Turf

Q SuPer QueSTIOn What is your biggest pet peeve of golfers on your course that affects everyone else? William Heffernan Battle Creek Golf Course Broken Arrow, Okla. a. Golfers who don't follow course path instructions. Jeremy Shay Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort Las Vegas, Nev. a. I hate when golfers don't repair ball marks. A lot of our players are vacationers who do not plan to return, so they don't take much care. Jeff Kippes Dodge City Country Club Dodge City, Kan. a. It would be a tie between not fixing ball marks and picking the ball out of the cup with their putters. grand Forks, n.d. Jamestown, n.d. Sparks, nev. ogden, utah Fort Collins, Colo. las vegas, nev. las vegas, nev. dodge City, Kan. Broken arrow, okla. edmond, okla. phoenix, ariz. manor, Texas Top Complaint: Divots and Ball Marks Many of the superintendents we asked had the same answer: their top complaint was "golfers not repairing divots and ball marks." All these superintendents agreed that this was their biggest pet peeve. Shon Woodland at The Barn Golf Club in Ogden, Utah ron gribble at The Resort at Red Hawk in Sparks, Nev. Jeremy Shay at Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort in Las Vegas, Nev. gordon prasek at Jamestown Country Club in Jamestown, N.D. erik Broderson at King's Walk Golf Course in Grand Forks, N.D. Brad Jolliff at Kickingbird Golf Club in Edmond, Okla. Kenneth Smith at SouthRidge Golf Club in Fort Collins, Colo. 26 www.westernturfmag.com With this problem in mind, we offer a few ideas for encouraging golfers to repair these marks. Marshalls should encourage players at the start of the round to repair marks. Another idea is at the start of leagues, take players to a green and show them what happens to the turf when a ball mark or divot is not repaired. Courses could also offer lessons on the proper way to repair divots and ball marks, especially to junior golfers. Signage, of course, may be the most obvious, but also makes the most sense. Consider placing signs everywhere, includ- ing restrooms and snack bars. Complaint: Slow Play Another common complaint was "slow play." Both of these superintendents said this was their biggest pet peeve. John prengaman at The Legacy Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz. grant Hutchinson at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Manor, Texas The Play Golf America organization has an answer to this problem. Tee It Forward, started in 2011, encourages golfers to move up a set of tees. The initiative has received great feedback this year from golfers nationwide. According to www.playgolfamerica.com, golfers reported: 56 percent played faster 56 percent are likely to play golf more often 83 percent hit more lofted clubs into greens 85 percent had more fun 93 percent will Tee It Forward again

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