Today is our bi-weekly (every 10 to 14 days) sand topdressing application to greens, tees and approaches. The rain storms in the afternoon help work the sand into the turfgrass canopy. Once again, this practice is one of the most important cultural practices we do to ensure the long term health of our putting greens. According to the USGA, sand topdressing is one of the more misunderstood practices among golfers, who feel that sanded greens play poorly. Understanding the benefits of sand topdressing may help reduce golfer frustration when they see the “silver sheen” on greens during their next round of golf. The benefits of topdressing include:
- Improved Smoothness – Voids exist within the turf canopy between turfgrass leaves and stems, causing inconsistent ball roll. Sand topdressing helps fill these voids to provide smoother and truer putts.
- Thatch Dilution – The layer of organic debris, stems, crowns and roots in the upper root zone – i.e., thatch – can become concentrated and encourage mower scalping and localized dry spots. Thatch should be diluted with sand through practices like verticutting and sand topdressing to maintain good turf quality.
- Improved Turf Recovery – Occasional turf thinning can occur on putting greens. Sand helps cushion leaf tips and crowns and reduces algae.
- Increased Firmness – Turf produces organic matter in the upper root zone that creates soft, spongy playing conditions. Regular sand topdressing, along with core aeration, improves surface firmness and resiliency.
- Improved Root zone – Sand drains well and resists soil compaction. The accumulation of sand from multiple topdressings over many years can improve soil physical properties.