As I mention in the article, there are differing opinions on the "best" way to repair a divot. Below are my thoughts on the best practices for Chantilly National with consideration given to the turfgrass varieties, soil conditions, and maintenance practices in place here.
Replace Divots First
If you play golf, you make divots - it is part of the game. When you make divots, you should repair them - it is part of the etiquette of the game. There are two ways to fix a divot – retrieve and replace the piece of sod or fill it with sand or a sand seed mixture.
Every golf course superintendent likely has a slightly different recommendation as to the proper method of repairing a divot on their golf course, depending on the local weather and the grass types in use. At Chantilly National, the general rule, whenever possible, is to replace the sod by placing it in the same direction as it was removed and tamping it down with your foot or club to ensure solid contact between the turf and soil. Usually, the turf will grow new roots and be fine, but if it does dry out and die, the dead sod will provide a level surface for the surrounding healthy turf to grow over. In the event that the divot has exploded upon impact or has otherwise become unusable, just fill the hole with sand and tamp and level with your foot.
At Chantilly National, we have opted to use straight sand without any seed to fill divots, based upon one of the most desirable traits of our fairway turf. Creeping Bentgrass grows, as its name implies, by creeping or growing laterally along the soil surface. Simply put, the healthy turf around the divot will creep over and fill in the void much faster than a seed can germinate, mature and fill the same space. Additionally, the fertility and watering practices that are necessary for a seedling to grow to maturity is drastically different from that of a mature stand, so often times a seed in a fairway divot that is fortunate enough to germinate rarely receives the moisture and nutrition needed to mature. The best option is to have the divot filled so that the surrounding turf can grow over a level surface.
No one likes to hit a drive down the middle of the fairway only to discover that their ball has come to rest in a divot left by a golfer with an earlier tee time. Whether by replacing the sod or filling with sand, repairing your divot will ensure the same playing conditions for you and your fellow members in the future.
The divots above were created at the same time. The divot in the middle was left unrepaired, on the right filled with sand, and on the left the sod was replaced and tamped down. 11 days later it is clear that replacing the divot is the best option.
Replacing the sod is the preferred method to repair a divot but if you must use sand because the sod has exploded please be sure to smooth and level the sand with your foot. Overfilling a divot can cause damage to mowing equipment and delay the healing process.
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