Fix your crown

The summer of 2010 delivered some extremely challenging weather for golf course superintendents all across the country.  In Wisconsin and parts of the upper Midwest, record rainfall totals, high humidity and lengthy stretches of above average night time temperatures throughout June, July and August provided stresses that superintendents and their turf hadn’t seen since 1995 – albeit Summer 1995 still ranks No. 1.  Water management is crucial in assisting the turf survive these types of environmental stresses. And yes, irrigation scheduling and proper hand watering techniques are the obvious responses for proper water management. And, of course, drainage is always something that becomes obvious as water accumulates in low areas following rain events.
 
But, what if this accumulation of water is occurring on your putting surfaces as a result of slowed or impeded surface drainage? As superintendents, we focus on providing the best root zone medium for the turf on our putting surfaces. Sand topdressing is a major component in maintaining or modifying the root zones and improving putting surfaces. Throughout the growing season, sand is periodically applied to the putting surfaces as part of turf management programs – deep-tine aeration, core aerations and topdressings. If these turf management programs are in place for many years, a buildup of sand can develop on the collars and approaches as a result of the repetitive brushing or dragging of the sand across the putting surfaces. This sand buildup can cause the collars and approaches to become crowned and thus impede the proper drainage off of the putting surface. Since the crowning slows the surface drainage, more water is forced to enter the soil at the front of these greens. The increased soil moisture can raise soil temperatures, reduce air filled pore space, negatively impact turf rooting and induce disease concerns. All of which impact turf health and quality and could lead to potential thinning, which many witnessed this season.

To improve the turf health, crowned areas need to be corrected to assure there’s positive surface drainage off of the green surfaces. I’m sure there are various methods which could be used to correct a crowned collar or approach.
Here are two methods that have worked well and could be considered if you encounter a similar situation. GCI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dustin Riley is superintendent at Oconomowoc Golf Club in Oconomowoc, Wis.