Divot Repair Questions

[ctmurrray]

Today I was reading up on the proper method of divot repair. I read that in northern climates replacing the divot of grass/dirt back into the hole is suppose regrow and heal (like here in Minnesota). (apparently in the southern courses they prefer replacement with sand or sand/seed mix).

Yet I see many dead grass patches in old divots at my course. Prior to reading this today I have just started taking divot repair dirt/seed from the par 3's and using that instead. Several other players started this a few years ago and it is catching on.

Now I am not sure what is best. Any people with real experience on the board that can give us the low down on divot repair?

[cart_racr]

Maybe it is time to have a discussion with your superintendent? I bet it would make his day to know that some members/regular players are concerned about how to properly care for the course.

[DDBowdoin]

hmm... at my course people just dont repair them at all... damn these people!!!

[RemyM]

Divots from cool season grasses (bent, rye & bluegrass) should be replaced. They usually have roots that will retake when replaced. Divots from warm season grasses (Bermuda & zoysia) typically will not have a root structure to retake. However, these type of grasses generally have a fast spreading growth that will grow over the divot, the sand is used to fill in the hole. As suggested you should talk to your superintendent for his/her preference. When playing a new course you can always ask in the pro shop or the starter for that course's policy.

[Fourputt]

At my home course here in Colorado, all carts have 2 bottles of sand/seed mix on them. The air is so dry most of the time that divots just dry out within a couple of hours. Replacing them rarely results in a successful patch.


That said, when I'm walking, I always replace them unless there is someone nearby with a cart that I can get some mix from. Even a dead divot is better than a bomb crater to hit from.

[Avid Golfer]

Divots from cool season grasses (bent, rye & bluegrass) should be replaced. They usually have roots that will retake when replaced. Divots from warm season grasses (Bermuda & zoysia) typically will not have a root structure to retake.

I agree that the roots are a big factor in if a replaced divot will grow back. If you clip the divot where the roots are below the divot (still in the ground) then the grass is less likely to grow back as well, but if the bottom of your divot is dirt (meaning you didn't cut through the roots) then the grass will continue to grow not long after it has been replaced (as long as the grass is replaced not too long after it was cut from the ground). If the grass (divot) was made a long time ago, and the grass has dried out on the dirt side then it may have already been depleated of the much needed water and be less likely to grow when replaced.

[joshtpa]

Down here in FL, it is all about the sand. Replacing a divot will lead to dead patches according to our superintendent.

[ctmurrray]

I played again today, taking care to look at all the divot repairs (where the sod/grass toupee is replaced). They were all dead.

[MrKadash]

Down here in FL, it is all about the sand. Replacing a divot will lead to dead patches according to our superintendent.

Which makes perfect sense, as sand has virtually no water-holding capacity. Replacing divots in soils high in organic matter and clay have a much higher chance for recovery, if kept properly moist.

[Crafty]

Divots from cool season grasses (bent, rye & bluegrass) should be replaced. They usually have roots that will retake when replaced. Divots from warm season grasses (Bermuda & zoysia) typically will not have a root structure to retake. However, these type of grasses generally have a fast spreading growth that will grow over the divot, the sand is used to fill in the hole. As suggested you should talk to your superintendent for his/her preference. When playing a new course you can always ask in the pro shop or the starter for that course's policy.

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