After a wet and cold spring and early summer the weather the past 6 weeks has been darn near perfect for golf. Ample rain and cool nights have been kind gifts from Mother Nature. I wanted to highlight some of the maintenance activities we do to keep the putting greens consistent from week to week through the growing season. 'Growing" is a key word because unlike carpet the grass is always growing or changing and we need to manipulate it to preform as we want it to.
Even at 1/8" height of cut on greens new shoots are growing and old shoots are dying as well as stolons, rhizomes and roots. All this activity combined causes thatch to accumulate in the turf canopy. A little thatch is okay but on putting greens less is best in order to provide smooth firm surfaces that are receptive to a well hit golf ball.
Core aerifying may be the best way to reduce thatch levels but that is disruptive to putting so it is only done once or twice per year. The second best way is to verticut or thatch the greens by cutting the grass vertically by using blades that go 1/8" into the turf canopy. Verticutting is time consuming and messy but leaves the greens putting smooth.
This greensmower has special carbide tipped verticut blades to thatch the greens
leaving quite a mess of debris.
After one mowing most of the debris is removed but some remains.
After blowing off the debris and mowing in two more directions the lines are visible
but the green is ready for play or topdressing with sand.
A light layer of sand also smooths the surface of the green while
diluting the thatch in the turf canopy.
After a topdressing with a sand that meets USGA specifications the green is
rolled and ready for play.
Our other main activity on putting greens is to increase air exchange by opening up the turf canopy without reducing putting quality. The easier it is for air to move in and out of the greens the healthier they will be and the more they will survive the heat of summer.
This spiker attachment on our sand rake can make thin 1" long by 1.5" deep holes for air and water to move through. Although the holes are not deep we can spike all 28 greens in 4 hours.
Our Toro Procore 648 is fitted with 60 needle tines to leave a 1/8" wide x 3.5" deep hole. These holes provide for great air exchange but the process takes 11 hours for all 28 greens.
After mowing and a light topdressing with sand the holes are visible but
do not reduce putting quality.
All these processes along with proper watering, fertilization, fungicide treatments and help from mother nature provide consistent greens through the golf season.
