Playing on sand greens, also known as "scrapes," requires a slightly different approach than playing on traditional grass greens. The key is to create a smooth putting surface before you putt. Here's how:
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Mark Your Ball: Before lifting your ball, carefully draw a line in the sand, level with the front of your ball. This line serves as your marker.
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Use the "Smoother" (Scraper): The course will provide a tool, often called a "smoother" or "scraper," specifically designed for this purpose.
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Create Your Putting Line: Use the smoother to scrape a smooth, consistent path from the line you marked to the hole. It's crucial to continue the scrape past the hole to maintain even pressure and avoid creating a lip or unevenness.
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Direction Matters: You are typically allowed two scrapes per putt. These scrapes should be in opposite directions to ensure a truly smooth surface.
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Putting: Once you've prepared your putting surface, proceed with your putt as you normally would. Remember to repair your scrape after putting so other golfers have a smooth surface.
In summary, playing sand greens involves marking your ball, using a provided tool to create a smooth putting surface by scraping from your mark to (and past) the hole, and then putting as usual. The ability to scrape in two different directions is common.
