When I checked in at the pro shop at The Ridges Golf Club on Sunday, I grabbed a divot repair tool from a bowl on the counter.  I was impressed at the enlightened offer at The Ridges of free repair tools.  But after a
They repaired the ball marks with all the finesse of ditch diggers on a deadline.

round on the interesting and sporty golf course, it is clear free tools are not enough.  The Ridges and many other clubs that pass out repair tools also need to hand out instruction sheets for the proper repair of pitch marks on greens.
    The slick, nicely cut greens at The Ridges were a pockmarked mess.  Where members had deigned to bend over and repair their ball marks, they had clearly gone about the job with all the finesse of ditch diggers on a deadline.  On some putting surfaces, no fewer than 25 little brown spots marred the otherwise nice surfaces.
    So, as a community service to The Ridges golfers and anyone else in need of a lesson in divot repair, here is the simple way to do the job properly:

1.    If the mark is fairly deep and soft, use your thumb to push back the grassy protuberance.  That should cover about half the hole.
2.    Insert the ball repair tool into an outer edge of the ball divot.  Angle the prongs at 45 degrees.  Gently push up and forward to work the turf back into position.
3.    Do not dig the tool into the green as this will pull out the roots and kill the grass.
4.    Sink your putt.

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There are plenty of blind shots at Laurel Ridge Golf Club but none as dangerous as the one around the corner on the cart path to the 12th tee box.

    Today, I was barreling up the cart path to the 12th hole at Laurel Ridge Golf Club in Waynesville, NC.  The tee box was at least five or six stories above the 11th green, and I had to floor it to keep my momentum going.  The path was just wide enough for two carts side by side, and as I rounded the first hard curve, another cart came speeding downhill right at me.  He swerved and, luckily I turned slightly the other way.
    I gave him a dirty look, and he gave me one.  It turns out I deserved it.  As I rounded the next bend, I noticed that arrows on the path were backwards, with traffic flow decidedly British.  I don't know what evil genius decided to switch gears, but it almost stripped my gears...literally.  Look for my review of Laurel Ridge in the coming days.