Ohio State University Golf Club

Golf Course Maintenance Update

Preferred Practice Divot Pattern

Dennis Bowsher, CGCS

The focus of this golf course update concerns the use of our Driving Range Practice Tee.  Just as we, the club management, have changed our policy to restrict use of the Tee for our members and their daily guests only, I am asking our members to change their practice habits when hitting balls. Our goal with this request is to minimize the turf damage done to the Tee and improve the quality of the grass surface throughout the season. The use of this Tee has steadily increased over the past several years and the rate of turf growth and recovery has not been able to keep pace with the volume of use.  We have a plan in place now to aid in the recovery that has had proven results.   

Before I discuss the new practice, I would like to give you a quick lesson in turfgrass growth.  Our Tee has creeping bentgrass as its surface, just like our tees, greens and fairways.  This grass is considered to be “creeping” because it has rhizomes, which are underground stems that grow laterally and produce new plants, and stolons, which are very similar to rhizomes but they grow mostly at the surface. This growth habit lends itself to grow across a divot from both sides.  Bentgrass seed will usually germinate in 10 to 21 days, depending on favorable weather.  This information is important to know to understand how recovery occurs on the Tee.

Our recommended Preferred Divot Pattern is to place each ball directly behind the first divot that is made on the Tee. With this method of practice, you will create a line of continuous divots. When the line gets to be 6 feet or so, start a new line, about 1 club head away and parallel to the first.  Implement this method as opposed to a group of scattered divots or creating a large patch that is void of all turf.  The single line of divots takes up less space on the Tee and allows for quicker turfgrass recovery.  When trying to get recovery on the large patches, the lateral growth of the existing bentgrass plants cannot grow together, the seed will take up to three weeks to germinate and at least 6 weeks to fill in to a playable surface.

There are now signs at the ball machine and behind the ropes on the Tee that show the pattern we are requesting. I have also made 2 short videos to explain the preferred method.  If you have any questions, please ask our professional staff for guidance and assistance. I look forward to your cooperation .