Studies about who best cares for the course?

[Carl Nichols]

Is anyone aware of any studies about which types of players -- e.g., low handicap v. high; older v. younger; men v. women; etc. --  are better at helping maintain the course through steps like fixing ball marks, repairing divots, raking traps, and adhering to rules about cart and foot traffic?  At my course, at least, it seems like everyone blames a group they're not in, and I'm just curious if anyone has tried to figure this out in a systematic way.

[Bruce Hospes]

I've been in the golf business since 1983 and in my observation, playing ability, age, and sex have nothing to do with it.  It all boils down to if the player is thoughtful enough to do the things to make the course better or if they have the mindset that someone else will do it.

[archie_struthers]

 


NO real study here other than 50 years of observation. I would say better players tend to do more in way of maintenance than most
Likewise members seem to take better care of course also rather than publinx players. Certainly not a catch all but just my guess from watching so many players over the years.


The better player would tend to be more score conscious and thus notice things that impact scoring. Bunkers, ball marks and the like. Also your golf education tends to be more complete at most privates with peer pressure and all.

[Lou_Duran]

NO real study here other than 50 years of observation. I would say better players tend to do more in way of maintenance than most
Likewise members seem to take better care of course also rather than publinx players. Certainly not a catch all but just my guess from watching so many players over the years.


The better player would tend to be more score conscious and thus notice things that impact scoring. Bunkers, ball marks and the like. Also your golf education tends to be more complete at most privates with peer pressure and all.

My experience as well.


Also, coming into the game early in life and learning its etiquette and courtesies from a responsible adult is a plus.


At courses where riding is dominant and greens are firm, riders tend to disembark toward the back of the green and often don't find their ball marks in the front (as a walker, I have the opportunity to fix 10+ marks on most greens).


It will be interesting to see what happens when rakes are returned to the bunkers.  Before C-19, most of our members took a pass or two at their footprints.  I fear a lot of bad habits are being created.

[Jeff_Brauer]

Probably no differences overall.  As Lou says, it's probably mostly related to who taught you the game, or as my Dad would have said, taught the difference between being a player and a "golfer."


I have seen players at ultra exclusive clubs drive between greens and bunkers, justifying it with the thought that "I paid my $20,000 dues, I can go where I want, do what I want."  I have also seen muni golfers do similar things, justifying it with the thought that "I paid my $20, I can go where I want, do what I want.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have to concur. Guys that were brought up and taught by the local pro seem better at caring for the course. It was drummed into me then into my son. Wealth, age, and skill in the game seem less of a factor than general politeness. Folks that are gentlemen off the course are gentlemen on the course.

[Mark_Fine]

Honestly most don't really know what to do because they have not been taught.  You can do more damage than good fixing a ball mark the wrong way.  I have seen golfers replace divots with no root structure that will only die in place (replacing bermuda grass divots for example).  Some have never been taught how to rake a bunker and I have seen them climb up a steep slope rake in hand doing damage all the way up and then slipping and taking a chunk of sod out of the face.  Some drive carts right up to the green or right next to the sides and many don't mean to cause damage they just haven't been taught.  Then there are some who just don't care.  All you can do is try to help educate when you see these things and go above and beyond yourself. 

[John Emerson]

This is the golf equivalent of the shopping cart test. 

[archie_struthers]

 

This is the golf equivalent of the shopping cart test.

John, you set us up

[Paul Rudovsky]

only thing i have seen that seems to work is when the club divide then membership into 18 groups (generally alphabetically and the pro, head greenskeeper and head of the golf and greens committees at the end of the year decide what hole was in the best condition throughout the year...and members of that group get a prize.  gets more folks (not all...but more) in "the rowboat" which is the key.  And the members who always took care of the course continue to do so on all 18 holes.  Saw this at Olympic (CA) about 30 years ago and results were impressive...but don't think they still do it.  some think it is crass, I think who cares if it is...if it works to solve the problem

[Jeff Schley]

NO real study here other than 50 years of observation. I would say better players tend to do more in way of maintenance than most
Likewise members seem to take better care of course also rather than publinx players. Certainly not a catch all but just my guess from watching so many players over the years.


The better player would tend to be more score conscious and thus notice things that impact scoring. Bunkers, ball marks and the like. Also your golf education tends to be more complete at most privates with peer pressure and all.

+1  Good insight Archie

[mike_beene]

Some people new to golf( or anything) observe, ask questions, research. Others cluelessly stand in your through line, etc. Some people prepare for life’s situations, others don’t. Maybe it’s rudeness, laziness or pure narcissistic behavior. You can learn almost anything about a person through golf.

[Jerry Kluger]

As more and more members at my club are walking and using pushcarts I have noticed that very few carry sand with them to fill divots - we have Bermuda fairways and we are told to fill divots with sand rather than replacing them.  There are a number of golfers who always ride in carts but are constantly filling divots as they wait to play a shot.  I have advocated giving attachments and sand bottles to those using a pushcart but no one has had any interest in doing so. 


A question for those in the know:  my club using a fine green colored sand to fill divots however, when the Champions Tour comes to play the SAS Championship they insist using regular sand to fill divots. Anyone know the reason why?

[Tom_Doak]

For some reason I am on the members' email chain at Arrowtown GC in New Zealand, and last week they were organizing a working bee for members to come out and help with the upkeep of the course!

So my response to the OP in this thread is, "not Americans".   

[Bernie Bell]

Aw c'mon man.  At my US club there are frequent divot nights, etc.  My sense is it's pretty common.  Not all of your ugly Americans belong to the muckety clubs. 

I've no real opinion on the question OP posed.  Like others suggest, I suppose its the same as who best cares for other humans?  Not sure it breaks down along any convenient lines.

[John Emerson]

As more and more members at my club are walking and using pushcarts I have noticed that very few carry sand with them to fill divots - we have Bermuda fairways and we are told to fill divots with sand rather than replacing them.  There are a number of golfers who always ride in carts but are constantly filling divots as they wait to play a shot.  I have advocated giving attachments and sand bottles to those using a pushcart but no one has had any interest in doing so. 


A question for those in the know:  my club using a fine green colored sand to fill divots however, when the Champions Tour comes to play the SAS Championship they insist using regular sand to fill divots. Anyone know the reason why?

Divot sand is usually a superintendent preference thing.  Color, or type of sand has absolutely no significant effect on turf regeneration speed.  If a super likes green sand and thinks it blends in better with the grass then that’s what they choose.  It really doesn’t matter.  I used discarded old bunker sand in the past for divot sand.  It is completely insignificant and a matter of preference.

[Jeff Schley]

One thing that seems clear, we can't say that the owners of the courses they own take the best care of them.