Everyone should know the 3R's in golf but how many of us are guilty of not caring for our own or other courses?
So the council have decided to make the last Saturday of January, February and March 2012 a 3R Day when everyone will be encouraged to take time to:
Rake Bunkers
Replace Divots
Repair Pitch Marks
If these days prove successful we will not need to repeat them but people tend to fall back into bad habits. So we anticipate repeating these days throughout the year and on other competition days. (Sunday and Wednesday)
Common Objections:
Speed of Play - The council acknowledges the fact this will have an impact on the speed of play and would ask members to be patient with the groups in front. Why not take the time to look around the area where you are waiting. At the end of January and February we will still be playing a shortened course so any delay should have very little impact. Hopefully by the time we return to 18 holes we will notice a change in peoples habits and there will be less to repair.
Its visitors / other members and not me - As members we should be setting an example to other members and visitors. The more people who do the 3R's the less members who are actively doing it will have to do in the future. Hence the reason for introducing the 3R Days.
Ultimately the course and us as members will benefit.
Care of the Course taken from 2012 Rules of Golf:
Bunkers
Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others. If a rake is within reasonable proximity of the bunker, the rake should be used for this purpose.
Repair of Divots, Ball-Marks and Damage by Shoes
Players should carefully repair any divot holes made by them and any damage to the putting green made by the impact of a ball (whether or not made by the player himself). On completion of the hole by all players in the group, damage to the putting green caused by golf shoes should be repaired.
Preventing Unnecessary Damage
Players should avoid causing damage to the course by removing divots when taking practice swings or by hitting the head of a club into the ground, whether in anger or for any other reason.
Players should ensure that no damage is done to the putting green when putting down bags or the flagstick.
In order to avoid damaging the hole, players and caddies should not stand too close to the hole and should take care during the handling of the flagstick and the removal of a ball from the hole. The head of a club should not be used to remove a ball from the hole.
Players should not lean on their clubs when on the putting green, particularly when removing the ball from the hole.
The flagstick should be properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green.
Local notices regulating the movement of golf carts should be strictly observed.
