Truer words have never been spoken!

The course I play the most switched to Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermuda a few years ago and with it's tight pattern I rarely need to fix marks. I don't even carry a tool any longer and if I do find (or make) a mark I'll just use a tee. I enjoy a good crisp fixing as it makes me feel like I'm helping out fellow golfers and the greens themselves.

I feel your pain Mike. Unfortunately most of this audience are those responsible, caring types, such as yourself. We need to find a way to get the message out to those not well versed in golf etiquette. I would love to see the major golf magazines start a monthly series where a page is devoted on each publication for some basics in golf like green repair, walking over putt lines, how to drop, letting players play through, etc. Since the pandemic and our course reopening quickly with cheaper green fees I have seen a significantly worse trend by either golfers who don't know or don't care. They drive their carts up next to the greens, don't fix fairway divots or ball marks, leave trash on the course, and even spit sunflower seeds on the greens. If I ever win the lotto I am buying this course and converting it into a private facility. :)

The playing through mention would be huge, at my local course for the most part everyone does there part taking care of divots and pitch marks but playing through always seems to be a big issue. If someone is just being careless and hitting into you for fun I understand the frustration but not letting singles or twosomes past your four because you don't feel like waiting on the next tee always was mind-boggling to me. If you ever get that course you may need to add on a monthly publication as well containing forums like these in TT.

I couldn't agree more with you on fixing ball marks on the green (add the ball marks in front of the greens, too, while we're at it).

On another note there are different types of base the course is built with along with the type of grass it grows to employ on their greens, some may have an advantage from one to another. I'm no agronomist nor a greens superintendent but many older courses have softer base and clayish like consistency as opposed to the many modern courses that I've played to which they are firmer and does not make ball marks as easily.

Some may remember golf on TV when the tour would make deep ball marks and back up the ball plenty good for many players but not so much today- the ball marks are smaller/shallower. Just an observation- please correct me if I'm wrong.

Etiquette is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Not only in golf, but in life in general. As the secretary of our league, I actually put into the rules to fix your own ball mark and at least one more. Most of the guys in the league really liked seeing that in writing at the first of the year, and the staff at the course seems to be appreciative of our efforts. As the season rolls on, I've heard that other leagues are beginning to do the same thing.
It takes just a moment to do, and helps preserve the course playing surfaces, So why not do it?

What can be worse is watching people who have no idea how to correctly fix a ball mark hammer the green with the heel of their putter, stomp with the heel of their shoe or jam a tee into the pitch mark making a bigger mess. Maybe we're better off doing the work for them!

Argh!!! Dont get me started!

Yesterday's Member-Guest Day event was canceled after a second member of the food/beverage staff tested positive for Covid. A lot of us still played.

There weren't many groups off ahead of mine. Every tee had two huge, slice oriented gouges taken, none repaired. For cryin out loud! You've got that bad of a swing, the least you can do is repair your damage.

One time my caddy and I were talking, as I repaired my ball mark on the green, then several more. I remarked about it being my pet peeve that people couldn't take a few seconds to repair their marks. The kid said he had been caddying and pointed out to another player [not his] where the guy's ball mark was. The guy remarked "That's what we have people like you for". Wish I had been there to hear that! I don't think I could have held my tongue.

Rick, although at 64 it doesn't happen often, I still caddy. Yes. I'm one of those "that's why we have people like you'...people! Every now and then I'll get a text from a caddy master at a couple local private courses that ask "are you still looping?" Occasionally, I still do. The legs are pretty good (thank you Lord).I couldn't be prouder of "those people", especially when I have the bag of a cocky talented kid who has bit off a little more than he could chew and I can get him to throttle back, just a little. The thank you and acknowledgement at the end of the round,because he learned something about the game and himself, is priceless... but I digress.Pitcmarks;

After 50 years of playing and fixing pitch marks mine along with others, in my opinion, there are 3 types of people who leave pitch marks;

1. The ignorant. There's hope for this group. Usually young, carefree golfers who once they're taught how to fix a ball mark... most will.

