Punching holes in golf course cultural practices

Welcome to the wonderful world of golf course cultural practices. I recently attended a regional educational day hosted by the West Coast, Suncoast and Ridge chapters of the Florida GCSA presented by Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., from the University of Florida. I wanted to talk to a few superintendents about their aerification programs to address the cultural practices theme of this issue.

It’s been my observation in recent years that the number of frequent solid- or “pencil-” tine aerification programs has increased. Using solid tines is a way to aerate putting surfaces with minimal disturbance. I recently talked to two superintendents who haven’t used hollow tines on greens since 2003 and 2008, respectively, after the greens were built to USGA specifications. A third super has backed off and does only one core aerification in the spring. He has done it this way since his greens were rebuilt 12 years ago.

While the reasoning behind pulling cores is to remove excessive organic material and thatch to help smooth the putting surface, I understand that pulling cores removes perhaps 5 percent to 9 percent of the organic layer. Meanwhile, one of the primary justifications for not removing cores is to avoid contaminating the putting surface and root zone by moving nematodes and pathogens around the green.

Another key argument goes: After you have spent big bucks to rebuild greens to USGA specifications and have used proper materials and construction mandates, why would you pull cores that only affect such a small amount of the profile and risk pest and pathogen contamination? The issue of member dissatisfaction with playing conditions is a real issue that has to be addressed at many clubs as well.

Having opened a political can of worms, remember that the world of golf course maintenance is variable depending on your location, operational and financial resources, soil conditions, golf season, etc. Successful superintendents learn to adapt practices to continual changes.

One superintendent told me the practice of pulling cores originated as a means to improve water percolation and drainage of the old native-soil “push-up” greens. Greens profile specifications certainly have changed, but exact adherence to specs often was at the mercy of the construction contractor. My best fossil shark’s tooth collection came from the gravel layer used in the subsurface drains when the “USGA spec” greens were being constructed on Disney’s Osprey Ridge course back in 1991.

Innovations in turf breeding brings new denser, faster-growing cool- and warm-season grasses to the marketplace, which require changing the old methods. Equipment and chemical technology innovations also change the ways we mow, cultivate and treat turfgrass. Recent bio-based products have had a big impact on enhancing the beneficial microbe populations in the soil profile. There is so much to consider, and we know that change can be difficult.

Each of the superintendents I talked to had a regular turf consultant and/or used annual USGA Green Section visits to help monitor and evaluate turf conditions and the programs.

Two of the “experts” totally supported and recommended the use of solid tines as the sole aerification method. The third, even while consistently rating the turf and playing conditions as excellent, keeps recommending pulling cores.

Yet it seems to me tradition is on the side of pulling cores — that “solid-tine only” is a ticking time bomb that will lead to catastrophe.

But if you have sand-based or USGA spec greens and had no adverse readings on regular soil, tissue and moisture testing and, as a bonus you could reduce the seasonal disruption to putting surfaces by aggressive core-pulling and still have happy golfers, would you consider giving it a try?