Golf Divots: why use sand or green mix stuff?

Did you ever asked yourself the question: why do they use sand or green stuff to repair golf divots?

If you put back the divot directly, the grass will die. But if you put some sand or sand mixed with seeds, the grass will grow back.

I found some articles that is in relation to this mystery...

"All depends on the grass type used on the fairway and tee box. If the grass is Bermuda, you would not seed, just sand to level the divot. Bermuda grass "creeps" (grows horizontally) and needs a soil/sand base to grow effectively."

"In most cases the divot mix is used to fill in the divot so there will not be a depression in the fairway or tee. The divot is usually not deep enough to kill the grass. Also, the grass has stolons or rhizomes, which when the plant is damaged will start the regeneration or spreading of the grass plant."

Source: Golf Business - Divot Repair Mix

Keep Golfing!

Golf Swing: 1.5 seconds of thoughts

Just found this very interesting drawing about a golf swing.

You may need to enlarge the picture to see clearly the text. 

This is everything you have to think in just 1.5 seconds (the time to execute a swing).

Amazing no? Let me know what you think!

Keep Golfing!

Bingo, Bango, Bongo Golf

Dear all,

David, our fellow Golf Crisis community member located in Japan wants to share with us a new way to enjoy golf for players who have high handicap difference.

Thank you David for sharing this with us :)

"Bingo/bango/bongo is a great game that makes it easy for both beginner golfers and experienced golfers to have a bet that everyone has a chance of winning. In Japan, you usually see bets placed on long drives, nearest to the pin on par 3's and lowest scores. It almost leaves the beginners with no hope.  This game is an equalizer and keeps everyone in the game.

Bingo/bango/bongo can be played in two different ways. A bet on each of them, or as a total score. It goes like this....

Bingo....

First player on the green wins the bingo.  Generally the better player will have the longer drive, but he is going to have to play last. The guy further back, if only by a few yards, has a bingo chance. You can drive it 300 yards, but the guy with a 200 yard drive still gets the chance before you. In fact, he can duff it 2 yards behind your ball and he still gets the bingo chance.

Bango...
Once everyone is on the green, the person closest to the hole wins the bango.

You can hit the green from 200 yards out, but the guy that puts it on the fringe, then putts it closer than you, wins the bango.

Bongo...

First in the hole. Now Bango has a disadvantage. Everyone putts before him.

Wonderful betting game for players with large handicap differences. You never know who is going to come out ahead. Final score means nothing."

Keep Golfing!

Tiger Woods: At the age of three he was playing golf your level

As a golfer, you surely think: THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE...

Well, watch this video: Tiger Woods hitting a driver at the age of three

For the record, Tiger Woods at the age of 3 shot a 48 over nine holes at the Navy Golf Club in Cypress, California.

Keep Golfing!

Rule: 13-1 Golf ball hit the fairway and lands in a divot

Some of my friends asked me the following question on the course:

If a golf ball is hit onto a fairway and lands in a divot, are you allowed to move it out of the divot without a penalty?

And the cruel answer is: of course not!

See rule 13-1 of USGA rules of golf: The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the Rules.

However, some golfers want this rule changed whenever the ball land on a divot...

See A Needed Rule Change in Golf (The Ball in the Divot Scenario)

"From a purely logical standpoint, why penalize a player for hitting the ball down the fairway?  If golf, in all of its majesty and historical significance, is a game of individual accomplishments where excellence is judged by the physical execution of the golf swing and the positive outcome resulting from those actions, why should a player be penalized for the actions of another player (the player who made the divot)?  If the ball lands on a sprinkler head in the middle of the fairway or in an area soaked with water, the ball is moved, albeit no closer to the hole.  Why not afford a player the same consideration for a condition on the course not cause by them?"

"It's time for another change – divots in the fairway should be considered ground under repair."

And you, what do you think about it? Give us your opinion!

Keep Golfing!

Golf Etiquette: Things you should never do with a golf cart

Find below a couple reminders of things you should never do in a golf cart:

Never drive the cart within hazard boundary lines, or within about 10 yards of water hazards or bunkers, or within about 50 yards of greens (unless you're on a designated cart path, of course). These areas are especially susceptible to damage by the wheels of golf carts. Never drive onto or close to tee boxes, either, unless on the cart path.

Never drive the cart through mud, on or off the fairway.

Never drive through casual water on any part of the golf course (unless it's a little bit of water over a paved cart path). The wheels of the cart can do serious damage to the turf, including leaving ruts, in wet areas.

Never go joyriding in the golf cart. In other words, don't act stupid! People do get injured in cart accidents.

There is also some other rules related to golf carts:

• Cart Path Only
• 90-Degree Rule In Effect (see my previous article)
• Cart Path Only on Holes X and X
• No Carts Beyond This Point

Source: Golf Cart Rules and Etiquette

Keep Golfing!

Night Golf

Last week I went to play night golf at Windmill Golf Course in Bangkok, Thailand.

I was with a friend and we enjoyed a lot playing in the dark.

Fortunately, the lighting of the golf course was good enough to play in a normal condition

They use massive lights projectors to light the fairway and some zones of the rough.

(if you slice a bit with your driver, you may not have the chance to find your ball in the dark zones...)

The atmosphere is completely different compare to playing during day-time:

• The surrounding is very quiet
• Many mosquitoes are present to bite you
• You see different animals compare to day-time... bats, fishes, insects, etc
• The grass is very soft and it is a pleasure to hit the ball
• The lines on the green are pretty hard to read because of the lighting
• You need to be extra careful when you hit the ball... any big mistake can lead to a lost of ball

I really enjoyed it so... give it a try, start golfing at night!

Keep Golfing!

How to repair a golf divot

According to some golf club rules, "players are required to REPLACE DIVOTS, rake sand traps, repair ball marks on greens and help maintain the condition of the course. It is the players' responsibility to see that such repairs are made."

How to Correctly Repair a Golf Divot?

1. Follow the flight of the ball to where it lands.
2. Look in the general direction of the golf ball - the divot will usually be 5 to 15 yards ahead of you.
3. Walk up to the divot, pick it up and return to the spot where you hit the ball.
4. Keep in mind that sometimes the divot can break into five or so different pieces of grass or dirt.
5. Match the grass and dirt back together like a puzzle so the divot is in one piece.
6. Place it on the spot where it was torn from.
7. Step on the grass that you've replaced until the surface is smooth with the rest of the grass.

Of course in Asia and some areas in the world, you got a caddie who does this job for you :)

Keep Golfing!

Source:

How to Repair a Golf Divot