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Kathleen W. Ward, K-State Research and Extension
www.oznet.ksu.edu
Article edited by Georgiafairways.com and The Green Friendly Golf Company.
Some of the nicest golfers are causing the worst problems for today’s putting greens doing what they have been told to do, repair ball marks. But, studies at Kansas State University suggest the solution is simple.
The K-State researchers have concluded that golfers need either learn how to use their traditional ball mark repair tools, correctly, or consider switching to one of the newer tools now on the market.
A ball mark depression results each time a ball drops onto a green’s lush grass. Busy golf courses can develop more than 1,000 of these cavities every day. Such ball marks depressions can not only kill grass but also wipe out the possibility of a straight-rolling putt.
K-State Research and Extension horticulturists Jack Fry and Steve Keeley knew that for years, golf courses have been encouraging players to repair their own ball marks. Some courses have even furnished the palm-size, double-pronged "forks" traditionally used for this task. But, a surprisingly large number of golfers have never understood the correct way to apply the tool. Instead, they use its 2-inch prongs, topped by a thumb-size grip, to dig in and lever up the smashed grass and compacted soil. Rather than helping the mark heal quickly, they often tear the plants´ roots. "Levering seems logical, but it’s not the way the tool was meant to be used. We found that the digging and lifting actually has a more long-lasting effect than leaving the mark un-repaired," Fry said.
Researchers elsewhere have assessed how damaging ball marks can be finding that un-repaired marks can lead to persistent scars and overall poor turf quality and play. The K-State studies were the first to take a scientific look at repair strategies. "Our results indicate that poor technique, not the traditional repair tool, have been at fault," Keeley said. "Still, we found that the new device we evaluated is as effective, if not better, under some conditions. More importantly, the new tool is less likely to be used incorrectly."
One example of the newer divot tools on the market comes from The Green Friendly Golf Company. The Green Friendly Belt combines a classic leather belt, divot tool and ball marker into a truly functional golf belt. The Green Friendly Belt received tremendous reviews from the media, retailers and golf professionals at the recently concluded PGA Merchandise Show.
Thanks to its new product, the company has turned attention to one of the biggest challenges facing golf courses today; damage caused by ball marks that are not repaired or are repaired improperly. Improperly repaired marks, not only significantly increase the cost of maintenance, but they also cause unsightly patches of dead grass and affect everyone’s enjoyment of the game.
Echoing K-State research, Green Friendly Golf concluded that conventional divot tools with long forks are not the answer. The Green Friendly Belt is a precision-engineered ball mark repair tool guaranteed to leave the green a healthier place because the purposely-designed short forks do not penetrate below the greens root system. The Green Friendly Belt has already been recognized by the Golf Course Superintendents Association and is endorsed by the Professional Caddies Association and the PGA Retirement Plus Fund.
The marks the K-State researchers examined came from golf balls lobbed in with a pitching wedge on opening day of each study. The first study ran from May 27 to July 12 and the second was just over a year later from Sept. 17 to Oct. 29.
The two greens used were at the Colbert Hills Golf Course and K- State’s Rocky Ford Turf grass Research Center. Both are well- established L-93 bent grass, growing in sandy soils near Manhattan, Kan.
The researchers´ complete scientific report is available in Applied Turf grass Science on the Web at http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.com/pub/ats/research/2005/repair
About The Green Friendly Golf Company:
The Green Friendly Golf Company is a privately held U.S. business located in Providence, Rhode Island that is committed to developing a range of essential golf accessories that are stylish and functional; yet encourage “Essential Etiquette" on the golf course. Founded in 2005 by Rick Schad, Stephen Walsh and Akim Msumba, the Green Friendly Golf Co. is dedicated to bringing new and innovative products, such as the Green Friendly Golf Belt, to the golf industry marketplace.
If you are interested in doing a news feature story on the unique golf belts and the company that invented and designs them, please contact the Green Friendly Golf Company Media & Public Relations department at 1.401.862.3422 or 1.800.924.6711. E-mail:
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