Golf courses in the northern part of our country have finally entered prime growing season. Soil and air temperatures have left winter far behind and turfgrass growth is in high gear. During these next four or five months, superintendents must juggle countless variables in their quest to provide exceptional playing conditions now and in the future. One of the key variables in producing high-quality putting surfaces is sand topdressing.
A consistent refrain from recent Course Consulting Service visits is that the greens could benefit from additional sand topdressing. This is an easy recommendation for us to make. Think of the following list of maladies that can be overcome with a good sand topdressing program:
- Elevated soil moisture levels
- Increased disease pressure
- Restricted water movement, oxygen diffusion and root development
- Soft and spongy surfaces that are prone to scalping, footprints, tire tracking and deep ball marks
Who wouldn’t want to have these issues in the rearview mirror? The difficulty lies in consistently executing an effective topdressing program. Scheduling regular topdressing of any playing surface at a golf course can be difficult when you factor in tournaments, special outings, weather, staff or equipment issues, golfer feedback or even sand availability. While these issues pose legitimate challenges to the superintendent, the payoff for staying diligent with sand topdressing is worth it. Firm, smooth and healthy greens should be priority number one for any golf course. Foregoing regular sand topdressing on greens is a quick way to take a step backward in course conditioning.
So, despite the numerous forces that conspire against topdressing greens, commitment and diligence to this practice will be rewarded with great putting surfaces. Stick with it.
For further reading on topdressing programs, check out the following USGA Green Section resources:
"Light and Frequent Topdressing Programs”
“Aeration and Topdressing for the 21st Century”
"Managing Soil Organic Matter”
Want course-specific topdressing recommendations? During a Course Consulting Service visit, USGA agronomists can work with you to develop a sound program and also help with selecting a compatible and cost-effective sand.
West Region Agronomists:
Brian Whitlark, senior consulting agronomist – bwhitlark@usga.org
Cory Isom, agronomist – cisom@usga.org