Should Divots Be Considered Ground Under Repair?

[turtleback]

Yes, and the resulting hole is that thing that you can't repair with your divot repair tool.

Sure you can.  And should.

But not until AFTER you play your shot.

[Golfingdad]

Or use a McDivot.

http://mcdivot.com/cms/

.

LOL, If only divots looked as perfect in real life as they do in their samples.  Reminds me of all of the burgers and tacos, etc, on TV commercials for fast food restaurants versus the real thing.

One question though:  If somebody were to replace their divot with one of those tools, and then my ball was to roll on top of it, what would happen?  I feel like there is an opportunity to screw up my next shot (and maybe my club too) moreso than if it rolled into a divot hole, because now the club, and perhaps even the ball is going to deflect off a piece of plastic when I hit it.  Not to mention, the fact that I'm also going to break the tool.

[Ernest Jones]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rulesman

Or use a McDivot.

http://mcdivot.com/cms/

.

LOL, If only divots looked as perfect in real life as they do in their samples.  Reminds me of all of the burgers and tacos, etc, on TV commercials for fast food restaurants versus the real thing.

One question though:  If somebody were to replace their divot with one of those tools, and then my ball was to roll on top of it, what would happen?  I feel like there is an opportunity to screw up my next shot (and maybe my club too) moreso than if it rolled into a divot hole, because now the club, and perhaps even the ball is going to deflect off a piece of plastic when I hit it.  Not to mention, the fact that I'm also going to break the tool.

From the website (of course it only helps if you see it):

McDivot is a 'MOVABLE OBSTRUCTION', R&A; and USGA Rule of Golf 24-1 applies

[inthehole]

I have heard people say that sand-filled divots should be considered ground under repair. Thoughts?

it's opening the floodgates.    I vote no.    Divots are part of the game, and if you wind up in one, it's just the rub of the green.

However, the one similar judgement I have a serious problem with is IMPROPERLY RAKED BUNKERS.     I've wound up in 3-4 inch deep footprints which are the sole result of people not properly raking traps.     Have to hack your way out of them or take an unplayable penalty for someone else's carelessness.       To me, thats been the most frustrating penalty I've taken to date in my golf career - a penalty for someone else's carelessness.   Sucks.

[Golfingdad]

From the website (of course it only helps if you see it):

McDivot is a 'MOVABLE OBSTRUCTION', R&A; and USGA Rule of Golf 24-1 applies

OK, but that doesn't really help.  If the divot has not healed yet, then how in the world could pull that tent stake out of the ground without causing your ball to move.  Or at least oscillate. ;)

[Ernest Jones]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest Jones

From the website (of course it only helps if you see it):

McDivot is a 'MOVABLE OBSTRUCTION', R&A; and USGA Rule of Golf 24-1 applies

OK, but that doesn't really help.  If the divot has not healed yet, then how in the world could pull that tent stake out of the ground without causing your ball to move.  Or at least oscillate. ;)

24-1 b. If the ball lies in or on the obstruction , the ball may be lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction , but not nearer the hole .

[Golfingdad]

24-1 b. If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be lifted and theobstruction removed. The ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction, but not nearer the hole.

Oh, OK ... wait.  (Honest question here, not sarcasm) ... Then what is the technical term for twigs and leaves and such?  I thought those were "movable obstructions" because you could, you know, move them, so long as you didn't move your ball.  It's pretty obvious I don't know what I'm talking about here though. :)

[Ernest Jones]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernest Jones

24-1 b. If the ball lies in or on the obstruction , the ball may be lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction , but not nearer the hole .

Oh, OK ... wait.  (Honest question here, not sarcasm) ... Then what is the technical term for twigs and leaves and such?  I thought those were "movable obstructions" because you could, you know, move them, so long as you didn't move your ball.  It's pretty obvious I don't know what I'm talking about here though. :)

No, twigs and crap are "loose impediments" (or are the lose impediments??)

