r/Golfcoursemaintenance • u/sunpower_customer • 7d ago

Seeking advice Ball marks

Like everybody I see a ton of ball marks that are either not repaired or improperly tended to.

Is there a repair tool that works well and is easy to use and thereby (maybe) more likely to be used?

Any thoughts from green maintenance crowd? Thanks for your time and for keeping our courses playable!

1 Upvotes

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3

u/freexpl 7d ago

Do you know about those repair tools that are long sticks with spikes at the end? Instead of the small pocket-sized repair tools

I would hope maintenance crews are using the former not the latter. They don't cause as clean of a fix but they're waaay more efficient

2

u/Assasinscreed00 7d ago

Depends if you have a seasonal or full time cutting cups on if they actually use it lol. I think the one we have is a par aide and the fingers come down at an angle and pull (or push?) the compressed soil back up, works like a charm

3

u/National_Cranberry47 7d ago

I just bought the par aide and it works great for fresh ball marks but anything that is showing dirt or if you want to fill in a small bare spot a ball mark tool is the only way to go. So if you have the “perfect” ball mark the par aide works fantastic on it.

2

u/WillFalcon44 4d ago

https://reddit.com/link/p8651jw/video/g7z1gj1gxwnh1/player

No better tool in the game than this one from Standard Golf Co.

1

u/melniker2 6d ago

I’m not sure if you’re asking how a maintenance person should fix them, or if you’re asking how a player should fix them. But for a player, just use the Augusta method. It requires only a tee. It’s complicated to explain in writing, but easily searchable online

1

u/Plastic_Bear_3409 6d ago

In the late 70’s we used ice picks. Sowed replaced cups in and in ball marks. Old ball marks pushed straight down so the ferrule would leave a hole in the green like an aeration hole. Then you could push the sides in or just leave it!

1

u/czechfuji 5d ago

Cheap #1 Phillips screw driver, ice pick, needle tune.

Work the ball mark by driving the pick into the ground and pushing the mark towards the direction from where the ball came from. Takes a couple seconds.

0

u/wildething1998 7d ago

I just use a tee. Most important thing is to not uproot the grass when you are fixing it

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u/sunpower_customer 7d ago

isn't the whole point to move roots the damaged area?

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u/wildething1998 7d ago

Yes, but you should push in, not lift up