Optimizing putting green performance often comes down to the smallest details – and some of the most persistent challenges lie at the edges. While the center of the green may be performing well, perimeter areas often tell a different story, exhibiting signs of turf thinning, mechanical stress and erratic moisture levels. These edge concerns are not just visual; they are indicators of deeper, systemic challenges tied to growing environment, construction nuances and daily maintenance practices. Addressing these challenges requires technical solutions and communication with golfers and key stakeholders to help everyone understand the science behind the symptoms and the efforts underway to improve turf health and playability across the entire green. Let’s explore some common edge issues and potential solutions.
Moisture Management
Putting green edges are especially prone to uneven moisture levels – some areas dry out too quickly while others stay overly wet. Wind exposure and limited irrigation coverage often leave high edges dry, especially where slopes accelerate runoff. At the same time, low-lying edges or areas blocked by collar dams can trap excess water, creating anaerobic conditions and promoting disease and root decline.
Solutions: To address moisture extremes, improving irrigation coverage with perimeter head adjustments or changing nozzle packages ensures more-uniform water distribution. Hand watering is also an essential tool for managing dry areas along putting green edges. For wet areas, breaking down collar dams through targeted grading or localized aeration can restore surface flow. Improving internal drainage or raising low areas slightly may also help reduce chronic saturation.
Mechanical and Traffic Stress
The perimeter of the green endures stress from both maintenance equipment and golfer traffic. Repeated turning by mowers and rollers in the same areas leads to soil compaction and bruising of the turf. Foot traffic around hole locations near putting green edges and along common exit paths can further degrade turf quality. Scalping is also more common on perimeter slopes or where the surface is uneven.
Solutions: Reduce mechanical damage by switching to walk mowing in sensitive areas like cleanup passes to eliminate the compaction, wheel marks or turning stress caused by heavier triplex mowers. Alternating mowing patterns and lifting cutting units earlier when exiting the green helps prevent wear at the edge. In certain conditions, skipping mowing on perimeter areas for a day or two – particularly when turf is under stress – can aid recovery. Minimizing roller use on edges or reducing rolling frequency can also alleviate compaction.
Shade and Airflow Issues
Perimeter turf often exists in a different microclimate than the center of the green. Trees, shrubs and landforms may block more sunlight on the edges of the green than in the middle. These shaded zones not only receive less light but often suffer from restricted airflow, which leads to wetter conditions and slower drying after rainfall or irrigation. These conditions reduce photosynthetic efficiency and slow greenup in the spring and recovery after stress.
Solutions: Improving sunlight and air movement around greens is key. Strategic tree pruning or removal, especially to the east and south, can allow light to reach the green’s edge during the critical growing hours. Creating or maintaining airflow corridors by thinning out surrounding vegetation can reduce disease pressure and promote better growing conditions on the green’s perimeter.
Construction and Design Shortfalls
In many cases, persistent edge issues trace back to construction flaws or aging infrastructure. During greens construction or renovation, edge zones sometimes receive less-precise shaping or inconsistent layers of material. Variations in rootzone depth, poor surface grading, improper construction methods, settling and inadequate subsurface drainage can all cause edges to behave differently from the rest of the green. These inconsistencies can lead to moisture retention in some areas, drought stress in others, and weak root development overall.
Solutions: Not all construction-related issues require major renovation. In many cases, consistent performance along the edges can be achieved through a combination of basic maintenance and cultural adjustments. Start with using light, frequent topdressing to reduce scalping and promote a smoother transition between the green and collar. If rootzone inconsistencies are suspected, localized aeration with solid tines can help improve drainage and root development. Sometimes, the green was built properly but the mowing line has migrated away from the intended edge. Probing putting green perimeters can help you identify and address this issue.
Additional Considerations
Targeted fertility is an effective strategy for promoting healthier turf at the green’s edge. Applying additional nutrients to these areas can stimulate recovery and improve overall density. Caution is encouraged when applying plant growth regulators (PGRs) because stressed turf may react poorly. Reducing or skipping PGR applications during decline helps prevent further suppression and aids recovery. Disease pressure is another critical concern in shaded or poorly drained edge zones, which tend to stay wetter and are more prone to pathogens. Preventative fungicide applications during warm, humid weather can help minimize outbreaks, while timely curative treatments combined with supportive cultural practices are essential for effective disease management.
In summary, putting green edges represent one of the most challenging areas to manage. By recognizing the unique vulnerabilities of green perimeters and applying the solutions above, superintendents can improve edge performance and promote more-consistent putting surfaces.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Jordan Booth, Ph.D., senior director, USGA Course Consulting Service – jbooth@usga.org
Chris Hartwiger, director, Agronomy – chartwiger@usga.org
Chris Neff, agronomist – cneff@usga.org
Mitch Leininger, agronomist - mleininger@usga.org