In the summer edition of the "Echo", I posted a suggestion regarding proper divot removal from the driving range tee area when you are practicing.
Our bermuda turf is beginning to move and grow in from the heat over the last week to ten days. A majority of our turf is ryegrass which we seed on a regular basis and fill in the divots during the first half of the summer. Once we get into July, the summer temperatures make it very difficult to get ryegrass to establish from seed. Some of the slow growth of the bermuda is due to the lack of morning sunshine due to shading from large trees and probably some reduction in the overall bermuda growth because of the cool early season temperatures in which you saw all of our warm season grass struggle. With the slow start of our bermuda, it is going to be very important for our staff to keep the ryegrass alive and happy until the bermuda has come in full in which we will then allow it to transition out.(Allow the ryegrass to die or see a reduction in vitality.)
Here are a couple of examples of proper divot removal and what we would like to avoid
We've asked that divots be made from front to back in your practice area. The picture demonstrates this from left to right. After each divot is removed, the ball should be placed on good turf behind the divot and then struck again. A longer, slender divot is much easier to repair and will heal much quicker. You should then allow an inch or two inches between rows so that there is a small strip of turf between every row.
Below is a view of divots which are in a large group and the area covers between 1-2 feet. This is an area that is very difficult to get enough sand to transition between the removed area and the turfed area. Instead of filling this spot one time with sand and seed, it might take 2 or 3 times to get this area smooth. These are the type of areas on the tee that help to create high and low areas on the tee surface.
I've posted a link to a video that was completed at Des Moines Country by a long time superintendent friend Superintendent Rick Tegtmeier CGCS and their golf director.
It has some good thoughts on divot harvesting from the range.
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