Jim Myers, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent of Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore., sends out a Friday report and e-mail blasts to golfers to recommend that they practice a certain way such as by hitting in-line divots. Director of Golf Bryan Tunstill, PGA, and Head Golf Professional Adrian Burtner, PGA, help to educate the membership as well.
One of the best tools that golf course superintendents have to keep their practice facilities in top condition doesn’t reside in their maintenance shops. They stay in close contact with their memberships to educate them about proper turf maintenance.
“Education has been huge to combat the number of rounds and play we have had to preserve the turf as much as possible,” Myers says. “By educating members, it’s amazing how much more they have been caring for the golf course.”
He sends out a Friday report and e-mail blasts to golfers to recommend that they practice a certain way such as by hitting in-line divots. Director of Golf Bryan Tunstill, PGA, and Head Golf Professional Adrian Burtner, PGA, help to educate the membership as well.
This year, Columbia Edgewater also has formed a new committee dedicated to golfer education. The committee is conducting a marketing campaign about caring for the golf course and promoting the care of the property.
“It will be nice to have the committee,” Myers says. “These members are dedicated to excellence.”
At River Bend Club, three large poster boards on tripods remind players to take practice shots in a linear pattern to speed up recovery of the turf.
Last year Golf Course Superintendent Luke Fisher and Head Golf Professional John Madden, PGA, made a five-minute, professional, introductory video to River Bend Golf & Country Club in Great Falls, Va. They played several holes and went over proper golf course care. They also visited the practice facility, where they demonstrated how to fix ball marks, hit linear shots, and properly rake bunkers.
In addition, River Bend holds a golf course social in the spring, summer, and fall where 50 people will come to the property in the evenings to help fill divots.
The divot repair mix for the fairways contains 2-inch fescue instead of bentgrass to keep the bentgrass from getting into the rough. The mix also includes sand with organic matter, which holds water and helps the seed grow.
Fisher takes the Greens Committee on a course tour once a month as well. In the monthly newsletter, he reminds golfers to repair ball marks and divots. A card about golf course care also is posted in each golf car.
The educational efforts at River Bend have been particularly effective in the past year with all of the new golfers that have taken up the game.
“The popularity of golf is great for the business and the sport,” Fisher says. “I’m looking forward to the next generation. Being able to get outside has brought joy to the membership. They have been able to come out and get away from everything. It’s very rewarding.”
Superintendent Kevin Dugger also sends out weekly e-mail blasts to Colleton River Club (Bluffton, S.C.) members, and he encourages golfers to hit “bacon strip,” or linear, divots instead of random divots as well. Of course, he also tells them to “enjoy yourself and have fun.”
The property has gotten a lot of new members because of the pandemic, says Dugger, and, having 700 homesites within the property, fulltime residents or those who have second homes at Colleton River Club are staying there year-round.
Most of the new golfers have been conscientious about taking care of the golf course, Dugger says. “We’re having more turf issues because of single-use golf carts,” he adds.
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