Etiquette and USGA article

I received the USGA green section email today and what a perfect time to add the link and discuss some of the issues covered. You can read the article in its entirety HERE I will highlight a couple of items of interest. I talk often here about the importance of etiquette especially at a nine hole course. The group you are playing with or against on the front nine could be impacting your game for the back nine. Or even you could be impacting your own back nine round if you do not rake the bunkers you were in or replace your divot.
 BUNKER CARE
There is no point in spending a lot of time on golfers’ care of bunkers. This issue is cut and dry. When playing from a bunker, one should rake the bunker to restore its condition. 
Boy does that sentence say it all. This golf industry now has gone nuts for bunker management. They are defined as hazards but have become prepared playing surfaces. Most places they are damn near perfect and if they are I would guess they are spending more money to get them there then they do on the greens. I personally think that is nuts. But if the club is willing to spend the money and primp and prep bunkers all day long seven days a week. We rake them daily and by 10:30 AM you would never know it.
DIVOTS
Confusion over the repair of divots is often a reason they are not properly addressed by golfers. Generally, if the divot remains intact, it should be replaced in the interest of playability. If the replaced divot does not survive, it can be addressed at a later date by the maintenance staff. There is no hard and fast rule for divot replacement, but a good rule of thumb may be if you can pick up the divot, you should replace it.
 Perfect statement. I often get asked about divots. That sums up my feelings if you can pick it up then you should put it back. It will heal faster than a seeded divot will germinate and establish.
Golfers may spend time in different regions of the country at different times of the year. If no clear direction is provided for divot repair on a particular golf course, the golfer may assume that the method used to address divots on the bermudagrass golf course played while overwintering in Florida is the method that should be used on a creeping bentgrass golf course in Pennsylvania (or MV) the rest of the year.

There are times when using the divot bottles on carts is necessary: the divot is thin or in many pieces, otherwise it should be returned into the spot it came from and stepped on to ensure a tight fit. If the divot dies we will pull it out and fill the hole with divot mix but until then it has a chance and you will have a better lie. The fairway mower is not a fan of chopping up divots which in turn adds to the maintenance to ensure sharp blades. So keep it simple and if you can return the divot please do so.

The importance of caring for the golf course needs to be stressed to the average golfer. Don’t be confused: 

This is not a plea to help the maintenance staff or make the superintendent’s job easier. Their job is to prepare the golf course for daily play. It is the obligation of golfers to understand their responsibility to one another and to the golf course during a round of golf. That perfect lie that you had in the bunker? Make sure you recreate it for golfers playing behind you. Shouldn't golfers that play behind you enjoy the same conditions as you?

There are many more points in the article as well as some great pictures. Please click on the link above or HERE to read the entire article.

We are still under snow and starting the day in single digits and topping off at 15-20 degrees if we are lucky. Today the wind chill was -10. So if you are fortunate to be in a warmer climate enjoy and practice your course etiquette while enjoying your warm rounds.