How to properly
repair ball marks on greens
One of
the main complaints I recieve from the membership is about ball marks on the
greens. This is a problem all golf
courses face, especially courses that get as many rounds as we do here at
Marietta Country Club. In order to try
and alleviate this problem, I must ask a favor of all golfers, please try and
repair your ball marks. To help clear up
any uncertainty, I want to take a moment and explain the proper way to fix a
ball mark.
Fixing
ball marks right after the shot hits the green is very important, equally
important is doing it the right way.
Because while many golfers fail to repair ball marks – and shame on you
if you are one of them – there are also many well-meaning golfers who do
“repair” the ball marks, only to do so incorrectly. A study recently done at Kansas State
University, my alma mater, has concluded that incorrectly “repaired” ball marks
take up to twice as long to heal as those that are properly repaired. So I have a few pointers that I hope will help
to inform you of the best way to fix these unsightly depressions.
Start off by obtaining a Ball Mark Repair
Tool, or Divot Tool, from the pro shop or any other golf supplier. A tee also works just fine, as long as it is
used properly. My favorite tool to use
is the original design with two prongs on the end of metal or hard
plastic. See the illustration below for
an example.
The
first step in repairing ball marks is to take your ball mark repair tool and
insert the prongs into the turf at the edge of the depression. Note: Do NOT insert the prongs into the
depression itself, but at the rim of the depression.
The
next step is to push the edge of the ball mark toward the center, using your
ball mark repair tool in a “gentle twisting motion”, to help push the
surrounding edges of grass back together.
This is the step where most golfers who incorrectly “repair” ball marks
usually mess up. Many golfers believe
the way to fix a ball mark is to insert the tool as a lever to push the bottom
of the ball mark back up even with the surface.
Do not do this! Pushing the bottom of the depression
upward only tears the roots, and kills the grass. Just use your ball repair tool to work around
the rim of the crater, so to speak, pushing the grass at the edge toward the
center of the depression.
So
remember:
Wrong: Using the prongs as levers to push up the
bottom of the depression.
Right: Using the prongs to push grass at the edge of
the depression toward the center.
Once
you’ve worked around the rim of the ball mark with your repair tool, pushing
the grass toward the center, there’s only one thing left to do: Gently tamp down the repaired ball mark with
your putter or foot to smooth the putting surface.
So
there you have it, a quick and easy way to “properly” repair ball marks. If everyone who plays golf on any our
beautiful golf courses could take a few seconds to repair their own ball marks
we can help cut down on the unsightly spots and depressions that affect the
golfing experience. I want to assure you
that the grounds staff will try and help out in any way possible to keep up
with this problem and help keep our greens as good as possible. We hope to see you on the links!
