Cultivation practices including spiking, coring, brushing, verticutting and topdressing affect putting quality more than they affect turf quality. Most of these practices are unique to putting green maintenance since they affect ball roll and ball holding. Spiking, coring and topdressing help soften the green and improve ball holding. Brushing, verticutting and topdressing reduce graininess and Read More

Fertilization practices affect growth rate, density, color, drought tolerance, disease activity and putting quality of golf greens. Ideally, nutrients should be available to the grass in amounts needed to maintain growth and color without increasing susceptibility to drought and disease and without increasing grain and thatch. Realistically, the superintendent should maintain adequate levels of phosphorous, Read More

Watering practices have nearly as much effect on playability of greens as mowing practices. Wet greens provide poor playing conditions and lead to infestations of weeds and algae. Ball marks and foot printing are also problems on wet greens. On the other hand, dry greens are usually very hard and don’t hold a well-played golf Read More

Mowing Avoid mowing too closely (scalping). Grass that is too short uses more water. Adjust mowers so the grass height is maintained within the ranges listed below: Hybrid Bermuda                   ½ – 1 inch Common Bermuda             1 ½ – 2 inches Perennial rye                        1 ½ – 2 inches Your mowing schedule also is Read More