Divots and Divot Recovery

Divots, unfortunately, are an unavoidable result of members and their guests enjoying the Club.  Divots will be present at all times, and repairing those divots is a constant effort of the membership, the staff and ..... the golf course!  Yes, the golf course plays the most important role in the recovery of divots.  Once a divot is taken we ask members to replace the divot if it is still in tact.  The Grounds staff then fills any divots that are not able to be replaced.  Once the divot has been replace or filled, the area has been prepped for a full recovery.  It is up the the course at that point to heal the grass.  This picture, and these 4 divots, were take on October 3, 2013.

Immediately after these divots were take, they were repaired using 3 different methods.  One was left unrepaired.  I will refer to the divots from left to right as 1-4.  Far left is 1, far right is 4.
-Divot 1 is repaired with soil only.
-Divot 2 is not repaired.
-Divot 3 is replaced.
-Divot 4 is repaired with seed and soil.
Some notes after they have been repaired.  The replaced divot (3) is barely noticeable.  Divots 1 and 4, though they have been repaired still look like divots.  This is why we ask golfers to always replace their divot if possible.  It will heal quicker, and looks better after it has been replaced.  Now that all (except 2) have been repaired, we have to rely on the course to heal itself.

Here is a follow up picture of these divots taken today.  7 months after they were repaired!  Though divots 1 and 4 have been repaired, they are still visible, because the last piece of the puzzle - the course healing itself - has not had an opportunity to happen.  Any divots that were on the course at the beginning of October or have been taken since the beginning of October have not had the opportunity for the course to heal them.  The weather has been too cold.  Unfortunately, the best time for divots to heal is also the best time for golf on the course.  This is why there will always be divots on the course to heal.

We will be adding divot bottles in the fairways starting this weekend for members to fill divots if they are not able to replace it.  Now that the warmer temperatures are beginning to arrive, and the course will be able to do its part in the recovery process, all three sources of recovery will be in place for the golf season.

And remember, FIND IT! FIX IT! IT RECOVERS QUICKER!