Frequently Asked Questions
By Grayson Grainger
Superintendent, The Players Club
Our golf course maintenance team fields questions everyday from members and guest. Today, I will attempt to give simple and straight forward answers to the most common questions we hear. Hopefully, this will give a better insight into how and why we do certain things.
- Why can’t our courses look like the course I just saw on TV?
The courses you see on TV for PGA and other tour events always look perfect. Those courses are prepped all year and sometimes many years just to get ready for that one week. They spend millions of dollars in course improvements, applications, equipment and extra staffing. Many times there will be as many as 100 volunteers, in addition to already large staffs, working just on the course for these events. These types of conditions aren’t sustainable for everyday play, but we try to get as close as possible.
- Why can’t tee times start at 6am? The sun is up.
We could start tee times at sunrise, if the course was artificial and no prep, mowing or set up was needed. In reality, before the sun is up we are out changing the holes, moving tees, mowing greens, tees, fairways, blowing debris, and raking bunkers. All that stuff takes time and we need a head start so that you aren’t standing in the fairway waiting on us to finish, that’s no fun.
- What does the sand do that we put in the divots? Is there seed in it?
We do not put seed in the divot sand. The Bermuda grass on the tees, fairways and rough is a hybrid and does not propagate from seed. The Bermuda grass grows very aggressively in the growing season and will cover divots fairly quickly. The sand is there to provide a level surface for the grass to grow over, so you have a smooth surface to hit from once it heals.
- How often are the greens mowed? Holes changed?
Generally, greens are mowed everyday and the holes are changed everyday. There are days here and there that get skipped due to weather. Some days we will skip mowing greens and roll them instead with a speed roller. This is to help smooth the surface for a better ball roll. If needed, usually for special events, we will mow and roll the greens for the best ball roll possible.
- Some bunkers don’t have enough sand in them, can you add more?
We can and do add sand to bunkers if needed. Most of the time the sand has become displaced to a different part of the bunker than were it should be. This can happen from rain washing the sand down, wind blowing the sand around and from regular maintenance. We go through them a couple of times a year and move the sand back to where it should be. They almost never need more sand but if they do, we add some.
- How can I get rid of moles?
It’s not so easy. You can take steps to reduce thatch and limit their food source (grubs and worms). It is illegal to poison moles in North Carolina
- Why do you cut down trees?
As much as we hate to have to cut down trees, for the health of the turf, sometimes we have to. Shade can make it almost impossible to grow healthy turf, especially on the greens where it is mowed at a tenth of an inch. Here is a link to a recent article on this topic in Club News: Effects of Shade on Turfgrass.
- What are the big fans for by the greens?
Those big fans are used to dry, cool and promote air circulation on our Bentgrass greens during the summer months. Poor air circulation in the hot, humid summer days and nights can be kryptonite for Bentgrass. The fans help a lot, as you have probably noticed; the grass near the fans is the best on the green. You can stand by them to cool off while your buddy putts too.
- What are the brown spots on the greens? Is it dead?
The brown spots you see on the greens during the winter months are Bermuda grass that has encroached and contaminated the Bentgrass. This is nearly impossible to stop or cure because of the growing habits and grow seasons of the two grasses. It isn’t as noticeable in the summer when it is all green. There is a more detailed article about this on our golf course maintenance blog. St James Turf Blog
- Why are the greens soft and wet?
In the summer, the high humidity causes the grass to stay wet and not evaporate the excess water. The high heat and humidity also causes the roots of the bentgrass to die and decay which hold moisture and leads to wet, soft conditions. On top of that, we have to mist the greens with water to keep them cool. It’s a tough situation, even if the grass doesn’t need water, that’s the only way to cool it and keep it from completely burning up in one day.
- Why are the greens so hard?
We hear this in the winter, exact opposite of the summer. The dry air keeps the top of the greens dry. The grass isn’t growing very much so it isn’t producing new lush leaf blades. This all leads to lean, firm and fast putting surfaces.
- Why do you put sand on the greens?
Sand is put on the greens in light applications to help dilute thatch and provide a cushion for the crown of the plant from traffic. We call it “topdressing”. Thatch build up can cause the greens to get soft and puffy. Light frequent topdressing is one tool to help provide smooth, firm greens.
- Is it necessary to aerify the greens?
Yes, it is very important to aerify the greens. Aerification relieves compaction, removes thatch, and provides channels for water infiltration and oxygen exchange. Greens should be core aerified two or three times per year to maintain healthy turf, we aerify two times per year. Here is a good article from the USGA on the importance of aerification: USGA aerification article.
- Did you guys go to school for this?
This is my favorite. Yes, we went to school for this. All of the Superintendents and Assistant Superintendents at St James have either an Associates or Bachelors degree in Turf Management, Turf Science, or Agronomy. We have guys from Penn State, NC State, Ohio State, Horry-Georgetown Tech, Brunswick Community College and a couple of others. We are also active in continuing education through the universities, the Golf Course Superintendents Association and Troon Golf.
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