Isn't Anyone Repairing Ball Marks?

[xrayvizhen]

This is probably been covered before and also falls under the category of "Preaching to the Choir" but I'm noticing more and more that the greens in my area, and I play on five different public and resort golf courses within 45 minutes of my home in northern NJ, are looking dimpled and pock-marked because nobody, and I mean nobody is fixing their ball marks. I suppose like most on this forum who care more about golf than the average shlub, I'm very careful about taking care of my own business, meaning, I repair my ball mark and then the ones that are more or less between where my ball is on the green and the hole. But my god, it's getting so that I could spend all kinds of time, pissing off groups behind me, if I was really fastidious about it, repairing dozens of dimples  on each green if I really wanted to, which I don't. 

Is this a northeast thing, just limited to public golf courses, or is this a growing problem throughout all of golf? Is it that maintenance staff on golf courses is being reduced so there isn't personnel available to do normal grooming of greens? Just wondering if others are experiencing the same thing.

[Billy Z]

I repair my ball marks in Michigan, and any other I see. 

[Darkfrog]

At the course I play on, I probably repair 4-5 pitch marks on each green each round (unfortunately most often not one of mine 😪). The folks in my group are diligent about fixing theirs, but it seems like many others on the course are not. Maybe just a muni thing, my course doesn't really do much player education on stuff like this.

[StuM]

I can't speak to if this is a regional thing or not but I do notice more ball marks than in years past.  I think it could have to do with the influx of new players during the pandemic.  It has brought more new/casual players out and they may not have the "Training" to know better.  

Most that I play with are similar to you, they fix their ball mark + any others they see but those are players that have been playing for many years and "Understand" the need to fix ball marks.

[ChetlovesMer]

I've noticed it as well. 

As others have said, it could be the influx of new golfers thanks to Covid. 

So, good news, more people are playing golf. Bad news, more people are playing golf. 

I think another issue may be that not only are more "new" golfers playing so some don't know that they are supposed to fix their pitch marks. Of the "new" golfers who actually want to repair their pitch marks, most of them do it wrong and actually do more damage in the long run. 

[Big Lex]

I don't notice any difference in this over the years or between courses. I play with avid golfers on a private course most of the time, and everyone I play with seems to make the effort to fix ball marks. So I don't think there is any pervasive issue with golfers not being considerate and following course rules. So why are there always multiple unfixed ballmarks on every green, all the time? I don't know. Not everyone sees them, sometimes maybe because of light or shadows or whatever; my vision isn't as good as it was years ago and if it's really bright with glare I find them harder to see. I make an effort to look but sometimes I can't find one. Other times you find several but you need to keep moving along so you fix maybe 2 or 3.  I can't remember ever thinking a green was unputtable because of ball marks. If there is one in your line, you fix it. Greens are far more often in bad condition because of aeration, or just lousy course conditions for whatever reason. Ball marks don't bother me. 

[nevets88]

It's been pretty much the same where I am, a lot of ball marks not repaired.

[colin007]

Upstate NY here, lots of a-hole golfers here also.

[Billy Z]

I just don't think it's regional, it's more of a bit of laziness or not realizing what your responsibilities should be on the golf course.

[billchao]

I haven’t seen an increase in ball marks at the courses I play. I can’t say if it’s golfers fixing them or the maintenance crew doing it.

[Shindig]

I really enjoy fixing ball marks.  To me, one of the worst parts (but, obviously, not the worst part) of missing a GIR is that I don't have my ball mark to repair.  I aim to repair ones I see.  

[mcanadiens]

I haven't notice any real uptick, but I've played most of my rounds so far at home. The home course greens are damn firm. Firm enough that even my decent shots don't leave much of a dent. In fairness, I think most of our players are pretty conscientious. Definitely more so than back in the Dayton days.

 

 

[Vinsk]

48 minutes ago, Billy Z said:

I just don't think it's regional, it's more of a bit of laziness or not realizing what your responsibilities should be on the golf course.

And some are worried they can get Covid from repairing pitch marks.😃

[boogielicious]

11 hours ago, Vinsk said:

And some are worried they can get Covid from repairing pitch marks.😃

Worm Flu!

I haven’t noticed a difference. The two course I play most seem ok. The NH course has really firm greens, so pitch marks are rare. The RI course has softer greens, but they don’t seem bad. I fix a few when I play.

[darthweasel]

i have been noticing less. might be because in the influx of new golfers are a large number of people who never hit the green on the fly...but also I tend to be in groups that go out of our way to repair as many as possible

[mohearn]

19 minutes ago, darthweasel said:

i have been noticing less. might be because in the influx of new golfers are a large number of people who never hit the green on the fly...but also I tend to be in groups that go out of our way to repair as many as possible

I repair mine, and any others stumble across. But I think courses do a poor job of helping golfers remember, and especially guiding new players about how to go about it.  I can't ever recall seeing something like a "Help us keep the greens in good shape, please repair your ball marks" sign on say a 130 yard par 3.  

Alot of people just aren't really mindful of it.  Others obviously don't care. but I think that's the exception.

[BHI 99]

Is there any etiquette anywhere, anymore? That USED to be one of the best things about golf. 

[iacas]

1 hour ago, BHI 99 said:

Is there any etiquette anywhere, anymore? That USED to be one of the best things about golf. 

As long as people have been making ball marks, people have been complaining about people who don’t repair ball marks.