The CSGA Links Volume 6 Issue 4 August 2018 | Page 42

FROM THE USGA
Hey, guys, repair those
I
t seems so easy and it should be so simple, but somehow those ball marks don’t seem to
get repaired. So it’s never a bad time for a brief refresher:

Here are five things every golfer should know about repairing ball marks:

1. The proper technique for ball mark repair is easy and fast. Insert the ball mark
repair tool behind the
ball mark and gently pull
the top of the tool toward
the
center. Continue work-
ing around the ball mark,
pulling the surrounding
turf in toward the center
of the indentation. Avoid
using a lifting or twisting
motion because this can
damage turf roots.
Once you have finished
pulling turf in toward the
center, gently tamp the
area down with your
putter to create a smooth,
firm surface.
2. Unrepaired ball marks
cause lasting problems.
Failing to repair a ball
mark may seem like a
minor oversight, but there
consequences are not
minor. Unrepaired ball
marks can take weeks to
heal, during which time
they may cause balls to
bounce off line. The dam-
age to the putting surface
is also an entry point for
42 | CSGA Links // August 2018
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