Respecting the game and the course that we play on is just as important now as it has ever been! More and more these day’s people are losing the ability to take care of things that aren’t theirs. I see things that frustrate me on a daily basis and it’s not just on the golf course. When I go to the grocery store I often see people who will leave their shopping cart somewhere that it should not be left at (like in the middle of a parking space)! I see people throw trash on the ground with the thought of someone else will pick it up! It requires very little effort to push your buggy back to the buggy return or to carry your trash to the nearest trashcan. What some people don’t realize is that doing some of these simple tasks correctly can make someone else’s day much easier. I’m sure that there are plenty more examples of things like this that I can share, but this article is not meant to be a rant. If these things frustrate you as well than we can easily relate to one another.
On the golf course I have seen an increase in people not raking bunkers, not fixing ball marks on the green, not filling their divots with sand, littering on the course, and driving their cart too close to the greens. This is not just at my facility…this is something I see everywhere I go play. I even see these sorts of things at golf clubs that cost well over $100,000 a year to join. I want to encourage all golfers to take a stand and do what is right! I want to motivate everyone to help someone out and take care of the golf courses that we play on. Treat it as if it was yours! If you fix more divots and ball marks then the maintenance staff at your facility is freed up to improve the conditions of other things on the course! Also, the playing conditions are improved for you as well. You won’t have to worry about putting through old ball marks or having your ball land in an old divot. The more golfers help to maintain the golf course that they play on the better the conditions will get for everyone. Don’t have the mentality that it’s someone else’s problem. We are all in this world together and it is our responsibility to help each other out.
If you are new to the game and aren’t really sure as to what you should be doing to respect and take care of the course than please seek the help of a PGA Professional. PGA Pros like me are happy to help teach the etiquettes of the game and pass down the history, respect, and honor of those that played the game before us. Lastly, I can tell you from experience that respecting the course and taking care of the place where you play has an effect on your mood and your golf score. There is a sense of pride in doing the right thing that seems to give you more confidence. Also, doing the right thing and taking care of the course has a way to come back to you through good scores. Hopefully, we can all do our part to make this game better and better every day!