As a superintendent, this is one of the most satisfying things to look at- a pile of aerification plugs from the front 9 greens. This is the reason we aerify...to remove this material and create channels for sand that allow water and air to move through the root zone. If we ignored this accumulation of organic matter under the greens, our USGA spec greens would fail. So, while aerification isn't a popular practice amongst golfers, without it, the greens would be wet, soft and spongy and ultimately wouldn't survive. More pesticides are required on greens that aren't properly maintained (adequate aerification) because the wet surfaces create a breeding ground for a number of pathogens.