bunkers protecting also, I hit a great drive down the middle to the corner. Then instead of trying a 5 wood to the green I laid up with the 7 iron and was perfect in the middle of the fairway. When I got to the ball in was in a divot some as**--, well someone, had failed to repair. It just seems darned unfair to me to have to hit from a 3/4 inch divot in the middle of the fairway. If there is an unfair rule this is the one.

OK now I feel better even though I ended up with a 7 on the hole.

Aye, laddie, but 'tis "the rub of the green"

I practice hitting out of divots once in a while because in tournaments, I might have to.

**Datsyuk** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by dak4n6

Yes playing off a replaced divot would in most cases be better. Plus, most divots will self-repair in a few days if watered.

Not sure if you're serious, or just didn't read what I posted.

**dak4n6** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

Would playing off a freshly replaced chunk of sod and roots or some sand that might be 3/4" deep or 3" deep be better than an empty divot? Maybe not. Next time ask yourself whether you'd rather risk putting that 5 in a greenside bunker or risk getting a poor lie in the popular layup position.

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

Not sure if you're serious, or just didn't read what I posted.

What's up w you? OK, let's try this again. Yes, I think hitting off a freshly replaced divot or even a sand filled divot will almost always be better than hitting out of an empty divot. How can hitting out of a hole be better? Plus, most replaced divots are going to be at least partially healed, and not 'fresh'. Capish?

**Datsyuk** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by dak4n6

What's up w you? OK, let's try this again. Yes, I think hitting off a freshly replaced divot or even a sand filled divot will almost always be better than hitting out of an empty divot. How can hitting out of a hole be better? Plus, most replaced divots are going to be at least partially healed, and not 'fresh'. Capish?

Okay, so now we can forget what a divot with a few days of water is like to play off.

I suggested to the thread starter that maybe a freshly replaced divot was not necessarily better. Maybe. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. I've seen some poorly replaced divots at the ~ 3/4" depth and often they shouldn't have been replaced at all. He seems to struggle from sand (chose a layup over a greenside bunker) so it's doubtful he'd relish a shot from a sand filled divot in the fairway. Maybe. For all I know he'd love it. Then I suggested a couple things for him to consider next time.

I carefully sidestepped his real beef - he was obviously suggesting a free drop from the divot hole was warranted. No way on that one.

**ghalfaire** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

Okay, so now we can forget what a divot with a few days of water is like to play off.

I suggested to the thread starter that maybe a freshly replaced divot was not necessarily better. Maybe. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. I've seen some poorly replaced divots at the ~ 3/4" depth and often they shouldn't have been replaced at all. He seems to struggle from sand (chose a layup over a greenside bunker) so it's doubtful he'd relish a shot from a sand filled divot in the fairway. Maybe. For all I know he'd love it. Then I suggested a couple things for him to consider next time.

I carefully sidestepped his real beef - he was obviously suggesting a free drop from the divot hole was warranted. No way on that one.

for whatever it is worth I would many times have preferred the the bunker. but in this case on this course the sand in the bunkers was an "iffy" proposition. Like a lot of daily play courses there might be some sand and there might not be and if there is sand it may or may not have been "stirred" in the last couple of weeks. So I thought the fairway was a better percentage chance at possible birdie or par. I too do practice upon occasion hitting out of divots at the range. But there are divot and there are divots and while I should blame the butt end that didn't repair his/her divot or maybe me for just not being good enough to hit a good shot out of a hole, I still think the rule is somewhat unfair.

**Fourputt** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by dak4n6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datsyuk

Would playing off a freshly replaced chunk of sod and roots or some sand that might be 3/4" deep or 3" deep be better than an empty divot? Maybe not. Next time ask yourself whether you'd rather risk putting that 5 in a greenside bunker or risk getting a poor lie in the popular layup position.

Yes playing off a replaced divot would in most cases be better. Plus, most divots will self-repair in a few days if watered.

Not really. The ability of a divot to regrow depends on the type of grass, the depth of the divot, and the environmental conditions. In most of Colorado, with very low humidity and eternal water shortages, divots just turn dead brown and hard. In midsummer, a nice thick pelt taken in the morning will be dead and dessicated before the evening watering. With some types of grass, the divot just disintegrates, leaving nothing to put back. A shallow divot doesn't have enough of the root attached for the grass to regrow.

The only effective way to repair these is with a sand and seed mix.

**mad max** · October 23, 2012

Originally Posted by Fourputt

Not really. The ability of a divot to regrow depends on the type of grass, the depth of the divot, and the environmental conditions. In most of Colorado, with very low humidity and eternal water shortages, divots just turn dead brown and hard. In midsummer, a nice thick pelt taken in the morning will be dead and dessicated before the evening watering. With some types of grass, the divot just disintegrates, leaving nothing to put back. A shallow divot doesn't have enough of the root attached for the grass to regrow.

