Course Care

Course Care
It is the responsibility of EVERY player to leave the course in good condition for the next player or group. Bunkers Always enter and exit the bunker at the lowest point. Before leaving a bunker, the player should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by that player or others. They should then leave the rake in the bunker facing in the same direction as the fairway runs.Push sand away from you as you exit the bunker. If required rake other affected areas or remove debris. Do not pile sand at the edge of the bunker. Push back excess sand. Always leave the rake in the bunker well away from the edge facing in the direction that the fairway runs. Repairing Divots and Ball-Marks Through the green, a player should knock in with an iron the edges of any divot mark made by them and lightly fill with sand. Remove any loose turf from the affected area. Knock in all sides of the edge of the divot Pour a small amount of sand over the Divot Using your club or shoe level out the sand Ball Marks The player should ensure that any damage to the putting green made by the ball or by the player is carefully repaired. Unrepaired ball marks take over 4 weeks to disappear, poorly repaired marks up to 15 days to regrow whilst properly repaired ball marks disappear in about 24 hours. Always start at the back of the mark and push forward with the repairer. Use repairer around all sides and slowly ease turf toward the centre of the mark. Do not lift the soil upwards. Lightly tap down with putter. Damage to Greens - Flagsticks, Bags etc. Sprig marks around the hole should be pressed down after putting out. Players should ensure that, when putting down bags, or the flagstick, no damage is done to the putting green, and that neither they nor their caddies damage the hole by standing close to it in handling the flagstick or in removing the ball from the hole. The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green. Handling the flagstick Don't drop the flagstick on the putting surface as it will cause damage. Always lower the flagstick by club or by hand. Avoid damage to surrounds by placing the flagstick in the centre of the cup. Avoid standing close to the hole when removing or replacing the flagstick. Carts The following points must be observed when using a cart on course? · Members must apply to Management for a permit to use their own cart on the course · Before members purchase a cart please confirm with Management the type of unit that is permissible as some restrictions apply · During Championships and Board Events, only those with a health problem who have provided a doctors certificate prior are permitted to use motorised carts. · Carts can be used for social or competition play except as outlined above. · Carts must not be driven within 10 metres of any green or between bunkers and greens under any circumstances. · Where paths are provided carts must use them. · Carts may not be taken off the fairway. · Carts must be driven carefully, avoiding banks where carts could slip or roll. · Please observe the solid blue lines in front of and around greens and do not drive carts between these lines and greens. · Carts must not be driven over any teeing ground. · Damp or wet areas must be avoided. · Carts should not be driven at excessive speed. · No more than two persons may ride in a cart at one time. · No more than two carts per group · It is the responsibility of the driver of a cart to ensure proper use and control at all times. · The Cart Use Rules must be displayed on the windscreen of every members cart at all times. · During periods of wet weather, it may be necessary to restrict the use of carts to prevent damage to the Course. Please note that the Carts Policy is currently under review Damage Through Practice Swings In taking practice swings players should avoid causing damage to the course or particularly the tees by removing divots. Please repair these in the appropriate manner (see above). Yellow Tee Markers All male member practicing; members playing social rounds; and Social Groups are required to play from the Yellow Tee Markers. Management has requested this in order to preserve the tees for competition rounds. Blue Tee Markers are only to be used for authorised competition rounds.

Pitchmarks

It is essential that all players are diligent in their repair of pitchmarks on greens. A correctly repaired pitchmark will recover in 24 hours. An unrepaired pitchmark left unattended for two hours will take up to two months to recover. Unrepaired pitchmarks also foster disease and infections in the green.

Correctly repairing a pitch mark is as simple as:

Start at the back of the mark where the ball has raised up the turf and push forward with your pitchmark repairer (avoid the use of tees or keys)
Use the repairer around all sides and slowly ease turf toward the centre of the mark. Do not lift the soil upwards.
Lightly tap down the repaired pitchmark with your putter leaving a flat smooth surface.

Bunkers

The following points are provided to assist in the upkeep of bunkers and to ensure that you and your fellow members have a pleasant round of golf.

Always enter the bunker at designated entry points or from the lowest access point (generally the bunker tongue or the front of the bunker - DO NOT enter down steeply sloping faces).
Rake out footprints pulling sand from the outside in. Do not pile sand towards the edge of the bunker as it creates a dish type effect that is difficult to play from.
Push the sand away from you as you exit the bunker.
Rakes must be left inside the bunkers with the approximately 150mm of handle laying on the turf surface for easy access. The handle should, where possible, be placed parallel with the direction of the play.
Bunker faces should not be excessively raked but should be pushed up and smoothed.

Divots

All players must carry and actively use a sand bucket irrespective of whether a cart is used or a player is carrying their clubs. The following tips are provided on repairing divots:

The sand provided must be used to repair divots both on the fairways and in the rough.
If a large divot is taken and intact replace the divot and press down with your foot then sand and smooth
If a smaller or broken divot is taken remove any loose turf from the divot. Do not replace the dislodged divot back in the grass.
Knock in all sides of the edge of the divot with your club or your shoe.
Lightly sand the divot creating a smooth playing surface.
Players should avoid walking on bare patches in order to give the grass an opportunity to recover.

Carts

Carts can be used for social or competition play.
During Board Events, only those with a health problem who can provide a doctors certificate are permitted to use motorised carts.
Carts must not be driven within 10 metres of any green or between bunkers and greens under any circumstances.
Carts should not be driven at excessive speed.
Carts must be driven carefully, avoiding banks where carts could slip or roll.
No more than two persons may ride in a cart at one time.
Where paths are provided carts must use them.
Please observe the solid blue lines in front of greens and do not drive carts between these lines and greens.
Carts must not be driven over any teeing ground.
Damp or wet areas must be avoided.
It is the responsibility of the driver of a cart to ensure proper use and control at all times.
During periods of wet weather, it may be necessary to restrict the use of carts to prevent damage to the Course.

General

Blue lines - Approaches to the Greens

Please observe the solid blue line on green approaches.
All pull buggies and ride on golf carts must proceed either left or right of the blue line before the golfer can proceed onto the green.

Areas defined as GUR - (white lines or white pegs)

Areas that are defined as GUR by either white lines or white pegs are to be avoided wherever possible to assist with recovery.

Damage to Greens - Flagsticks, Golf Bags etc

Players must ensure that no damage is done to the putting green when removing and putting down flagsticks or by standing too close to the hole. The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green.

Handling the Flag;

Don't drop the flagstick on the putting surface as it will cause damage.
Always lower the flagstick by club or by hand.
Avoid damage to the cup surrounds by placing the stick in the centre of the cup.

Removing the Ball

Players are not permitted to use their putter to remove their golf ball from the hole.