As another golf season begins, I thought it would be a good time review some basic Golf Course care. I often get asked, "What is the best way to repair divots, and when to replace divots?" At Wildwood, if you can find a divot, it should be replaced; if you cannot find the divot on a tee, use the sand and seed mix. Once the divot is replaced, lightly step it down, and within a few days, the divot will recover. Another area where the membership can help care for their golf course is ball marks. The proper way to repair a ball mark is to push the turf into the middle of the ball mark using a proper ball mark repair tool. Once the ball mark is repaired tap the area down with the back of your putter. When repairing a ball mark, take care not to lift or tear the turf, this damages the turf and slows recovery. A properly repaired ball mark can recover in 2-3 days. An area often overlooked when discussing care of the golf course is bunkers. Golfers can help extend the life of the bunkers, avoid damage to edges, and speed up play by applying a few simple rules when you find yourself in a bunker. Always enter and exit the bunker from the low side to avoid damaging the edges or slipping, after hitting your ball, smooth the sand with a rake rather than your foot or a club, and replace the rake outside the bunker when finished.