Ball Mark Repair Thread

[john granger]

I;m finding more and more ball marks on the green that somebody just will not or cannnot repair. Is this a lost art? And while I'm add it, so many sand traps are not raked. Don't these people know how to take care of the course they play on? Alot can be said about higher fees to play golf or maybe there should be a mandatory lesson with the golf pro to see if you know what you are doing. Germans do this and I will say it makes a difference on the course.

[gas_can]

I;m finding more and more ball marks on the green that somebody just will not or cannnot repair. Is this a lost art? And while I'm add it, so many sand traps are not raked. Don't these people know how to take care of the course they play on? Alot can be said about higher fees to play golf or maybe there should be a mandatory lesson with the golf pro to see if you know what you are doing. Germans do this and I will say it makes a difference on the course.

I definately agree with you, ball mark repiar is one of my biggest pet peeves. It seems like 75% of the people who play public courses don't do it, and another 20% who do attempt do it improperly.

It's not that it's particulary difficult, but it is something that requires practice and an understanding of what a pitch mark is in order to properly repair one. Iacas's club has a great little video of how to repair a pitch mark. I can't find it right now, but I'm sure he'll chime in soon with the link. In the mean time, here's the link to the web pages on the subject: http://www.lakeviewcountryclub.net/t...arkrepair3.htm As far as raking bunkers goes, the blog has a nice little article on how to do so and what hte USGA's reccomendation is on where rakes should be placed: http://thesandtrap.com/archives/rule...nd_bunkers.php http://thesandtrap.com/archives/rule..._in_or_out.php

[iacas]

Iacas's club has a great little video of how to repair a pitch mark. I can't find it right now, but I'm sure he'll chime in soon with the link. In the mean time, here's the link to the web pages on the subject:

You can find the video and the newer version of the guide here. We're in the process of getting the new site ready for launch, so eventually the link Kiran posted will be broken. But you can always find it in the Turf Care section under "Videos" for video and "Etiquette" for the repair guide itself.

[iacas]

I just got my first Scotty Cameron "Pivot" repair tool today, and it struck me as interesting given that I'll never, ever use it to repair a ball mark. The perfect example of form over function: the thing is even worse than the "horrid" ball mark fixers my superintendent used in his examples.

BTW, lakeviewcc.com is now the URL to visit. So Kiran's will probably be dead now... Just hit the Turf Care section and then look in Etiquette for the Guide to Ball Repair . Or, y'know, click that link.

[gas_can]

I just got my first Scotty Cameron "Pivot" repair tool today, and it struck me as interesting given that I'll never, ever use it to repair a ball mark. The perfect example of form over function: the thing is even worse than the "horrid" ball mark fixers my superintendent used in his examples.

Yeah, Scotty really dropped the ball on that one. In a Fidra catalog I got he discussed the story of how he designed them and apparently he got tired of "using tees and using his finger as a pivot" or something that my mind can't even begin to wrap around. The only thing I do like about it is that it fits quite nicely in the headcover. All putter headcovers should have a little pouch for a ball marker/divot tool just for convinence sake.

Of course this isn't the only form over function idea Scotty's come up with. How about his "cash cover" and the "Cameron Cube" . For a guy who is a mechanical genius, he sort of overcomplicates simple things.

[sshashid87]

i've been using a regular ball mark repair tool from sports authority, and it works fine on wet/damp greens, but when i play a course with really dry greens, it tends to tear up the roots and ruin the green, so i've started just tamping the green down with my putter (dont hate me, i know its bad), so i was wondering where should i buy a new device...no golf shop around here has anything very different than mine (no really sharp one like the one that was in some video posted on here...btw, could someone post that video, its from somebody's home course, i thikn, and its by the greenskeeper)...is there a place online to buy one? also, how do you fix the spike marks caused by golf shoes (when you're lining up a putt or anything)...i've been tamping it down with my putter, but i dont know if thats enough...thanks for the advice

[iacas]

i've been using a regular ball mark repair tool from sports authority, and it works fine on wet/damp greens, but when i play a course with really dry greens, it tends to tear up the roots and ruin the green, so i've started just tamping the green down with my putter (dont hate me, i know its bad), so i was wondering where should i buy a new device...no golf shop around here has anything very different than mine (no really sharp one like the one that was in some video posted on here...btw, could someone post that video, its from somebody's home course, i thikn, and its by the greenskeeper)...is there a place online to buy one? also, how do you fix the spike marks caused by golf shoes (when you're lining up a putt or anything)...i've been tamping it down with my putter, but i dont know if thats enough...thanks for the advice

http://lakeviewcc.com/turfcare/etiqu...ball_marks.php

[sshashid87]

thanks for the video...what store sells those repair tools? i cant find it on any online store (tgw, golf discoutn, golfsmith, or my local pro shop)...

[jamesduncan]

just wondering why your thread is called fixing ball marks/spike marks?

you can fix a ball mark, but you cant fix a spike mark.

hope thats understood.

[cold]

i push down spike marks.

[jamesduncan]

hopefully this is after you putt, because it is a 2 stroke penalty if done before the group finishes the hole.

[tartanjack]

The rules say you can fix a ball mark that's in your line, but you can't fix a spike mark that's in your line. But, once you're done putting, you can take a second to fix the spike marks. That's just common courtesy to the golfers behind you.

Spike marks are an issue. That's why V.J. Singh and Mickelson got into an argument at the Masters a couple years ago. Singh was playing behind Mickelson who was wearing long metal spikes that were marking up the green and took exception to Phil's heavy tread.

Not being able to fix a spike mark doesn't make much sense, but that's the rule. But the considerate golfer will fix his own ball mark and another... and tamp down the spike marks that aren't in his line.

[jamesduncan]

not fixing spike marks makes a lot of sense..its along the same lines as having to play out of a divot.

to quote an regional golf association:

"The Rules of Golf are based on two fundamental principles: (1) play the ball as it lies and (2) play the course as you find it. Permitting the repair of spike marks on a player's line of play or putt would be contrary to these fundamental principles."

[iammike]

so under that impression why can you fix ball marks? Its totally inconsistent to allow ball mark fixes as an exception to play the course as you find it rule.

I don't play anywhere where you can use metal spikes. I don't know if i've ever seen spike marks from the rubber spikes.

[iammike]

by the way, that ball mark fix video is great. I was totally skeptical about it at first.

[jamesduncan]

so under that impression why can you fix ball marks? Its totally inconsistent to allow ball mark fixes as an exception to play the course as you find it rule.

well to continue the quote then:

"Rule 16-1c permits the repair of old hole plugs and ball marks but does not permit the repair of spike damage or other irregularities of surface on the putting green if they are on a player's line of play or putt or might assist him in his subsequent play of the hole. The distinction lies in the fact that old hole plugs and ball marks are easily identifiable as such, whereas it is impossible to differentiate between spike damage and other irregularities of surface on the putting green. Permitting the repair of spike marks would also inevitably lead to a slower place of play. Please note that proper etiquette recommends that damage to the putting green caused by golf shoe spikes be repaired on completion of the hole by all players, just as a player should fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by him before leaving a bunker. "

[GolfnGriff]

What is it with people not fixing their ball marks? My home course gets a lot of play. It is a resort so there are a lot "non-golfers" that play there but come on folks have some respect to the game... I'm thinking of using little sticky notes on the flag pole that says "fix your ball marks". I've asked the guys in the shop to get the little signs you place on the front of the greens that say fix your ball marks but nothing yet.

Maybe I'm just getting old and cynical. I just really love that course and want it taken care of.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

I always fix at least two ball marks (subject to availability) on each green.