Quote:

Loose Impediments

“ Loose impediments ’’ are natural objects, including:

• stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like,
• dung, and
• worms, insects and the like, and the casts and heaps made by them,

provided they are not:

• fixed or growing,
• solidly embedded, or
• adhering to the ball.

Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green , but not elsewhere.

Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments , at the option of the player.

Dew and frost are not loose impediments .

Obstructions are man made:

Quote:

Obstructions

An “ obstruction ’’ is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:

a. Objects defining out of bounds , such as walls, fences, stakes and railings;

b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds ; and

c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course .

An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise, it is an immovable obstruction .

Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule declaring a movable obstruction to be an immovable obstruction .

I'm just learning my way around the rule book too so I may get corrected but I think it's pretty straight forward.

[rehmwa]

hear hear

it's a shame there wasn't some magic that just made it such that people had to play out of "only whatever condition their personal style of play" leaves the course in.

(the guy that doesn't rake has to play from a crappy sand lie, the guy that does gets a smooth finish.....the guy that repairs his divot/divot holes gets to play from a good lie, the guy the doesn't needs to hit with a shovel.......ball marks, spike marks, etc etc etc.....)

[amacdonald]

IMO, regardless of when the divot was made or filled it's not GUR.

GUR has to be decided by the course superintendant and should be

reserved of serious alterations and repairs.

You start declaring a divot as GUR and before you know it guys taking

liberties and moving their balls all over the place.

[Golfingdad]

I'm just learning my way around the rule book too so I may get corrected but I think it's pretty straight forward.

Yeah, I'm no expert either, but I think you are absolutely right.  I forgot about the "loose impediments" term.  Was thinking that everything either had to fall under "movable" or "immovable" obstructions, and I knew that a leaf wasn't immovable (unless you were a baby ant) so I assumed (whoops) it was a movable obstruction.

Thanks!

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PS.  In response to the slightly off-topic discussion about raking traps.  I don't get why people don't rake their traps, because I loooooooove to rake traps.  It's a fun, and satisfying, little challenge where I get to see if I can make it look like I was never there, plus it's kinda soothing after having (probably) hit a mediocre shot.  Don't some people actually have little sand zen gardens at home?  I think I saw that in a Hamaker Schlemmer catalog once. ;)

[Rulesman]

OK, but that doesn't really help.  If the divot has not healed yet, then how in the world could pull that tent stake out of the ground without causing your ball to move.  Or at least oscillate. ;)

As it is a movable obstruction there is no penalty if the ball moves when removing the obstruction. Just hold the divot in place and pull. Easily done, I have a small sachet in my bag. My club gives them away.

[Golfingdad]

As it is a movable obstruction there is no penalty if the ball moves when removing the obstruction. Just hold the divot in place and pull. Easily done, I have a small sachet in my bag. My club gives them away.

Thanks.  Now here's my next question:  Do you do it for the sake of the grass, or for the sake of playability?  What I mean is, does your club give you those and have you use them because they believe that replacing divots is the best way to maintain the fairways, or because it's fairer for players?

Because it seems like every course around here just gives you little buckets of sand to fill in all of your divots with, rather than ask you to replace your divots.  If I actually take a solid piece of turf, is it better to replace, or fill in with sand?

[Ignorant]

let me start by saying it should not be G U R.  What do you do if you are at a busy public course such as mine but do not have the $$ to fill fairway divots all the time? with the amount of divots being made here I could keep 4 or 5 guys busy everyday.  I am sure there will be a lot of "that's not real golf" chatter but everyone at my course plays it up. I wish I could fill em all but the economics right now do not allow me to do so.

I've always thought it is the responsibility of players to repair divot holes. At least that is said in the Etiquette and that is the customary way to encourage golfers in my country. Maybe that is the reason I cannot recall the last time my ball was in a divot hole...

Besides, the more staff you use to do those repairs the less they will be repaired by the players. Stop it and you'll see how people soon will pick up the correct manners.

