Ways To Help Golf Courses

[AP2]

Hello, I was wandering on what I could do to help out my local golf course? I live right next to the Okmulgee Golf Course, and I go out on the course late in the evenings to putt and chip. The golf course is pretty new and looks rough around the edges. I'm just wanting to volunteer my help, while I'm over there practicing, to help the course out in any way that I can.

I think I started this thread in the wrong section, if it is please relocate.

[uttexas]

Other than picking up peoples trash around the practice greens (cigarette butts, broken tees, etc) and fixing ball marks in the green?

Can't think of any reasonable golf course manager/superintendent that would turn away a volunteer marshall or volunteer greens keeper. Picking up broken tees at tee boxes, raking bunkers, filling in divots on par 3 tee boxes. There are so many things that don't get taken care of (many golfers should do this on their own while playing, but don't) on the average course.

[Uber$winG]

Let me get this straight… you are wondering what it is you can do to help out you neighborhood golf course while you are pilfering chips and putts late in the evening?

I know how you can help out.

Pay for your round like everyone else thereby contributing to the economic well-being of the aforementioned track.

And stay off the golf course at night.

[picrig]

  None said:

Let me get this straight… you are wondering what it is you can do to help out you neighborhood golf course while you are pilfering chips and putts late in the evening? I know how you can help out. Pay for your round like everyone else thereby contributing to the economic well-being of the aforementioned track. And stay off the golf course at night.

I think this is a little uncalled for. I don't think the OP is "pilfering chips and putts." As far as I know, getting in some short game practice is typically free of charge at most public courses. The OP didn't say he was heading out to the course in the evenings to "sneak in a few holes for free." Way to encourage golfers who are trying to do their part in the upkeep of their local course. It's something most golfers today should strive to do a little more.

[right handed phil mickelson]

Exactly right picrig. I try and do as much as I can at my home course (which is a public course) to keep it up. Its partly because I'm a member, and because I want to see the course look in better shape. No one on our course fixes divots, which is a shame, because I have to fix at least 4-5 on each green.

Uberswing. What makes you take that angle of attack on AP2? He said in his original post that he goes out late in the evenings to putt and chip. EVENINGS. That's still when there is light out and the course might still be open. It's different than NIGHT where it's dark out, and when the word trespassing comes into play. Plus, he never said anything about playing a round of golf, let alone not paying for one. So please, keep the unnecessary comments and rants to yourself because a post like yours is not needed for this thread.

Now AP2. Theres a lot of things you can do to help your course and I think it's a great thing. Talk to the superintendent of the course, and ask how you can help out in any way more than raking bunkers, fixing divots, filling in shots on the tee box or fairway, picking up trash etc. Since I'm a member and I know everyone at my home course, I'll help pick up the baskets that are left on the range from people hitting their balls. I'll help the people in the pro shop if need be. Once I even filled in for a guy because he had to leave early. Just go to the course for a while, hit on the range, play some rounds of golf, and get acquainted with the place. You'll see how it runs, and what actually needs to be done, if anything. That should earn some brownie points with the head pro ;)

Have fun golfing!

~RHPM

[AP2]

  picrig said:

I think this is a little uncalled for. I don't think the OP is "pilfering chips and putts." As far as I know, getting in some short game practice is typically free of charge at most public courses. The OP didn't say he was heading out to the course in the evenings to "sneak in a few holes for free." Way to encourage golfers who are trying to do their part in the upkeep of their local course. It's something most golfers today should strive to do a little more.

I don't sneak out there the play a few holes. All I do is putt and some chips. Like you said this free at here. When you practice these things normally its done on number 9 hole green. I really don't see the difference since there isn't a practice green yet. The course is now in the process of building a practice green. So I think the route would be to go ask the super. here to see what I could do. I didn't mean to sound like I go out there and play a normal round without paying. I like the course and consider it my home course and just would like to help in the upkeep of it.

[MiniMoe]

if you really want to help a golf course, when you are out chipping and putting, pull some weeds, repair ball marks, and sand divots. Those are the things that have long lasting results.

[Geddy11]

The course i live on is in financial trouble and has not been able to keep it up as they would like. So i took it upon myself to fertilze the fairway behind my house. I didnt tell anyone because i thought they might be upset at me for doing it. They're probably wondering why this one hole is so much greener than the others. haha.

But i've done many things on the hole i live on. Weedeating around things, pulled weeds, fix ball marks on the green, edged along the cart path, etc, etc

[AP2]

Sounds like a lot small things can be done. I do feel that a lot of the things mentioned would be big help to the course.

[alf174]

hmmm, golf course members could organize a adopt-a-hole program like some community's adopt-a-mile.

[microcrayfish]

  alf174 said:

hmmm, golf course members could organize a adopt-a-hole program like some community's adopt-a-mile.

One of the courses near me has an adopt-a-hole system. They divide the members by surname with certain letters designated to certain holes. You're supposed to do a little extra on your hole, such as fix an extra pitch mark or two or fill in a few divots with sand on the fairway. It's a pretty good idea if you ask me.

[blcorn80]

  microcrayfish said:

One of the courses near me has an adopt-a-hole system. They divide the members by surname with certain letters designated to certain holes. You're supposed to do a little extra on your hole, such as fix an extra pitch mark or two or fill in a few divots with sand on the fairway. It's a pretty good idea if you ask me.

I really like this idea. My home course has had a real problem to start the season with people not fixing ball marks. I would have to think that if each hole had 4-5 members "responsible" for keeping it looking nice, the overall effect would be pretty noticeable.

Of course, it's a shame to have to rely on others going above and beyond the golfer's call of duty just to cover for things the everyday golfer should take care of, but that's for another thread...

[wannabe]

great thread! I love to see folks willing to help out, just because. The ideas on here are also great.

I don't have a home course, but I do have a home range. I help out by buying lots of buckets of balls as well as some of the gear they stock, buying lesson packages, picking up stray baskets & tees, and being a goodwill ambassador. I'd love to help out more financially by helping improve the practice green/bunker area, renovating the facility/parking lot, etc., but that'll have to wait until my ship comes in.

[AP2]

The adopt-a-hole idea seems to be a really great idea. I think I will talk to the manager here and see if we could get one started. I would like to help the course financially, but I'm not at point to where I can other than paying for rounds and ranges balls.

[powermatt99]

If you take care of some of the mundane things like divots, ball marks, and trash, the greenskeeper would be freed up to actually be a greenskeeper.

I typically try to fix as many ball marks as possible when I'm waiting for partners to line up and put. If the course supplies sand for divots, I do as much sanding as possible. Unfortunately, there are a lot more people who do not do their part than ones who want to do extra.