September 16, 2007
Golf Etiquette Tips - Tips One, Look After The Golf Course
Golf etiquette - Looking After the Golf Course
Sand Traps
Chances are you didn’t want to be in the sand in the first place. But that’s no reason to leave a mess behind once you hit out.
You should erase any footsteps and marks you’ve made as completely as possible. The golf course has most likely furnished a rake so you can do this.
If you can’t find a rake, use your club to smooth out any record of your activity. The golf etiquette goal for the sand should be to leave it like you found it.
Holes in the fairway.
When you’re taking a shot out on the fairway, it’s possible for both professionals and new golfers alike to leave a divot when they take their practice swing or real shot.
Retrieve the divot, put it back in the damaged spot you made and tread it down with your left foot. Doing this bit of golf etiquette will give the grass a better shot at repairing itself.
Greens
The green is the most fragile part of the course. When your ball impacts the green, especially after pitching it from a short distance away, it’s going to make a mark.
You can either use a special tool or the tip of your tee to repair the mark. Then take your putter and lightly tap the mark.
It may not seem like this would make any difference, but untreated ball marks can take up to 3 weeks to repair themselves. Ball marks, treated according to golf etiquette rules, can repair themselves in as little as 12 hours.
Other ways to care for the green include being careful not to drag your shoes. Nobody is interested in allowing for spike marks when trying to sink their putt.
Golf etiquette also suggests that you take special care with the pin.
Don’t drop or toss the pin; rather, place it gently on the surface of the green.
