Golf Course Putting Green Organic Matter Recycling Study

Abstract

<p>Putting greens on golf courses are the highest maintenance turfgrass that exists. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) often is used for cool-season putting greens due to the ability of the turfgrass to tolerate a low mowing height, and provide a high density turf. Managing organic matter is necessary to maintain a high quality turfgrass at 0.125 in. height of cut and one that will drain quickly after a rain to resume play. Traditionally organic matter has been managed by a three-step process: hollow tine aerification, removal of the cores from the surface, and applications of new sand to the putting green. However, many superintendents can’t afford to buy new sand every year. Wiedenmann Turf Equipment Company offers a machine that will remove much of the organic matter from aerification cores by spinning them over screens and allowing the sand particles to fall back to the putting green surface, while collecting the organic matter in a basket for removal. The objective of this project was to compare if putting green surfaces subjected to core recycling would perform as well as traditional organic matter removal practices. This is the first year of a two-year study.</p>