The only effective way to repair these is with a sand and seed mix.

My divots usually just end up exploding. Even if i find the largest piece and put it back it looks ridiculous to put back a 2x2 piece in a hole that is 6x3. Most better courses have sand on the carts but I usually walk. What can I do?

I don't know why a decent course can't say when you check in "are you walking or riding walking? Walking O.K. here is your bottle of sand please fill any divots with this mixture." It wouldn't have to be the big cart sized ones it could just be an old Gatorade bottle. It would be a great reminder of how to repair a divot. I will admit that because I am not used to the procedure that sometimes when I take a cart that has sand on the back, that I forget and just look around and replace the biggest piece if I can find it.

I think most golfer's would not just take the bottle and throw it in the nearest trash can, they would put it in their bag and even if they forget and don't fix one divot with it when they got home they would think "I carried this bottle of sand around all day I should at least try to lighten my load by using some of it.

**hendog** · October 24, 2012

I guess I am one of the guilty parties that leaves these. It is not intentional but I walk a lot and of course I have no sand. My divots are either blown up or a long ways away and I am already focusing on my next shot and don't run and grab it and put it back. Then when I ride I am use to hitting and leaving so I don't even use the sand that's on the cart.

I promise to make this more of a priority but still with the walking, what am I supposed to do if I can't find or there is not a big piece of turf?

PS - A guy I played with the other day would take 2-3 big practice swings and take monster divots on each one and not fix them!! Every time!! Not saying that makes me innocent but at least I have someone to point at :)

**bigwave916** · October 24, 2012

Originally Posted by Jason M Henley

I guess I am one of the guilty parties that leaves these. It is not intentional but I walk a lot and of course I have no sand. My divots are either blown up or a long ways away and I am already focusing on my next shot and don't run and grab it and put it back. Then when I ride I am use to hitting and leaving so I don't even use the sand that's on the cart.

I promise to make this more of a priority but still with the walking, what am I supposed to do if I can't find or there is not a big piece of turf?

PS - A guy I played with the other day would take 2-3 big practice swings and take monster divots on each one and not fix them!! Every time!! Not saying that makes me innocent but at least I have someone to point at :)

Bermuda divots should not be replaced. My understanding is that they die right away. The sand and seed mix is supposed to get grass growing in the scar left from carving out the divot.

I have no quarrel with someone who walks and doesn't want to carry a container of divot mix with them. I'll fill yours when I fill mine. I always try to catch a couple in the neighborhood of my golf cart while I'm waiting on playing partners or if I'm waiting to hit. The course where I play has full containers at the 10th tee so you can empty one the first nine and another one on the back.

However, someone should beat knots on the head of the guy you played with the other day. There is no excuse for that kinda BS.

**VMAN** · October 25, 2012

Unless the divot is perfect and the ground is moist we sand and see our divots with mix, they have a better regrowth rate that way. If you kick up the edges of the divot slightly with your club there is less to no chanceof a ball ending up in there. its courtesy for other golfers but not enough people actually do it.

**turtleback** · October 25, 2012

Anyone who expects golf to be fair has a fundamental misunderstanding of the game, IMO.

**saevel25** · October 25, 2012

its golf, sometimes you don't get the lies you want. some golf courses don't even want you to replace the divots, they give you see and sand on the cart.

**hendog** · October 26, 2012

Since the title of this thread is "Some rules are unfair" and we seem to have exhausted the divot rule I would like to throw another one out there.

This is about the difference between PGA rounds and regular rounds.

How many of you have hit a shot into the rough and maybe over a hill or some obstruction such that you can't see it and you get down there and look but can't find it anywhere? Little do you know that it clipped a tree and bounced right about 20 yards and while its in play you can't find it. If you play by the rules, you are driving back and rehitting. Stroke and distance.

In PGA events they have people everywhere spotting for them. In that same scenario, someone would have the ball spotted and marked before the player put his club away. So no stroke and distance penalty for them.

This seems unfair to me.

**Datsyuk** · October 26, 2012

Originally Posted by Jason M Henley

Since the title of this thread is "Some rules are unfair" and we seem to have exhausted the divot rule I would like to throw another one out there.

This is about the difference between PGA rounds and regular rounds.

How many of you have hit a shot into the rough and maybe over a hill or some obstruction such that you can't see it and you get down there and look but can't find it anywhere? Little do you know that it clipped a tree and bounced right about 20 yards and while its in play you can't find it. If you play by the rules, you are driving back and rehitting. Stroke and distance.

In PGA events they have people everywhere spotting for them. In that same scenario, someone would have the ball spotted and marked before the player put his club away. So no stroke and distance penalty for them.

This seems unfair to me.

Why not play your rounds alternate shot - a fourball - and have the not hitting partners go on ahead to act as forecaddies.

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Some rules are unfair

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