Course Update 6/11/20

As was done in previous years, weekly topdressing of the greens has resumed.  Now that we're in season and mowing greens daily only a small amount of sand is applied weekly.  We refer to this as a sugar coating and it has minimal effect on the mowers.  If a heavier amount of sand is applied it would dull the mowers after the first green and take longer for the sand to be incorporated into the turf canopy.  We normally apply heavy amounts of sand in the spring and fall in conjunction with aerification.  Frequent topdressing of greens in season has become more common as the benefits of applying sand are better understood.  Firmer, smoother, and drier putting surfaces can be expected by golfers, while Superintendents are seeing healthier turf that requires less water and can withstand increased foot traffic and extreme weather events.

Lakes 8 green after a weekly topdressing.

A small area of sand was brushed in by hand to give a better idea of the "sugar coating" reference.

This is a 7" deep rootzone profile from a green.  Our greens are sand based (USGA spec) and the lighter colored column of sand is from a DryJect injection in a previous year.

Here you can see some roots from the turf hanging out the bottom of the profile.  That's pretty good for Poa greens in June!