Range Divots![emoji35]

[STUDque]

These make me mad:

 

This makes me happy:

 

 

I don't see divot grouping as a function of skill but rather a function of etiquette. Grouping divots together makes it easier for the groundskeepers to repair the range and provides more space for fellow golfers to hit.

 

Am I crazy?

 

Edit: In light of new information, photos re ordered.

 

 

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[bullldog]

3rd pic. Its the proper way or more precisely, strips with some spacing

[Peanut05]

Not at all.  This is one of my big pet peeves.  I try to keep mine all together, but it's usually looks like a minefield when I get out there anyway.  Most of the people I play with go out there and they have about 10 foot square they try to stay in it seems.  It drives me crazy. 

[hckymeyer]

The first 2 both make me angry.  Bulldog nailed it, proper range divots are parallel lines with some space between them.

 

[bullldog]

Thank you, tried to download that exact pic.

[STUDque]

The first 2 both make me angry. Bulldog nailed it, proper range divots are parallel lines with some space between them.

 

Divotpatterns.jpg

Isn't "concentrated" essentially a bunch of short linear strips butted against each other? I figure it would be the easiest to replace from a groundskeeping perspective as they could just plop a square of sod over it.

 

What's so bad about the square?

 

 

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[bullldog]

Try this for an explanation

http://www.usga.org/course-care/2013/08/practice-tee-divots--the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-21474858681.html

[hckymeyer]

Isn't "concentrated" essentially a bunch of short linear strips butted against each other? I figure it would be the easiest to replace from a groundskeeping perspective as they could just plop a square of sod over it.

 

What's so bad about the square?

 

 

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Golf courses, and especially ranges, aren't sod farms.  There's no sod replacing going on.  At least on my range the area that you hit from is just continually rotated and the grass grows back naturally over about 2 weeks.  The grass will essentially seed itself and spread kind of like weeds.  So it's much easier for the grass to cover 2 thin linear strips than to cover a huge bare patch a foot or more square.  And the 2 linear lines take up much less space than thirty random divots over a 5 sq ft area.  

 

So basically a huge bare patch is bad because it takes longer for the grass to regrow.  The minefield is bad because it takes up a lot of space even though they would grow back quicker.  So the we are left with the smaller group of parallel lines as the best method of both taking a shorter time to regrow, and taking up less space on the range.

[STUDque]

I think I picked the square divot shape up watching tour pros on the range. Now that you put it that way, it makes sense. My course has large strips down the side of a few fairways that are definitely sod farms but it would certainly make sense to use that resource on tee boxes and fairways instead of the range.

 

Learn something new every day huh? In the case of MGS, I tend to learn much more than one thing per day. Looks like I've got a new practice routine to put in place.

 

 

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[EthanSterlingPrice]

Picture 3 is how I was taught to do it. Coach would've skinned me alive for picture 1

 

 

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[Rickp]

Thank you, tried to download that exact pic.

U did good!

 

 

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[Rickp]

Golf courses, and especially ranges, aren't sod farms. There's no sod replacing going on. At least on my range the area that you hit from is just continually rotated and the grass grows back naturally over about 2 weeks. The grass will essentially seed itself and spread kind of like weeds. So it's much easier for the grass to cover 2 thin linear strips than to cover a huge bare patch a foot or more square. And the 2 linear lines take up much less space than thirty random divots over a 5 sq ft area.

 

So basically a huge bare patch is bad because it takes longer for the grass to regrow. The minefield is bad because it takes up a lot of space even though they would grow back quicker. So the we are left with the smaller group of parallel lines as the best method of both taking a shorter time to regrow, and taking up less space on the range.

Right on. Unfortunately not many golfers are aware of this.

 

 

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[Rickp]

I think I picked the square divot shape up watching tour pros on the range. Now that you put it that way, it makes sense. My course has large strips down the side of a few fairways that are definitely sod farms but it would certainly make sense to use that resource on tee boxes and fairways instead of the range.

 

Learn something new every day huh? In the case of MGS, I tend to learn much more than one thing per day. Looks like I've got a new practice routine to put in place.

 

 

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I happened to have a teaching Pro show me how and why years ago. Up to that point u needed a back hoe following me around.

 

 

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[TBT]

I was always taught to do parallel lines....of course growing up in Texas on muni courses we were just lucky if we could take a divot at all!! #hardpan

[STUDque]

I was always taught to do parallel lines....of course going up in Texas on muni courses we were just lucky if we could take a divot at all!! #hardpan

That's one of those funny things you learn from lessons but don't learn if you're self-taught

 

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

I asked our Super about this today.

 

He said the middle pic with the two parallel lines is the absolute preference. The scattered divots are not as bad as the big square. He said he could live with those, but it just eats up space on the range (as GS Meyer said). He said that may be why you see Tour pros do thst. They are generally on a huge range that has multiple areas to be rotated, so they will heal quicker. He said the square may grow weeds before it regrows grass. 😱

 

I told him the straight line is all well and good. But my issue is when I do that I may hit the ground before the ball and it them leaves little patches in between the divots that are too small to hit off so they are like a checkerboard.

