Article written by yu sport, sport news and resources
Every golf course strives to provide the best possible experience for its members and the public, and much of that experience comes down to the condition of the greens. Golf courses must take that into consideration when planning budgets, hiring personnel, and acquiring new turf equipment. Read on for what are considered golf course standards, and see if your course meets makes the cut.
Green Standards
Greens should be mowed daily, especially during the warmer months and the growing season. Be aware that you will need to lower the grass cut for winter months, when it is less likely that you will be able to maintain the grounds each day. Greens should also be rolled, which will help improve general speed. Speed is crucial, so greens should also be measured twice weekly, and wherever possible you should strive to create dense grass to improve speed. Irrigation should be done sparingly so that the roots grow deep, and the soil should be aerated each spring.
Standard for the Tee Box
Tee boxes should be less than one half inch at all times, with alternating lengths in spring and winter weather depending. Trees are also an important part of the course, and dying branches should be trimmed to prevent course hazards. Divots are probably the biggest problem for tee box maintenance, so addressing these daily and asking golfers to do the same will be helpful for the course overall. Flag placement is up to the course designer, but the object should be to challenge the way the golfer thinks about the hole. You can also use flag placement to help cut down on normal wear from daily usage.
General Course Rules
The cups on the greens should be changed regularly to prevent wear. Yardage is another important factor in course maintenance, and appropriate yardage should apply no matter where the tee box or flag are placed. Fairways should also get a routine mow, and someone should walk the grounds and dispose of potential hazards. It’s also a good idea to maintain divots on the fairway as well, at least as far as 200 yards out from the hole where golfers are likely to leave divots trying to chip into the hole. It’s also important to keep the course water conscious and irrigate for the condition of the grass, not the color of it. As long as the grass is alive, the course is well watered.
If you want golfers to take more responsibility for the course, equip their carts with everything they need to fix divots. Be sure to keep signs about course hazards, and section off all work being done.
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