golf course maintenance term where holes are punched into greens

by Julio Stokes Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago 10 min read

Aerating: A maintenance process by which very small holes are punched into the grass on the golf course to provide growing room for grass roots and to help keep grass healthy. Albatross: A score of three less than par. You'll also hear “double eagle.” It's the same thing as an albatross.Jun 8, 2020

Why do golf courses punch the Greens before tournaments?

Golf courses are often judged based on how they look and are designed, but just below the surface of high-quality putting greens is a secret to maintaining the rich, lush grass: aeration. Greens that have been aerated are known as punched greens because the aeration process involves using a machine that punches down into the putting surface and pulls up a small core …

What is the finishing hole on a golf course?

Aerated Greens. Most golf courses shut down for the day of aeration because the process takes some time and must be done correctly to maximize the effectiveness. An aerating machine is basically driven around the greens, and it punches holes about every two inches. Each of the holes is about one-half inch deep.

What is involved in golf course maintenance?

Sep 14, 2019 · Golf course maintenance refers to maintenance activities done to keep course resources in good working condition. It includes repairing and replacing club assets, mowing and chemically treating turf, eliminating ball marks, improving playing conditions, and more.

What does ground under repair mean in golf?

The Greens are the main criterion for assessing course quality and these should. provide a smooth putting surface; consist of a uniform, dense coverage of desirable grasses; be free of weeds and pests; be free draining; and. be firm. Tees should. be free from divot holes (with divots being repaired regularly);

What is it called when they put holes in the greens?

Think of golf course aeration as preventive maintenance: It's the (typically) annual process of punching little holes into greens (and sometimes fairways) that opens up growing room for grass roots and helps keep the turfgrass healthy. (It's also called "aerification.")May 23, 2018

What does punching golf greens mean?

Punching the green (also called "coring" the green) counters the tendency of the soil on putting greens to compact over time and circulates air down into the soil and to the grassroots, helping keep the turfgrass healthy. Punching the greens, therefore, is a maintenance practice at golf courses.Jan 21, 2019

What does Aerification do to greens?

Golf courses aerate their greens for four major reasons, all of which affect turf health. Aeration is usually performed in order to remove organic matter, decompress the soil, improve the drainage of the soil, and help promote root growth.Nov 28, 2017

How long do aeration holes last?

It can take up to a couple of weeks for the greens to recover, but these procedures are critical for the long-term health of the greens. This is typically done one to three times a year, depending on the course, the type of greens, and in what part of the country they are located.Sep 12, 2018

Why do golf greens have holes?

A hollow tine is a round tube that penetrates into the ground, collects a core and when the tube penetrates the ground again, the core is pushed out through a hole. This allows greenkeepers to remove material, such as poor quality soil and thatch and allows water and air into the root zone.Feb 11, 2019

Why do golf courses aerate greens?

We aerate to improve, not annoy

Putting greens receive more traffic than any other playing surface. The aeration process helps relieve the compaction caused by all that traffic. It also helps create a firm, smooth putting surface by controlling thatch and promoting healthy turf roots.Sep 7, 2017

What is the difference between aeration and Aerification?

As adjectives the difference between aerated and aerified

is that aerated is supplied or infused with air or oxygen while aerified is converted into gas.

How long does it take for greens to recover from Aerification?

two weeks

It usually takes a golf course two weeks to recovery from properly done golf course aeration. Once the grass grows back through the aeration holes to a healthy level, the mowers and rollers come back, typically with greens as good as new.Aug 29, 2016

Should you overseed after aeration?

Since warm season grasses spread via rhizomes or stolons, there really isn't a need to overseed after aeration. Their spreading nature fills in the voids left behind from core aeration.Aug 14, 2019

How do you use punched greens?

To compensate, golfers should target past the hole, ensuring a firm putt. “You want to make sure that you try to hit the ball at least 3 feet past the hole,” Mack said. “Everything must be struck firmly, because as you know the ball dribbles toward the hole (on aerated greens).”Jul 23, 2019

Can you walk on lawn after aeration?

You can't walk on the lawn after aeration because the seeds and fertilizer need time to settle, and the soil could get too compact. Walking or mowing on a freshly-aerated lawn can prevent the seeds from sprouting and the soil from getting enough oxygen and nutrients.

Why do you aerate the greens on a golf course?

Aerating greens is a necessary component to golf course maintenance. You likely change the oil in your vehicle to ensure it performs at an optimum level, so don’t stress when the greens have been punched because doing so will keep them healthy for a long time.

Why do golf courses shut down?

How often do you have to putt on aerated greens?

The downside to this is that at least once a year, the greens have to be punched. This is also called aeration. Few things are more frustrating to golfers than having to putt on aerated greens, but like many situations in life, good things come to those who are patient and understanding.

