by Joshua Gonser
There is much more to having a nice green to putt on than simply cutting the grass really short. Imagine what would happen if you decided to cut your lawn to the proper putting length. There would be nothing left but dirt in your yard because the grass would surely die. Greenskeepers must know how to maintain a healthy looking green so as to attract golfers for business. After all, I know from experience that it is not very much fun to putt on a poorly kept surface.
The use of science and technology has greatly benefited the maintenance of golf greens. However, it is still considered an art to be able to mold a golf green into something beautiful. When the sport of golf began in Scotland a few hundred years ago, it was the Scotsman that mastered the sculpting of the putting surface. The talent was passed down from generation to generation. It was once considered that a person was not a skilled greenskeeper unless he or she came from Scotland. Today, science is assisting in the process of keeping up the greens. For example, we have learned how to use fertilizers, and we know what kind of nutrients to add to the soil to help keep the greens healthy and playable. However, sometimes going by the "scientific book'"does not always make for the best playing ideal. Therefore the greenskeeper must use his experience and observation to produce a quality green.
The most important aspect of greens maintenance is mowing. It looks very simple to the untrained eye, but one false move could prevent the green from being in tip top shape. Proper mowing practices include: mowing daily, changing mowing patterns, mowing at the correct height, precise adjustment of mowers, daily cleaning and sharpening of the blades, training of mower operators, and visual inspection of the results. It is important for the greenskeeper to be happy with the the condition of the greens, because if he is happy then the golfers will probobly be happy too.
The greenskeeper must be a good observer when deciding to apply water to the greens. A green that is too wet may be easily damaged by ballmarks, footprints, and even weeds and algae. Although if the green is too dry, then it will have trouble correctly playing a good golf shot. On average, greens receive from .05 to .3 inches of water every day depending on the climate. More water is used during the hot months of the year than the cool months. Two methods that help reduce watering are dethatching and aeration. They both allow better moisture conditons in the soil.
Nobody wants to have weeds growing on the golf course! Weeds are the number one pest problem concerning golf greens. Weeds attack areas of the green where the turf is thin or weak. They also compete with the grass for sunlight, moisture, and nutrients. The proper herbicides need to be selected by the greenskeeper to get rid of weeds. Many weeds closely resemble grass so it may be hard to tell the difference between the species. It is important that the weeds are killed without harming the grass that was meant to be grown.
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