Spike Marks

Fourcandle

During my round at the weekend, I was unfortunate enough to have at least three putts badly affected by hitting spike marks close to the hole. Very annoying. Just wondering if there are many people still wearing metal spiked shoes as I don't believe the modern soft spikes can cause these marks.

AGC

Modern spikes can do as much damage, especially on softer greens. Some of the soft spikes grip in and grab the surface and can cause quite a large mark.

Fourcandle

True enough, the ones I encountered though were clearly made by the old spikes and were only a few inches from the hole which made it worse!

stockdam

At this time of year most greens are not good enough for you to notice spike-marks - you must have been playing on very good greens.

People not repairing their pitch-marks is a bigger problem (although you can repair them yourself before putting).

Whyner

More like people dragging their feet. Easy, shoot them.

Dr.Silly

stockdam wrote: »

People not repairing their pitch-marks is a bigger problem (although you can repair them yourself before putting).

Only with the agreement from your playing partners.

Almaviva

Dr.Silly wrote: »

Only with the agreement from your playing partners.

Incorrect. You do not need agreement from your playing partners to repair a pitch mark.

You should always repair them.

Dr_Colossus

What's the reasoning for not being able to repair spike marks in terms of patting them down as opposed to pitch marks? You can brush off sand and other obstacles so surely it can't be in terms of improving lie. Seems like one of those rules that warrant review.

Almaviva

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

What's the reasoning for not being able to repair spike marks in terms of patting them down as opposed to pitch marks? You can brush off sand and other obstacles so surely it can't be in terms of improving lie. Seems like one of those rules that warrant review.

http://www.barryrhodes.com/2010/06/spike-marks-rule-16-1c.html

Fourcandle

I think there is a general lack of consideration in every club and it is probably a very small minority that ruin it for the rest by not repairing pitch marks and spike marks, replacing divots, raking bunkers etc.

My usual playing partner and I have an agreement that, where practical, when one plays the other sorts out the divots, looks out for marks etc. Very simple and helps keep us moving.

bustercherry

Fourcandle wrote: »

I think there is a general lack of consideration in every club and it is probably a very small minority that ruin it for the rest by not repairing pitch marks and spike marks, replacing divots, raking bunkers etc.

My usual playing partner and I have an agreement that, where practical, when one plays the other sorts out the divots, looks out for marks etc. Very simple and helps keep us moving.

I just fix my own and let my playing partners worry about their shots. Makes no difference to the pace of play.

charlieIRL

stockdam wrote: »

People not repairing their pitch-marks is a bigger problem (although you can repair them yourself before putting).

myself and Keano played the Smurfit course in the K Club there recently, fantastic place but the greens were very bad with players not repairing picth marks. Pity really.

redhill

charlieIRL wrote: »

myself and Keano played the Smurfit course in the K Club there recently, fantastic place but the greens were very bad with players not repairing picth marks. Pity really.

tha'ts one disadvantage of playing a good course which attracts a lot of green fee's, as its not their course they don't give a toss about them, or maybe even pure ignorance

Fourcandle

bustercherry wrote: »

I just fix my own and let my playing partners worry about their shots. Makes no difference to the pace of play.

Fair enough. My point is that if you play with someone who, for whatever reason (not bothered/forgets/doesn't know better) doesn't replace divots, if someone in the group hands/throws back the divot, then it gets done regardless. Everyone should take responsibility for the damage they do but unfortunately some don't. As for pace of play, my playing partner isn't exactly speedy gonzales so him not having to walk forward and back a few times on most holes does speed up the play over the round!

Fourcandle

redhill wrote: »

tha'ts one disadvantage of playing a good course which attracts a lot of green fee's, as its not their course they don't give a toss about them, or maybe even pure ignorance

That's most likely true but I've seen it with members too.