Practice Range Divot Patterns

[Jim Sherma]

My club's turf blog linked to this USGA Green Section article.

http://gsr.lib.msu.edu/article/mcclellan-practice-6-8-12.pdf

I've never seen this laid out this clearly. I've been a "concentrator" but I guess I'll try to be more conscientous of the strips after reading this.

[Lester George]

We have used the Linear Pattern at Kinloch since right after we opened.  It works better than anything els we have tried.

Lester

[Pat Burke]

One of the benefits of the "strips", is if filled correctly,
helps combat the washboard effect that giant squares produce

[Chris Tritabaugh]

Recently did a post on our blog on this same topic. A couple of weeks later we had some decent results. Getting the word out is key as I had a number of members come up to me and say they had never even thought about it but are now doing the strips. If everyone did this it would make a huge difference in the quality of turf on a practice tee.

http://bit.ly/LuejaB

[D_Malley]

http://philacricketgm.blogspot.com/2011/03/pccs-preferred-divot-pattern_3599.html

nice video detailing the divot pattern

[Kalen Braley]

Practice?  We talking about practice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I   

[Jim Franklin]

I tried telling some "low" handicappers at our place that this is how they should do it, but they say I am wrong. Some continue to put the ball in front of the divot and take out even more turf. Ridiculous.

[Mark Smolens]

I think that it's remarkable that the USGA would put together an article about range maintenance and cite as a source the super at the Village Links of Glen Ellyn -- which has one of the worst patches of driving range turf in the entire Chicago District, if not the free world. And I play there a lot (2:40 today, and we have only two if anybody's interested!).

The last time they played the Western Open I got to caddy for a friend on Sunday thru Wednesday. Being inside the ropes on the range was so friggin cool. Vijay was extraordinarily meticulous in the way he cut those long strips of turf, placing the ball at the back end and cutting a little more. Tiger, otoh, hit balls Saturday night from about 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (at the far end of the range, away from everyone -- I sat on a bucket and watched him the whole time), and the divot pattern was a box that ended up looking like it had been surgically excised by a gardner with an edger.

[Garland Bayley]

Thanks for the info Jim,

I've been making strips growing backwards for a long time. However, those times I stay long enough to make more than one strip, I made them side by side. This helped me see the error of my ways.

[Willie_Dow]

Good reply by all.  But ??

Why do we need tight lies in the first place ??

The old Seve fairways were soft, and we didn't always take a divot.  Yes, occasionally for backspin, but we learned that shot because of soft lies.

Just making it more costly maintenance wise to increase the budget, I think ?

[John Kavanaugh]

Thanks for the info Jim,

I've been making strips growing backwards for a long time. However, those times I stay long enough to make more than one strip, I made them side by side. This helped me see the error of my ways.

Calling bravo siera on a 22 hdc hitting that many balls. If anything your strip would look like a chinese zipper.

[JLahrman]

Here was my work today:



I have always been a Concentrator, and I hit my first two or three balls that way. Then I remembered this article, and decided to start Stripping.

This is 25 balls worth, all wedges.

I don't know if it's the pattern of a Concentrator with a touch of Stripping, or a Stripper who likes to Concentrate.

[Kirk Moon]

Practice?  We talking about practice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I   

Great link.   Love it!  

The Cal Club asks all members to "strip".  Don't think I've ever seen anyone "stripping" at the O Club.   

[Garland Bayley]

Thanks for the info Jim,

I've been making strips growing backwards for a long time. However, those times I stay long enough to make more than one strip, I made them side by side. This helped me see the error of my ways.

Calling bravo siera on a 22 hdc hitting that many balls. If anything your strip would look like a chinese zipper.

John,

How old will you have to be before you will learn that it is best not to speak about things you know nothing about?
Is there hope for you yet?

[John Kavanaugh]

No. This strip thing is a farce. It only works for the highest of skilled player.

[Garland Bayley]

No. This strip thing is a farce. It only works for the highest of skilled player.

I must be a plus handicap then.

[John Kavanaugh]

No. This strip thing is a farce. It only works for the highest of skilled player.

I must be a plus handicap then.

Exactly.

[Bill Brightly]

Here was my work today:



I have always been a Concentrator, and I hit my first two or three balls that way. Then I remembered this article, and decided to start Stripping.

This is 25 balls worth, all wedges.

I don't know if it's the pattern of a Concentrator with a touch of Stripping, or a Stripper who likes to Concentrate.

JL,

Looks like you are double-stripping...  One divot per line, please!

[JLahrman]

Yes, I would have done one line had I not done two across with my first two shots.

I have a hard time going cold turkey. Good thing I don't smoke.

Next time I will be a one-line stripper.

[Kalen Braley]

I usually just work off the back side of whats already there......instead of starting a new section.