The saying “necessity is the mother of invention” is especially true in golf course maintenance. Unusual challenges and limited resources push superintendents to think creatively and find practical ways to improve course conditions. A recent Course Consulting Service visit offered an example of this at a limited-budget facility with heavy clay native soils. High traffic and the resulting compaction left portions of the bermudagrass rough extremely thin – especially between cart paths and fairways where cart traffic is concentrated, and beneath shallow-rooted trees.
At many golf courses, the first step toward addressing the situation would be to hook up a tractor-mounted aerator and go to town. However, this course only has a walk-behind greens aerator. Using it on these compacted, concrete-like areas would take too much time and put excessive wear on the machine. Instead, the superintendent used a tractor-mounted rototiller to completely turn the areas over. As the soil was tilled, the existing bermudagrass was incorporated back into the surface as sprigs, and bermudagrass seed from an improved variety was added to speed up reestablishment. While unconventional, the approach proved surprisingly effective based on the strong recovery in treated areas compared to thin areas of the rough that had not yet been renovated. This approach also makes it easier to incorporate soil amendments that improve soil structure. Materials such as gypsum or high-calcium limestone can be difficult to incorporate at required rates through aeration alone.
Clear communication with golfers is important because this process creates some temporary inconveniences, including the need to take relief if a ball comes to rest in an area under renovation. However, in this case, the short-term disruption was well worth it given the resulting improvement in turf conditions. This process is not suitable for every golf course, but it is a strong example of resourcefulness and a willingness to think outside the box to improve conditions rather than settle for the status quo.
Central Region Agronomists:
Zach Nicoludis, regional director, Central Region – znicoludis@usga.org
Tom Gould, agronomist – tgould@usga.org
Steve Wilson, agronomist - swilson@usga.org