Golf Season Is Finally Here

Finally, the cold gray days of winter are gone. They have been replaced with longer, warmer and sunnier days which means, it is time to get out and play golf. Now, with that being said, there are just a few housekeeping items that need to be addressed; these topics are to inform new members of our policies and practices and are offered as a friendly reminder to everyone else.



Repairing Divots and Ball Marks



If you play golf, you create divots- it's part of the game. However, if you create divots, you should also repair them; that is part of the etiquette of the game. Repairing your divots ensures that golfers who follow you have the same level playing surface you had when you started your round. We ask that you simply fill your divots in the fairways with the sand provided in the bottles on the golf carts and then tamp the sand with your foot to firm and smooth the area. Repairing ball marks is different but can be completed by following these few guidelines:

1. Use a prolonged ball mark repair tool (preferably), knife, key or tee.


2. Insert at the edges of the mark - not the middle of the depression.


3. Bring the edges together with a gentle twisting motion, but don't lift the center and try not to tear the grass.


4. Smooth the surface with a club or your foot. You have completed the task when it is a surface you would putt over.

(source: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America)

For further clarification on repairing ball marks please see chart in the Golf Shop.



Raking Bunkers



Sand bunkers are enough of a hazard without the bad lies caused by a surface that has not been smoothed or raked; here are some quick tips for making sure the next golfer who faces your predicament isn't additionally cursed by a bunker that is not groomed.

1. Try to enter and exit the bunker from the point that is closest to your ball, but most level to the adjacent playing surface. Don't try to climb out by going up a steep bunker face; you could damage the lip of the bunker and displace too much sand.


2. Always rake the bunker immediately after your sand shot and then leave the rake along the inside bunker edge.


3. Be careful not to pull excess sand to (or over) the lip of the bunker. The best practice is to alternate between pulling sand toward you and pushing it back with the tines of the rake, thus making a relatively even surface without displacing too much sand.

Cart Rules

The golf cart rules that have been established at Hurstbourne are quite simple. At the beginning of each par four or five fairway, there is a wooden stake with a green top; please enter the fairway at this point. Once you enter the fairway you are free to drive your carts anywhere in the zoysia fairways up to 30 feet from the approach. At the end of the fairway we have another wooden stake with a red top on it; please exit the fairway at this spot even if you have driven past it please return to this point to exit the fairway. The Golf Course Operations Department continuously moves these stakes often to control the wear and tear on the rough and to keep the carts out of high play areas. The result ensures that we have provided a better course for your enjoyment.

Weather

Spring is upon us and with that comes thunderstorms. Every year more people are killed or injured by lightning than by tornadoes, floods or hurricanes. In fact, it's estimated that in the United States, as many as 300 people are killed by lightning each year. Golf courses can be considered dangerous in the event of a thunderstorm because of the open areas with scattered individual trees. Lightning bolts will take the shortest route between the cloud and the ground which means a golfer standing in the middle of a fairway or huddled under a tree is a prime target for a strike. However there are safety measures that one can take to avoid being hit by lightning.

1. Seek shelter at the first sign of a thunderstorm; listen for the course warning system (usually a loud siren / whistle); if it sounds take cover immediately.


2. If possible and time allows, get off the course or go to the nearest designated lightning shelter.


3. Do not stand under a lone tree.


4. Stay away from water.


5. Stay away from your golf clubs.


6. If your shoes have metal spikes, take them off.


7. Move away from your golf cart.


8. If you become stranded in the open, find a low place such as a ravine or valley.

Thank you for taking the time to review these topics. As always, the Golf Course Operations Department is here to take care of the day o day maintenance and grooming of the golf course; we, in fact, are very proud of our work and want only the best for our members and their guests.

Enjoy the golf season.