Golf Course Etiquette: 13 Ways to Respect the Turf grass
Integrity and respect are two major foundational pillars of any good sport, especially golf. As a golf player, you will often find yourself playing without any supervision, and it is left up to you to have self-respect and respect for the game by especially practising honest. This same accountability and compliance are expected to be extended to the maintenance of the golf course. As such, you have the responsibility to take care of the course and especially the turf grass by preventing damage to it and repairing any damages that you may have caused during your gaming. Here we look at 13 ways to respect the turf grass.
Prevent creating divots. Divots are formed when a player hits the ground with a club instead of hitting the ball. Many times, divots are as a result of anger or bad shots. When you run the grass, you damage it, and when this happens, it is upon you to repair it. The best way to prevent creating divots is keeping your frustrations and anger while on a golf course on the check.
Practice your swings with care. It is normal for even the most advanced golfers to take a few practice swings before striking. Many golfers do this to ensure they are fit enough to play. In the process of practising, you may end up creating damage. However, this does not always have to happen. Therefore, exercise caution to avoid driving your club into the turf.
Repair your divots immediately. In the occasion, you damaged the turf and created a divot; you can just replace it into the hole. It could be instrumental in healing the lawn especially if the grass was not shattered. Just replace the divot into the hole and lightly step on it to make a good contact with the soil.
In case the divot is severely damaged or shattered, repair it by using a seed and soil mixture. The seed and soil mixture will also come in handy when playing on golf courses where the course is made of Bermuda grass. Once you fill the hole created with the mixture, tamp it to level it to make the course even.
Practice your putting. Practicing is not only crucial in improving your performance, but it also helps familiarize yourself with the course thus preventing damages that may be caused due to poor mastery of the course.
Concentrate when hitting. When golfing, you expect other golfers to be around, and it is normal for the others to be involved in conversations. These conversations interesting as they might be are none of your business especially when you are preparing to make a hit. Concentrate on your swing and ball otherwise; you risk making blunders both in your game as well as possibly damaging the round.
Be a silent partner. One of the rules of golf is helping others especially when it comes to finding lost balls and playing the game itself. Just as this, it is also good manners to help others where possible to repair damages on the field as such will be beneficial to you all.
Avoid distractions. Your phone can be the most significant undoing for you while on the golf course especially when in the game itself. Imagine a case where your phone blasts full volume while you are midway your backswing. What will happen? You are likely to drop your club and reach out for the phone. Dropping your club can lead to damaging the turf grass.
Return favours. Sometimes, you will find yourself in situations that require you to give a helping hand while in the field and often you will not be asked. It is up to you to act human and give a hand for example in repairing damage on the course.
Do not litter the golf course. It is common sense, but just to remind you, it is up to you to make sure you leave the golf course and the turf grass as clean as you found it. Your litter including water bottles should be only be disposed of at designated areas.
Participate in preparing the ground to play on. You can help prep some areas in the field for your play like raking the sand to make it smooth and all.
Play within your course. Do not hit your balls into the vicinity of other players. It may not only disrupt other players, but you are more likely to cause injury or even cause damage.
Watch your shadow. When putting, it is essential to be aware of your shadow especially so because your shadow can make it hard to read the break on the grass or in the green. Therefore, it is important to check where your shadow is while you are playing as well as when other players are playing.
Remember, it is your advantage to leave the golf course the same as you find it if not better.