Golf is a game built on sportsmanship, integrity and respect. Those values are usually associated with how we play and how we treat our fellow golfers, but they extend to the golf course, too.
Taking care of the course is part of being a good playing partner. After all, you wouldn’t want to find a fairway full of unrepaired divots, footprints in a bunker or ball marks on the green. The golfers behind you feel the same way.
The golden rule is simple: leave the course better than you found it.
Each area of the golf course has its own best practices. Here are a few simple ways you can help keep the course in good shape throughout your next round.
The teeing area is where every hole begins, and it’s one of the first places golfers can make a difference.
If you take a divot while hitting an iron off the tee, look for a sand container near the tee markers or the sand bottle attached to your golf cart. Fill the divot with sand, which often contains seed to help encourage new grass growth.
Broken tees can also create unnecessary clutter. If there is a designated tee discard bin, use it. Otherwise, move broken tees to the side of the teeing area where they can be easily collected. Sometimes a broken tee can be perfect for the next golfer hitting a tee shot.
The general area includes everything on the course that is not the teeing area, penalty area, bunker or putting green.
Divots are an important part of course care, particularly in the fairway. Repairing them helps the turf recover and keeps golfers behind you from having to play from a poor lie.
The best way to repair a divot can depend on the type of grass. With warm-season grasses such as Bermuda, replacing the divot generally won’t allow it to take root again, so the proper approach is to fill it with sand. Cool-season grasses can typically be replaced or filled with sand, depending on the facility’s preference.
When using sand, fill the divot evenly. Too much sand can create a mound, while too little leaves the turf exposed. If you leave a small pile of sand, smooth it out with your shoe so it is level with the surrounding turf.
You can also help by clearing loose impediments from areas where they could interfere with play. Fallen branches or large stones can be moved to the side or underneath a tree, keeping the general area clear for other golfers.
Bunkers are the specially prepared areas of sand designed to add challenge to the game. Always rake the bunker after you play from it. Take care of your own footprints and marks, but also look around and smooth out any older marks you encounter.
When raking, avoid pushing the sand with the teeth of the rake, which can create mounds. Instead, smooth the area and finish with a pull of the rake to leave the sand as even as possible.
Where should the rake go?
Every golf course has its own preference for where rakes should be placed, so follow the facility’s guidelines.
At AZ GOLF, our practice is to place the rake with the pole running parallel to the fairway, leaving only the rake head positioned where it could potentially interfere with an incoming ball.
If your ball comes to rest against a rake, simply move the rake and replace the ball in its original spot. There is no penalty.
Some courses prefer rakes to be left in the bottom of the bunker, which is also an acceptable practice.
One placement to avoid is leaving the rake half in and half out of the bunker. If a ball comes to rest against the rake on the downslope of the bunker, it must be replaced in the exact spot where it came to rest. If it will not remain at rest in that location, the player may be left with an unplayable-ball situation.
Penalty areas can include bodies of water, desert areas and other sections designated by the Committee.
There isn’t typically much maintenance golfers can do in a penalty area, but the easy thing to remember is to abide by the same divot repair procedure as in the general area.
And in the event you move a red or yellow penalty area stake to play your shot, put it back where you found it before continuing your round.
The putting green is arguably the most delicate part of the golf course, and even small acts of care can make a big difference.
Start by repairing your own ball mark, then look around for another one or two that may have been left behind.
There is a right way to repair a ball mark. While it may be tempting to insert a repair tool or tee and lift the turf from underneath, that can damage the roots of the grass. Instead, insert the tool at the edge of the ball mark and gently push toward the center. This helps bring the damaged area back together while keeping the roots intact.
And before you leave the green, make sure the flagstick is properly placed back in the hole.
Golf carts can make a round more convenient, but where and how we drive them can have a significant impact on the course.
When the 90-degree rule is in effect, keep the cart on the path until you are even with your golf ball, then make a direct turn toward the fairway.
Always follow cart-path-only instructions when they are in place.
Try to avoid driving through the rough whenever possible. Repeated cart traffic can flatten the grass and create ruts that affect both the appearance and playability of the course.
And when parking near a green, keep the cart on the cart path rather than pulling onto the grass beside it. Those worn and dirt-covered areas you sometimes see next to cart paths are a result of players parking off the path.
Taking care of the golf course doesn’t require much extra time. Fill a divot. Repair a ball mark. Rake a bunker. Keep the cart where it belongs.
Each action may seem small, but together they help maintain the course for everyone who plays after you.
The next time you tee it up, remember the golden rule of course care: leave the course better than you found it.