Maintenance help wanted

By Mr. James Brabenec (IMCOM)September 6, 2012

FORT SILL, Okla. -- Golfers, consider the question: "What are the main things golfers can do to help keep Fort Sill's golf course looking its best?"

Taking no time to mull the question over, Mark Jung, Fort Sill Golf Course greens manager, replied emphatically.

"Repair their ball marks on the putting greens," he said.

"Greens are the first priority on a golf course, even though they comprise the smallest area of turf we have out here -- 3.7 acres of well manicured grass. A golf course must have good greens, because putting is the most important part of the game," he said.

A golf ball that hits a putting green invariably burrows into the turf creating a tiny crater in the otherwise pristine landscape. Though there is variance with seasons, Jung estimated a repaired ball mark heals in two to three days, whereas most craters that aren't repaired take up to 30 days to again appear like the healthy surrounding turf.

Unfortunately, that injury to the putting surface makes it susceptible to disease, fungus, insects, drought or anything that doesn't promote a healthy putting green.

Jung's second choice for damaging practices on a golf course is poor golf etiquette. Though professional golfers rarely fix their own ball marks and almost never rake a sand bunker, the rules of golf call for golfers to respect the game and do these things along with driving golf carts in a proper manner or location.

"Golf was developed with the idea to leave the course looking better than when you began play," said Jung. "Playing with good etiquette makes the game enjoyable for all and gives golfers the sense of, 'I can't wait to get out and play again.'"