Repairing ball marks is something we should always be doing.
Unfortunately, maintenance staffs often spend a significant amount of time each year fixing unrepaired ball marks so they don’t negatively impact playability and aesthetics for weeks to come.
The last thing maintenance teams need to be doing is a job we can easily do ourselves. If you repair your ball mark and a couple of others with the proper technique, you’ll be doing everyone a favour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ6CegCUPfw&list=PLnU5qUEfww3cOAU8iTQTUpF5S4UqhXJka&index=29&t=0s
The ultimate goal of raking a bunker is simple – use whatever rake is provided to produce as smooth of a surface as possible.
This includes raking your footprints and whatever disruption was caused by the golf shot.
Click on the link or picture for a very short video how to rake a bunker.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1560556071617499138
Properly repairing divots helps the turf recover as quickly as possible and helps to restore a smooth playing surface.
*A solid patch of turf, with the roots still intact, can be put back where it was and recover nicely. *
Laying down the divot is only the first step.
From there, you need to take an actual step: Press down gently on the divot with your foot.
This will level off the turf and help the roots make healthy contact with the soil.
An unrepaired divot can take months to heal, and it may never fully recover.
Repairing divots maintains good playability for your fellow golfers and sets a positive example of caring for the course.