Why Golf Courses Love Divot Tools

Golf courses have always been looking for new ways of inspiring their users to spend more time caring for their courses in terms of repairing divots. The divot and ball marks have always been a controversial aspect of the game of golf with some players completely ignoring them and others looking to repair all the ball marks they see. Courses usually encourage the use of a divot and ball mark repair tool because this can help the healing of the course in both the long and short-term, as well as, providing the highest-quality experience to their patrons. This makes it easier for all players to enjoy a round of golf in the best way possible.

Maintenance and Etiquette

There are several reasons why the use of a divot tool is one of the best options open to the golfers of the world. Among these reasons is the fact a divot repair tool can have a positive effect on the maintenance of any course by cutting down on the amount of time taken to return a green to its full working order. The other maintenance aspect of the use of a divot tool is the ability of the Laurel Oak Country Club ground staff to enact smaller repairs that do not result in the closure of a green if too many ball marks are left unrepaired.

An unrepaired ball mark on a green can take weeks or months to repair naturally or with the aid of the ground staff. In contrast, the use of a divot tool can cut down on the level of maintenance required by seeing the green surface return to its full working order in just two weeks.

Etiquette is a completely different way of looking at the game of golf than simply seeing the use of a divot tool as a way of cutting back on course maintenance. Although different, etiquette is simply another way of looking at the reasons why each player should be helping care for the quality of the surface at any course.

In terms of etiquette, the main concern for any golfer is to make sure their fellow players have a similar experience to their own when they are making their way around the course. Every golfer should be looking to ensure the player following them onto a green has the best chance of success, which should include the repair of all ball marks and divots caused or spotted by a player.

In the same way, when a player makes their way onto the golf course, they should be certain the player ahead of them is taking as much care of the course as they are. This is the basic rule of the etiquette of golf that no player should negatively affect the condition of the course for other players. By following the etiquette of the game of golf and repairing divots and ball marks, every player can have a level-playing field to complete their round perfectly.

Repairing a divot

There are many different ideas about how to repair a divot on the fairway, tee, or in the rough. When we think of a divot, we often think about a ball mark on the green, but tools can often be used on other parts of the course. A divot can be caused by a player looking to create a large amount of spin with the use of a lofted club.

These divots can occur on the fairway and off the tee of shorter holes where holes can be a problem for many players when they arrive on the tee and find it difficult to obtain a clear piece of grass for their shot. By spending a few seconds after a shot repairing the damaged area, a player can find themselves happier in their round and a popular member of any club. By repairing any divot, a player will be a respected member of a club with the maintenance staff respecting the tie and effort put into repairing the course.

When a divot is taken out of the fairway or tee, a golfer will usually find the piece of ground they moved and return it to the surface and push it back into place. This is not the perfect repair, but it will assist in making the course safer for play at all times.

The other option when a divot is removed and cannot be replaced is to use sand to complete a short-term repair. By placing sand into the divot hole and smoothing it over with the feet, a player can reduce the time taken for the ground to be repaired by weeks or months.

Repairing ball marks

Ball marks on greens and the fairway can be repaired with ease using a divot repair tool that can be used to lift the ground that has been lowered by a ball falling from a great height. A ball mark is caused by the ball plugging into the grass of the fairway or green with the ground forming a crater that affects a fairway lie and the roll of a putt on the green.

Repairing a ball mark is important with the majority of golfers using a simple two-pronged tool that looks like a fork. The tool is used in a simple motion with the ground moved inward back towards the center of the crater rather than being lifted upwards. The tool is inserted into the ground at the edge of the ball mark crater and simply pushed forward with the tool moved around the edge of the crater until it is returned to the correct level.