Not every golfer has access to a grass driving range. Thousands, if not millions, if golfers routine practice off artificial turf driving range mats. They're great for range owners because they don't have to worry about replacing grass golfers tear up on a natural turf driving range. However, hitting off padded artificial turf and weird artificial tees isn't a good simulation of what it's like to actually play golf. That means lots of golfer purposefully seek out grass driving ranges to work on their game.
When you go to a grass driving range, you the golfer have some added responsibility. In addition to not hitting golfers with your bad shots (since grass driving ranges don't typically have station dividers), you're also expected to take care of the turf with your divot pattern.
What is a divot pattern in golf
A divot pattern is reflective of how a golfer hits shot on a driving range. Golfers who take care of their grass driving range and show it some respect make a specific divot pattern. Everyone else is a savage and doesn't. So here's the proper way to make a responsible divot pattern on a grass driving range.
- Hit your first shot from a chosen spot somewhere near the front of your driving range station
- After you take your first divot, you'll then place the ball for your next shot on the grass at the very back of that initial divot.
- You'll continue to repeat this, making a straight line of divoted turf until you reach near the back of your driving range station.
- Then you'll start the process over again, picking out a new starting point and making a new divot line.
By doing this, you're making it easier for driving range operators and golf course owners to regrow healthy grass quickly in the spot where you just demolished a large bucket of balls. If you make scattershot divots or make a divot pattern that looks more like one big rectangle, then you're making it more difficult for the grass to grow back quickly. That could mean less room for you at that driving range.
So, do the right thing, take a correct divot pattern, and help everyone who hits on your grass driving range.
