Ballmarks - Setting the Example

Did anyone see either of the hole-in-ones shown below at this year's Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship?  If so, did anyone notice the etiquette displayed by both these professionals when going to retrieve their balls.  Many of us would easily lose site of the need to locate our ballmarks and properly fix them and might find ourselves rushing to retrieve our glorious hole-in-one ball. Not so with Rory McIlory and Miguel Jimenez.  As the television coverage clearly showed they both calmly strolled towards the green and when they approached the hole the first thing each of them did was to seek out their ballmark and repair it for the players following behind them. 

Miguel Jimenez Repairing Ballmark after Hole-in-One

It's pretty clear tour players understand the importance of properly repairing their ballmark every time. But repairing ballmarks is not only for the professionals.  All golfers should understand the importance of seeking out their ballmarks each and every time they walk onto the green.  Repairing your ballmark is Course Etiquette 101 and it stands to benefit all those who follow behind you.  A properly repaired ballmark leaves a smooth surface and heals in much less time than one that has been left unrepaired.  As we approach the robust playing season of 2015 let's all make it a goal and a priority to fix our ballmarks (and one more) each and every time we walk onto the green.