What happens if you don't aerate your greens?

The true enjoyment comes once the greens have finally returned to greatness. If aerating is not done, greens will die. They will lose their healthy look and become like regular grass. Golf courses managers would then have to spend countless amounts of money and work to restore the greens to a playable level.

Why do golf courses need aeration?

A lawn undergoes mowing and aeration to help the grass come back stronger. Golf course superintendents must take it upon themselves to keep the course and the greens in the best possible condition throughout the year. The downside to this is that at least once a year, the greens have to be punched. This is also called aeration.

How long does it take for a green to improve after putting?

The punched greens will typically improve each day, but you can expect to have some difficult putting surfaces for at least the first three days after the process is finished.

How many putts can you put on a golf course?

Some courses do offer a three-putt maximum when the greens are punched, but each managing team makes that decision.

What is golf course maintenance?

Golf course maintenance refers to maintenance activities done to keep course resources in good working condition. It includes repairing and replacing club assets, mowing and chemically treating turf, eliminating ball marks, improving playing conditions, and more. Behind the scenes of every clubhouse are workers inspecting irrigation systems, checking the water quality, and maintaining golf carts.

What is the best way to maintain a golf course?

Predictable slope, speed, and putting surfaces are crucial to good golf games. Golf superintendents should assign a staff member to inspect each green with a “ball mark repair tool” to remove all visible marks. This is one of the simplest golf course maintenance activities guaranteed to keep members happy.

What are the factors that affect putting green perception?

For this reason, golf superintendents must prioritize maintenance routines for “The Big Three.” According to USGA, the recipe for putting green perception includes three factors: Firm, Slope, and Speed.

What causes turf loss in golf courses?

As reported by Golf Course Industry Magazine, a critical issue faced by golf facilities in 2018 was “turf loss due to pests.” The most common culprits of unsightly turf loss include weeds, insects, and funguses. Albrecht Koppenhofer, a specialist in turfgrass insect pest management in Rutgers’ Department of Entomology, advises golf superintendents to follow a preventative approach to pest management.

Why do golf courses need periodic chemical treatments?

Performing periodic chemical treatments reduces the likelihood of costly turf scarring caused by pests. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for budgetary constraints to prevent golf course superintendents from implementing ideal turf maintenance. The experts at the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation recommend maximizing maintenance budgets by:

Why do people visit golf courses?

Most players visit golf courses to improve their game and have fun. However, they can also contribute to the golf course’s maintenance for the good of all.

Why do maintenance teams have to repair divots?

Maintenance teams must routinely repair them because damaged turf makes players unhappy. Not only are divots ugly, but they can ruin an otherwise good game! The most critical divots to fix are those located in the primary field of play: the tee box, the fairway, and the greens.

What is a water hole in golf?

Water Hole: Any hole on a golf course that includes a water hazard on or alongside the hole (in a position where the water can come into play).

What is the name of the grass that runs through a golf course?

Bermudagrasses have thicker blades than bentgrass, resulting in a grainier appearance to putting surfaces. Burn: A creek, stream or small river that runs through a golf course; the term is most common in Great Britain.

What is an alternate fairway?

Alternate Fairway: A second fairway on the same golf hole that gives golfers the option to play to one fairway or the other.

What is a cape hole?

Cape Hole: Today the term typically refers to a hole on a golf course that plays around a large, lateral hazard, and presents a risk-reward tee shot - the option of crossing part of that hazard (or playing around it). The fairway on a cape hole gently curves around the hazard, as opposed to the sharper dogleg style of hole.

What is a bail out area?

Bail-Out Area: A landing area on a hole designed to provide a safer alternative to golfers who don't want to attempt the riskier play that some golfers will choose to make on that hole.

How many strokes are required for a par 6?

Par-6 Hole: A hole on a golf course that is expected to require six strokes for an expert golfer to play. Par-6s are rare on golf courses. But when they exist, the yardage guidelines are effective playing lengths of more than 690 yards for men and more than 575 yards for women.

What grasses are used in golf courses?

Some examples of cool-season grasses cited by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America include colonial bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue and tall fescue.

What irritates golfers more than anything?

What irritates golfers more than anything, of course, is when they show up for their tee time, only to find out then that the greens were recently aerated, or worst yet, don't discover it until they get to the first green. The latter is certainly rare, and the former is becoming less common, too, as courses know this doesn't exactly create good will with their customer base. Letting golfers know before they show up to the course should probably be the minimum practice, and most courses are trying to do that.

What happens after cores are removed from the green?

After cores are removed from the green, they are filled with sand. Courtesy of the USGA Green Section

How long does it take for a green to recover after core removal?

