Basket Maintenance

Went to play league today at a different course in town than the one I usually play at. There were at least two baskets that were crooked (I was able to straighten them both a bit by hand). Another basket was very low. We generally take care of the baskets pretty well at the course where I usually play. However, I have seen this before and sometimes I will even see crooked baskets in a tournament video. Baskets should be a maintenance priority especially in a tournamnet setting. It simply isn't all that hard to take a level, dig a bit and level up a basket. That low basket today was especially annoying since you had to literally shoot down into it (the top of the basket didn't even come up to my shoulders).

 

Anyone else seen evidence of basket neglect? It should be a priority in our sport since that is the target we are aiming at. I was pretty surprised at the lack of maintenance at the  course we played today. There were a lot of pin positions that looked like they aren't even in use simply because they got filled with leaves and sticks.

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[Eric Day]

If that parks department is anything like the one at my course, we are not allowed to do much of anything. We have to wait until they can do it.... We have one basket that got hit by a tree and folded the pole about a foot from the ground, they just pushed it over until the basket was upright again, so its in the ground almost side ways. Then same basket got hit by a branch and bent the back the otherway, they pushed back to normal almost and it has an S shaped pole now lol. So it could just be the parks department being lazy about it. Also if its on a course where there are lawn mowers, and city workers, you get baskets ran into from time to time.

 

From the sounds of it, it doesn't get played much either so there isn't anyone telling the park that it needs to be fixed.

[Jim Coonradt]

No, we do all of our own maintenance. The parks department really is not involved.

 

I am definitely going to go out there soon and raise the one basket up to the proper level. It is absolutely ridiculous having to throw down into a basket. 

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[Eric Day]

You could always take it as an extra challenge, I've not seen alot of lowered baskets, only one I can think of was in a natural drop off. But I have seen many raised baskets or hanging baskets.

[Jim Coonradt]

I for one believe that baskets should be straight and at the correct height. Our target is pretty much the most important part of our game. Having a basket that is too low simply because someone is too lazy to do anything about it is a bit pathetic. I may even go down there today and take care of it. It shouldn't take me any more than ten minutes to do.  I have done the same thing more than a few times at our other course.

 

No knock against hanging baskets or anything. That isn't what we have here. In a tournament it should be a requirement that baskets are straight before the tournament begins. No excuse for crooked baskets in a tourney. 

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[Pete Maher]

I totally agree with you Jim it bothers me when baskets aren't at the correct height too. One of the local courses kind of near me has a practice basket sunken into the ground and I cant even warm up on it because its not the right height and messes me all up. Also, In my experiences with hanging baskets they are still at the correct height for a basket even though they are hanging so its not really a problem. Baskets that are up on hills, on raised platforms or down on the side of a hill or natural drop off (which is almost all the holes at my home course lol) should still be the same height as ones that are put in flat ground.