2. The entitled...AKA Spaulding Smales, the judges nephew. It'll never happen.Moving on.......

3. The a_ _ h_ _e that will never lean, doesn't want to and could care less.

HI, I play a municipal course as well, however, private courses I have played are sometimes just as bad. I am pretty sure TT is pretty vigilant about pitch marks. Perhaps a kind reminder on PGA broadcasts about the importance of fixing marks and the correct way to do it would get it out to more of the general golfing public. Until then, maybe cameras on the greens and auto disabling the offenders cart would send a message.

Folks are simply lazy and/or entitled. You cant tell me folks dont see their marks and others! Just lazy!

True that!

Like a lot of things in the current society of life & golf. Things we were taught to be important and proper have not been passed along to other generations. Today I played and the 2some 3 groups ahead of me almost parked their cart on the green every time, the 3some behind them hit multiple shots out of the trap & didn't rake it & 1 guy I know took a chunk out of the green hitting hit ball off the green toward his cart because he went back & looked at it & I seen it when I got to the green.

I keep track of ball marks I fix and today it totaled 39, this does not include ones my playing partner fixed. I give that number to the pro after every round. There are no signs up saying to fix them, nothing showing how to fix them on our city courses......enough on that topic though...

We can only do what we do in hopes others pick up on it.


DM

This subject has been discussed ad nauseum and beaten to death. The bottom line is this, there are those that are good stewards of the golf course and those who could care less. You could preach and teach 'til you're blue in the face. It's not going to matter to those who could care less, so just keep doing the right thing and try not to let the actions of the thoughtless drive you crazy. Unfortunetly it's the way of the world today.

Not making excuses, because I am one who repairs mine and at least one more, but I think most people do not know how to properly repair the ball mark and what you see is a bunch of dead spots on the greens and the circle goes on. We complain about that and guys I am guilty of complaining about anything that can stop my ball from going in the hole. With respect, I have attached the proper way to repair a ball mark. Please pass it on. Cheers......

r.search.yahoo.com/.../RS=wAbqoedLwkxuTt2hJvELamnaadI-

Public or private, I 100% agree. I was raised with a make one, fix 2 mentality, and the same goes for tee boxes. I play at a private club and am astonished at the fact others don’t take pride in keeping their tees and greens in good shape. Greenskeepers can only do so much.

I have been a member of a couple of private golf clubs and that is the only thing that I miss about being a private golf club member; 'perfect' pitch free greens.

Having said that, there are a few mixed and public golf courses that are doing the right thing or even a better job than average private golf clubs. Public and mixed golf clubs are training and supervising (monitoring) casual players on what they are expected to do in the golf course and how to properly fix a pitch mark.
Some have even gone all the way to giving players a free divot tool.

Fixing pitch marks is a matter of golf etiquette and some basic common sense.

Preach! I think I spend more time fixing other people’s pitch marks on the green then actually putting........maybe that’s my problem :)

So far all of us are on the same page. I play a Muni and I always fix 1-3 pitch marks even if I don't leave one. And there are quite a number of them.

It is easy and quick to fix them if you are in a three some or 4 some. Fix a couple while the others are lining up their putts or after you have putted out and waiting on your group to finish. The idea of providing divot tool is great idea.

I fix at at least 5 pitch marks every hole at my home course.

Ive been repairing other peoples marks for a while, if I see any pitch mark its now jsut a habit for me to fix it. Bonus I get to use my Team Titleist divot tool!

I play at a Muni along w other local courses. I've played in the morning and in the afternoon. First there are no signs encouraging players to repair their ball marks. 2nd, I don't see signs showing players how to repair ball marks.I put that on the course. In the afternoon the days unprepared ball marks are still there. In the morning, depending on the time of the year, there are winter texans playing. I don't see them trying to repair a ball mark. If you hit the green you should at least look for your ball mark. If you see another, fix it. I have played with other players that have hit the green and notice that they don't attempt to look for their ball mark. I see it and point out to them the their mom doesn't work there and that they should repair their ball mark. Might sound cold but it gets it done. I have actually shown numerous playing partners how to repair the ball mark. I even bought a tool that repairs ball marks and you don't have to bend down to do it. I saw a guy at a course with it and asked about it and he even showed me how to use it. It's called Greenskeeper. Anyway I try to do my part in repairing the greens.

I always fix at least one extra mark on the green. Trying to do my part and give a little love back to the course. It drives me nuts to see such disregard for the course from players.