My Thoughts on what you must have before you can play a course.

[Ronnoc1980]

Well before i get started im not some moaning old bloke im only 27 however here goes!

Im fed up of having to sort other peoples pitch marks out. I dont think iv been to play a course yet that i have not had to do this.

So that is the issue here is my solution when a anyone whishing to play a course pays or signs in at the pro shop they must show that they own a pitch tool or would have to buy one before they go onto the course and in some cases be shown how to use it. Also i dont think it would be a bad idear to have some sort of check list that all players must have ie a copy of the rules book if only for the fact that if you have somthing then there is a chance they may read it and there is now a quick ref of the rules in the 1st bit of the new rules book.

Any Thoughts???

Rant over

 

[madandra]

Connor, you have the same problems as probably every person on here. Some sad 4rses think it is the greenkeepers job to repair the pitch marks and I for one would love to see some kind of ettiquette lesson given after the interview stage of joining a golf club and I would also lke EVERY member to be issued with a new pitch mark repairer ever season.
An initial outlay of £500 would be saved 4 fold over the season.

People don't repair them because they have not been shown how to. But I think the worst offenders are the time served golfers who chap their pitch marks out with the face of their putter. When I caddied for my brother in law as a kid I longed for the day I could play the shot that left a mark just because I wanted to fix it. In my eyes it was the mark of a REAL golfer.

 

[GB72]

On Friday I will be having my first round at my new club and you will be pleased to hear that I have bought a new pitch mark repairer for the occasion. Probably means that I will now not hit a shot to warrant using one but would rather be prepared.

 

[clubchamp07]

The problem lies with the higher handicaper. I'm not having a go here. It's like this, a higher handicaper hits the green and his/her ball rolls to the back. He/she walks around the green to where the ball is. By this time they have forgotten where their ball's landed. All their thinking about is not 3 putting.

I cant understand why, while waiting on you'r playing partner's to putt or do what he/she has to do, why you can't have a wee dander over the green and fix the odd
pitch mark

I firmly beleive that at this time of year, ALL golfers think to themselves the greens are [****] why bother fixing pitch marks.

As for giving out pitch mark repairers to every member of the club I think you would have to tell half of them what their for.

Before I get a back lash here, I'm not slagging of higher handicapers.

 

[GB72]

Not a bad point and as I higher handicapper I am not offended by your remarks but not convinced that it is a sin that only we are guilty of.

In that case, maybe the emphasis should be on golfers repairing a pitch mark on each green even if it is not necessarily theirs.

 

[Ronnoc1980]

How do i upload a picture

 

[clubchamp07]

Wasn't trying to offend anyone, and wasn't blaming anyone. I was just stating that the higher handicaper may not think that they had left a pitch mark. I know everyone is guilty of it. I'm sure there have been times whenever I have missed out a pitch mark by being distracted by something or someone else.

If everyone fixed at least 1 pitch mark there wouldn't be any marks to fix.

 

[Ronnoc1980]

Things You’ll Need:
Divot Tools
Golf Balls
Putters
Step 1:
Look for a golf ball mark on the green near your ball. This would be where the ball landed.

Step 2:
Use a ball mark repair tool to fix the divot left from the ball.

Step 3:
Insert the ball repair tool into the outer edge of the ball divot, with the prongs angled at 45 degrees. Gently work the turf up and back into place by gently pushing up and forward.

Step 4:
Repeat step 3 around the entire ball mark as necessary.

Step 5:
Pat down the ball mark with a putter, until the mark is as smooth as the rest of the putting surface.

Step 6:
Continue on with your game.



Just for anyone who is reading this thinking what are they talking about!!!

 

[Dodger]

I had 9 holes last week with 3 seniors and had a right go at the old twats as they were not repairing theirs and remarked that these old bastards would be the first to complain come april when the green are bobbly......I struggle to get down now to do them was the reply I got!!!!!!!!
No wonder our green can be littered with them if you play on a Thursday afternoon!
If they can put a tee in the ground they can do a pitch mark otherwise charge the old bastards full fees instead of reduced fees!!

Rant over!

 

[Ronnoc1980]

well in that case i will amend my new pitch mark rule!

Not only do you have to show that you have the know how and tool to repair the mark but also you must be able to touch your toes 5 times in front of the pro or you cant play !!

 

[medwayjon]

On the green I always repair my pitch mark and one more if it has been forgotten.

 

[mass]

i am the same mwj, i normally have a scan around and fix a few if there is. If we all repaired a couple on every green it would be a lot better for everyone.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Royal Ascot is having a big drive towards getting everyone to be more aware. There are diagrams on the noticeboards showing the correct way to repair them and notes on all the tables in the clubhouse.

I always repair mine and several others on every green. If I was playing with those seniors who say they can't get down there when plainly they can get the ball out of the hole I'd be finding out their names from the pro and putting a letter into the greens committee naming and shaming. No chances no excuses.

 

[Parmo]

I enjoy repairing my pitch marks as its not very often I hit the green hard enough to leave one, it usually scuttles across like a scolded cat or in the bunker next to the green.

 

[hellbunker]

does my head in too... i've played with guys at Muckhart who have not repaired their marks...they should be stripped and forced to run round the club house singing "she'll be coming round the mountain"

 

[viscount17]

champ, we could have a slanging match as to who are the worst offenders but suffice to say high-handicappers are no worse than many a low-handicapper who thinks it beneath him.

actually the worst are casuals who have probably never been told that they are supposed to.

andy, £500 outlay on pitch-mark repairers is steep - you can get a 1000 plastic ones for £250. Put them in a bucket on the first tee or issue with the score card.

seniors who can't bend have solved the problem of retrieving a ball from the hole with a rubber cup on the end of the putter. easy enough to put a pitch mark repairer on another club or on the end of the ball retriever.

 

[billyg]

Not only do I hunt out pitch marks I make a point of re-seeding tee's if a supply is provided. Takes no time to do, shows manners and makes me feel better about plowing lumps of polyurethane into the woodwork.

Handicap ..... don't have one but something over 100 gross I expect.

Patience - for golf - long

Holes in one - none

A bit of forethought, a bit of human decency and thinking about someone other than yourself-

priceless

 

[USER1999]

I have some sympathy with the older generation. It must be difficult to bend down to do this. To be fair, most of the codgers I play with do fix their marks. That said, they don't tend to make as many, as they are not hitting towering 9 irons into the greens, but pitching short with fairway metals and running on.

My bug bear with this is societies. All summer I play behind them, and repair 10+ on every green. They just don't give a damn, as it isn't their course. You normally hear them in the bar afterwards complementing the condition of the greens, which is a laugh after they have finished with them.

 

[Ronnoc1980]

So what is the fix my idea of making the pro ask them to show he/she has a pitch tool or do you lot have any better ideas????

 

[Toad]

Connor, just because they own a repair tool does not mean they will use it.

I followed a former club captain and a few of his cronies round last week not only did they not repair any pitch marks but they also failed to replace most of their divots.
He of course denied this when I asked him about it in the club house after.

We repaired the damage done by this group as we take a pride in the condition of our course,unfortunatly not every member feels the same.
If members and people held in high regard at the course fail to follow simple etiquette what chance do you have with visitors.