[Rulesman]

Thanks.  Now here's my next question:  Do you do it for the sake of the grass, or for the sake of playability?  What I mean is, does your club give you those and have you use them because they believe that replacing divots is the best way to maintain the fairways, or because it's fairer for players?

Because it seems like every course around here just gives you little buckets of sand to fill in all of your divots with, rather than ask you to replace your divots.  If I actually take a solid piece of turf, is it better to replace, or fill in with sand?

Unless it is a links course in dry weather, a replaced divot will knit better than a sand filled hole (even with seed in the mix). That is why we issue them.

In my experience working on greens, a divot taken which leaves a good proportion of roots showing, cures on its own. A small amount of sand will probably improve the appearance and restore the original level. Sand on fairways rarely stays in place for long though. Regular mowing disturbs it too much.

A divot carved out below the roots is better handled by replacement and fixing.

Incidentally, Valderrama tells players not to replace divots as they have a gang following the players filling the holes in 'properly'.

[wils5150]

Unless it is a links course in dry weather, a replaced divot will knit better than a sand filled hole (even with seed in the mix). That is why we issue them.

In my experience working on greens, a divot taken which leaves a good proportion of roots showing, cures on its own. A small amount of sand will probably improve the appearance and restore the original level. Sand on fairways rarely stays in place for long though. Regular mowing disturbs it too much.

A divot carved out below the roots is better handled by replacement and fixing.

Incidentally, Valderrama tells players not to replace divots as they have a gang following the players filling the holes in 'properly'.

Replacing the divot works somewhat if its a large pelt. In the summer months they usually die. My guys use a 70-30 sand soil mix with seed and it stays put just fine and grows. It really depends on grass species and region of the country.

[rogolf]

IMO, regardless of when the divot was made or filled it's not GUR. GUR has to be decided by the course superintendant and should be reserved of serious alterations and repairs. You start declaring a divot as GUR and before you know it guys taking liberties and moving their balls all over the place.

I'm willing to bet that those people who want divot holes (filled or not) to become GUR don't play out of the divot holes anyway - they move the ball and are just looking for justification under the Rules for their current behavior. :)

[Golfingdad]

Unless it is a links course in dry weather, a replaced divot will knit better than a sand filled hole (even with seed in the mix). That is why we issue them.

In my experience working on greens, a divot taken which leaves a good proportion of roots showing, cures on its own. A small amount of sand will probably improve the appearance and restore the original level. Sand on fairways rarely stays in place for long though. Regular mowing disturbs it too much.

A divot carved out below the roots is better handled by replacement and fixing.

Incidentally, Valderrama tells players not to replace divots as they have a gang following the players filling the holes in 'properly'.

Replacing the divot works somewhat if its a large pelt. In the summer months they usually die. My guys use a 70-30 sand soil mix with seed and it stays put just fine and grows. It really depends on grass species and region of the country.

Thanks guys, good to know.  This is sort of what I've always instinctually done anyway, so I'm not really going to change anything.  When I do happen to produce a nice one piece divot, I feel weird not replacing it when I know it will fit perfectly.  OTOH, when the turf explodes, I'll stick with the sand mix. :)

I'm willing to bet that those people who want divot holes (filled or not) to become GUR don't play out of the divot holes anyway - they move the ball and are just looking for justification under the Rules for their current behavior. :)

I wouldn't make that bet.  Before this website, I'd have agreed with you.  But I've since learned that there are a lot of people out there who have issues with some of the rules, yet they still follow them.  I wouldn't put it past some people who follow the rules correctly to wish that divot holes became GUR.

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Hey @David in FL and @iacas , I just figured out the answer to your "What's the definition of a divot" question.  In addition to giving everybody a tube of sand to fill in divot holes, they can also give everybody a can of spray paint.  After each shot, just draw a circle around your divot hole, and Voila!!!  Instant GUR.

"Do you feel that?  Huh?  Huh?  Oh Yeah!!!  I have exorcised the demons!!!!!!!!!  This house ... is clear!!!"