Open with an abundance of ball marks

The golf course opened on May 1st and has been busy ever since. It is good to see golfers on the course again and to see familiar faces among the first tee times.

In the maintenance department, our routines are in full swing. We are already on our regular mowing schedules and we have also already started our aeration program on the tees. On May 7th and 8th we completed a tee aeration and topdressing. These processes are necessary to maintain healthy turf and encourage root growth in the spring. In general, topdressing provides a number of major benefits to the turf. Topdressing smooths the surface of the turf. Both foot traffic as well as equipment traffic can leave indentations in the turf surface and topdressing helps to smooth those imperfections out. Topdressing also provides a cushion that helps the turf to withstand high traffic and remain firm. A firm surface also encourages proper drainage from the turf and promotes a healthier stand of turf.

During early season play, often the greens are not as firm as they are mid summer. This often results in a high incidence of ball marks on the putting surface. Both Keith and I, as well as many of the greens mowers have commented on the high number of ball marks that are not being repaired. A shot that wouldn't normally leave a ball mark is likely going to mark the green during the early season. At this time of the season, almost every shot that lands on the green will leave a ball mark. Please repair your ball mark and others that you see. A ball mark that is not repaired can take more than two weeks and regular topdressing to heal properly. While the unrepaired ball mark heals it leaves an uneven putting surface and an unsightly mark on the turf. Repairing a ball mark takes less than a minute and can usually be putted over immediately. These marks take significantly less time to heal and do not leave an uneven surface for players behind you. Proper ball mark repair technique is illustrated here as outlined by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Questions concerning any of the information here can be directed to the EPGCC Maintenance Department through our Twitter account, our Facebook page, or contact us directly at the shop.