 

He said the answer to that is right over in the pro shop and he gives lessons for $55 an hour. LOL!! Everyone is a comedian.

[Rickp]

I asked our Super about this today.

 

He said the middle pic with the two parallel lines is the absolute preference. The scattered divots are not as bad as the big square. He said he could live with those, but it just eats up space on the range (as Shawn said). He said that may be why you see Tour pros do thst. They are generally on a huge range that has multiple areas to be rotated, so they will heal quicker. He said the square may grow weeds before it regrows grass.

 

I told him the straight line is all well and good. But my issue is when I do that I may hit the ground before the ball and it them leaves little patches in between the divots that are too small to hit off so they are like a checkerboard.

 

He said the answer to that is right over in the pro shop and he gives lessons for $55 an hour. LOL!! Everyone is a comedian.

Sounds right to me. $55.00/hr good price but too far too commute!

 

 

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[STUDque]

I wonder why courses don't put these examples up on their ranges. This would fall in the same bucket as the instructions they typically post for repairing a pitch mark on the green.

 

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

I wonder why courses don't put these examples up on their ranges. This would fall in the same bucket as the instructions they typically post for repairing a pitch mark on the green.

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It's a good suggestion. And honestly it would have as much affect as the fix your ball mark signs and cart path only signs. People (most) will ignore them and do as they please.

 

That's been the biggest shock to me since coming to work at a course. How many people blatantly disregard common courtesy things like those.

 

A small percentage is they are inexperienced and don't know, another small percentage actually does abide by the rules and take care of the course....(thank you to those who do) but the wide majority, ignore and don't care enough to follow rules or take the time to rake a bunker or fix a ball Mark.

[STUDque]

It's a good suggestion. And honestly it would have as much affect as the fix your ball mark signs and cart path only signs. People (most) will ignore them and do as they please.

 

That's been the biggest shock to me since coming to work at a course. How many people blatantly disregard common courtesy things like those.

 

A small percentage is they are inexperienced and don't know, another small percentage actually does abide by the rules and take care of the course....(thank you to those who do) but the wide majority, ignore and don't care enough to follow rules or take the time to rake a bunker or fix a ball Mark.

Great point. I guess I'm in the minority because I remember seeing that ball mark tutorial for the first time and practiced the motion in the air. At that time, fixing pitch marks was fun since I rarely got to do it.

 

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

Great point. I guess I'm in the minority because I remember seeing that ball mark tutorial for the first time and practiced the motion in the air. At that time, fixing pitch marks was fun since I rarely got to do it.

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Exactly. They should be a badge of honor!!

[hckymeyer]

I wonder why courses don't put these examples up on their ranges. This would fall in the same bucket as the instructions they typically post for repairing a pitch mark on the green.

 

 

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We have big laminated ones by the ball dispenser at my course.

[Golfspy_CG2]

We have big laminated ones by the ball dispenser at my course.

Sorry I mistakenly gave GS Shawn credit a few posts back for the Divot sign instead of you.   I should have gone back and looked instead of relying on my memory, which is becoming less and less the smart thing to do...ha

[ImVinnie]

Work at a golf course and you will get really mad/pissed about divots. There are spots on our range that are are so deep the sole of your shoe is covered when you step in it.

 

I can understand if it is a public course where there are a lot of first-time golfers etc.. but I work at a country club where the members "should" know better. They are literally digging a hole with their clubs, not taking divots but digging a stupid hole!

 

The best part, these are the same members that complain that the range boxes look horrible. I have to bite my tongue when they say that because I want to say "yeah, it takes a whole season to re-grow grass in the post holes you dig every time you are out here".

 

I just dont get it. 

[Canucklehead]

There's only one range anywhere near me where you can hit off grass, and it looks like a minefield

 

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[Golfspy_CG2]

We are one of the few grass ranges (other than two private clubs) within about 20 miles.   I'm surprised more people don't come here just to hit balls, versus the two traditional driving ranges in the area, where they have to use mats. 

[Rickp]

We are one of the few grass ranges (other than two private clubs) within about 20 miles. I'm surprised more people don't come here just to hit balls, versus the two traditional driving ranges in the area, where they have to use mats.

Grass only way to go. The range here is mats Wednesday, Sunday & Monday. I won't hit off of mats and from the lack of people on those 3 days when I go by I'm not alone.

 

 

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[tommc23]

I recently just started to go from multiple lines to try to create one or two lines I was hitting 3 until i realized I was wasting space because I was hesitant to go near the ropes that border the range when I spend a lot of time. Now I use the ropes as training to compress the ball better.

 

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[revkev]

Picture 3 is how I was taught to do it. Coach would've skinned me alive for picture 1

 

 

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I was not aware of this either. I was taught #3. I will have to add this to another old school myth about golf right after putting is more important than ball striking. And I carry my driver 280.

 

 

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[STUDque]

 

From today. Just trying to be a good steward.

 

 

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