How To Properly Repair Ball Marks

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Bonvivant said:

Just saw P. Reed popping grass up on #3. You should give him a lesson.

Unfortunately pros don’t care about what is best for the course. Only what is best for their putt immediately.

[Bonvivant]

46 minutes ago, iacas said:

Unfortunately pros don’t care about what is best for the course. Only what is best for their putt immediately.

They should be fined for hurting the course.

[billchao]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Unfortunately pros don’t care about what is best for the course. Only what is best for their putt immediately.

Aren't courses generally closed long enough after a PGA Tour event to heal anyway? Improperly repaired ball marks aren't the only damage done to them. There are also lots of divots in concentrated areas, worn out tracks of fairway from crossing areas for spectators, etc.?

[iacas]

2 minutes ago, billchao said:

Aren't courses generally closed long enough after a PGA Tour event to heal anyway? Improperly repaired ball marks aren't the only damage done to them. There are also lots of divots in concentrated areas, worn out tracks of fairway from crossing areas for spectators, etc.?

Many open the next day. They’ve already been closed for awhile before the event.

[billchao]

1 minute ago, iacas said:

Many open the next day. They’ve already been closed for awhile before the event.

Didn't know that. I know they close down beforehand, but I assumed they would need some time afterwards, as well. At the very least to tear down grandstands, hospitality tents, etc.

[Double Mocha Man]

15 minutes ago, iacas said:

Many open the next day. They’ve already been closed for awhile before the event.

Oftentimes tournament courses will open Monday to the public to play, with the same Sunday pin placements, so you can essentially play the course the pros played.

[cookmonsta]

Thanks for sharing . 

[knott]

hmm so it´s entirely pointless putting back grass divots on fairways? Other then it will work for a while before the grass dies? Sometimes with my lob wedge I dig deep as hell feels like I am getting the entire root system. Just about everybody puts them back. It kind of feel bad not to repair your mess.

[Bonvivant]

9 hours ago, knott said:

hmm so it´s entirely pointless putting back grass divots on fairways? Other then it will work for a while before the grass dies? Sometimes with my lob wedge I dig deep as hell feels like I am getting the entire root system. Just about everybody puts them back. It kind of feel bad not to repair your mess.

Divots and pitch marks are two different things. I expect to have some oddities even in the fairway, but improper pitch mark repair is detrimental to how the course plays/if its worth playing.

Replacing a divot isnt a process (place grass where it came from), but repairing a pitch mark is (keep the green as smooth rolling and healthy as possible using the method at the beginning). 

I actually played with someone today that knew how to do it properly. Most people don't. 

[iacas]

 

[dmnoland]

So how am I supposed to fix my divot from today?

How do you rebuild the side of the cup so others behind you can putt?

[Bonvivant]

On 8/8/2020 at 3:09 PM, dmnoland said:

So how am I supposed to fix my divot from today?

How do you rebuild the side of the cup so others behind you can putt?

Pull in from the sides and do the best you can. Heckuva shot.

[WillieT]

I've been doing it all wrong - but now I know. Great thread and I can testify that on courses I play there are way too many improperly repaired pitch marks. 

[Dunit507]

As my game has improved my GIR has obviously improved with it. I hit 9-13 GIR a round right now. I do make it a point to fix mine and at least one more every time I have my tool out. On par 3’s it seems like I will fix 10 and not have even made an impact there are so many. Our course is horrible for golf etiquette. Yesterday I was on the range and had some guy hitting a bucket in the center of the range. Ropes were in the front tho. You look at old divot patterns and it’s obvious that nobody has any idea how to make a proper divot pattern at the range. Frustrating!

[WillieT]

On 11/17/2020 at 6:28 PM, WillieT said:

I've been doing it all wrong - but now I know. Great thread and I can testify that on courses I play there are way too many improperly repaired pitch marks. 

Just a random muse on this - we played the "home" course Friday morning following the Friday scramble guys and found plenty of opportunity to make proper repairs to ball marks on the green.  I was pretty much doing a 2 for 1 special, minimum 1, typically 2 on every green.  There is a sense of accomplishment when you do it right and see the ground lay back down properly.  

[phan52]

On 7/2/2020 at 5:29 PM, billchao said:

Didn't know that. I know they close down beforehand, but I assumed they would need some time afterwards, as well. At the very least to tear down grandstands, hospitality tents, etc.

We played one year on a Tuesday at PGA National right after the Honda and all the grandstands were still there. I expected the place to be a mess but it was pristine. The gallery was obviously kept a proper distance from where golfers would be in play. The only ball marks I saw on the greens were fresh, most probably from that day's play.  I know how to fix a ball mark but the caddies wouldn't let us. They did it. 

My brother is a very good player, much better than me, past club champ. But, when we play, I fix his ball marks. He butchers them. 

[Double Mocha Man]

I played a course yesterday (to be un-named) and hit 13  greens but because the greens were so firm and hard the ball only stayed on the green 8 times.  Most of these were wedges and very short irons, hit with good height and backspin.  There were no ball marks to be found... the greens were that "concrete-like".  Didn't have to repair a ball mark all day.

[flopster]

On 7/2/2020 at 2:43 PM, Double Mocha Man said:

Oftentimes tournament courses will open Monday to the public to play, with the same Sunday pin placements, so you can essentially play the course the pros played.

And get a real harsh dose of reality.😉