That improves drainage and air exchange for the plants. It can take up to a couple of weeks for the greens to recover, but these procedures are critical for the long-term health of the greens.

Who is the head golfer at Elkview Country Club?

Jared Cottell, the head PGA professional at the Donald Ross-designed Elkview Country Club near Carbondale, Pa., lets his members know well in advance when the greens are going to be aerated. But before he came to Elkview three years ago, he employed a different practice at the semi-private/resort-like Woodloch Springs Country Club in Hawley, Pa., where he was head professional for seven years.

Do golf courses send out alerts?

As all of us have become more tied to our phones and computers, and facilities have extensive emailing lists, many courses send out alerts to their regular customers, letting them know when greens are going to be aerated. And most courses will inform golfers who reserve a tee time by phone if greens have been recently aerated. (It saves a lot of potential grief for shop personnel later).

Can you play rough greens after aerating?

Golfers looking to save a little money on green fees who don't mind rough greens would be well advised to check out course websites and get on mailing lists. Sometimes, the greens are surprisingly playable following an aggressive aerating, especially if you wait a few days after the procedure when the maintenance crews have had a chance to "whip" the sand off the greens and run the mowers and rollers.

Should golfers know before they practice?

Letting golfers know before they show up to the course should probably be the minimum practice, and most courses are trying to do that. How courses and clubs communicate this to golfers varies, of course.

What happens if you use wrong sand in a green?

Using the wrong sand, Kidd says, can adversely effect the movement of water and nutrients upwards and downwards through the root zone.

What is golf sand made of?

Golf course sands are different. They are made of round particles “resembling a bucket of balls with large pore spaces between each ball ,” Kidd says. They promote good drainage, and healthy air and water circulation.

Why is sanding greens important?

The green might get spongy, or develop brown spots, or become vulnerable to scalping during mowing. Sanding helps protect against all that. That’s not all, Kidd says. Sanding also improves drainage and helps level out the green, creating smooth, consistent putting surfaces, and firm, fast conditions year round.

Why do you aerate greens?

Aeration comes in when soils are heavily compacted or the turf is thick with thatch. The greens get punched and sanded, and the sand is worked into each aeration hole to improve air and water flow, giving the roots a better chance to drink and breathe. There is, of course, plenty more to the science of sanding.

Is it bad to sand your lawn?

When you sand and how much sand you use is critically important. Sand too heavily at the wrong time of year, and you risk a range of problems. It’s best to do the work in good weather, Kidd says. In inclement conditions, you might wind up smothering the grass or creating fungus diseases that diminish the quality of the turf.

Is sanding a science?

As you can probably see, there’s a science to sanding, and on golf courses today, Kidd says, that science is “very precise.”. When you sand and how much sand you use is critically important. Sand too heavily at the wrong time of year, and you risk a range of problems. It’s best to do the work in good weather, Kidd says.

Is sand good for grass?

They’re made up of angular particles that are meant “to provide strength and structure.”. That’s good for buildings, but bad for grass, as the sand binds together, reducing the air and water flow needed for healthy root growth. Golf course sands are different.

What is the term for the grass on a putting green?

Carpet – Another golf term for the grass on a putting green.

What is an ace in golf?

Ace – Otherwise known as a hole in one an ace is when the ball finds the hole from the tee in a single stoke. It is the dream of many golfers.

What is a baseball grip?

Baseball Grip – A type of grip that resembles a baseball bat grip. Others might call it a 10-finger grip. Below the Hole – A term that refers to a putt where the hole is at a higher elevation than the ball. Big Dog – A Driver. Bite – A term used by golfers for a golf ball to stop rolling.

Why is backspin important in golf?

It is important for distance and accuracy. Backspin – Spin is very important in most aspects golf and you will often come across the term when comparing clubs or in golfing instructions. Simply put, more backspin will give you a high ball with a fair amount of control.

What is bump and run golf?

Bump and Run – A chip shot around the green involving a low lofted iron. This type of chip is great for a large part of the green to work with.

What is the center of gravity in golf?

Center of Gravity – While this term can also be used to talk about a player it is generally related to the design and balancing of the golf club. To keep the concept simple, the farther back and lower the center of gravity (CG), the higher the trajectory will be according to the loft angle. This will give golfers an easier launch that generally has good backspin. Low handicap players do not need this advantage as much and tend to prefer a progressive CG with a higher CG on the longer irons.

What is a big dog in golf?

Big Dog – A Driver. Bite – A term used by golfers for a golf ball to stop rolling. Bladed Shot – A chip shot from just off the green purposely hit with the bottom of the club. Played often from when the ball rests against the collar of the green. Runs like a putt.