what is overseeding on a golf course

How do they overseed a golf course?

Overseeding often involves putting the seed down along with a thin layer of sand, then allowing the new grass to grow in for many days without being cut.

How long does overseeding a golf course take?

Under ideal conditions, six to eight weeks typically is required for full establishment of the winter overseeding cover and redevelopment of good-quality course conditioning.

Why do Arizona golf courses overseed?

most golf courses in the west and southeast have to plan when they undertake a major transformation. In Tucson and other warmer climes, the cooler winter weather causes the Bermuda grass to go dormant. It's loses all of it's color, looking more like cut straw, than luxurious turf. Hence, the need to overseed.

What does overseeding mean?

WHAT IS OVERSEEDING? Overseeding is the planting of grass seed directly into existing turf, without tearing up the turf, or the soil. It's an easy way to fill in bare spots, improve the density of turf, establish improved grass varieties and enhance your lawn's color.

Can you play golf on overseeding?

Overseeding is generally done to keep the course open year-round, as one grass type goes dormant the other enters a growing season allowing for turf to stay playable. Technically you can play on brown or tan turf.

How do golf courses keep grass green in winter?

topdress their greens with a heavy layer of sand to insulate the crowns against the frigid cold, then spread a woven fabric over the putting surfaces as an added measure of protection. Though no one's expecting you to sand your lawn ahead of winter, tarps aren't a bad idea in especially harsh climates.

What grass is used on Arizona golf courses?

Because Arizona is mostly a warm climate with few months of cold weather, Bermuda grass is primary on most Arizona golf courses.

What type of grass do golf courses in Arizona use?

For greens installations in Arizona, the best types of sod to use are ultra-dwarf bermudagrasses, Tifdwarf, and Tif Eagle. Ultra-dwarf bermudagrasses are some of the newest greens grass to be introduced in the United States.

What type of grass is on the golf courses in Scottsdale in the winter?

While other clubs shut down their course to switch out seasonal turf types – usually from Bermuda grass, which goes dormant in the winter months, to Ryegrass – Scottsdale National maintains impeccable Bermuda grass conditions year-round via consistent aeration (to keep putting surfaces healthy) and top dressing (adding ...

How do you overseed?

How to Overseed an Existing Lawn in 8 StepsSupplies Needed to Overseed a Lawn. ... Step 1: Dethatch and Aerate the Lawn (If Necessary) ... Step 2: Mow the Lawn Short. ... Step 3: Rake to Remove Debris. ... Step 4: Add Enriched Topsoil. ... Step 5: Spread the Grass Seed. ... Step 6: Fertilize the New Grass. ... Step 7: Water Your Lawn Generously.More items...•

When should you overseed?

The Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance service recommends overseeding at least 45 days before your average first fall frost. In southern areas, overseed thinning lawns in late spring, as warm-season grasses enter active growth. For winter color, overseed southern lawns in fall.

How do you prepare for overseeding?

Mow Low. Before overseeding your thin lawn, cut your grass shorter than normal and bag the clippings. After mowing, rake the lawn to help loosen the top layer of soil and remove any dead grass and debris. This will give the grass seed easy access to the soil so it can root more easily after germinating.

Do they paint golf greens?

A growing number of golf courses in the Southeast are now painting their fairways green in the winter instead of overseeding. Painting fairways eliminates the playability issues that come with overseeding and delivers significant resource savings.

What are golf terms and their meanings?

Golf Terms and Definitions. Ace - A hole in one. Address - the final position taken by a golfer just before the swing. Adjusted Gross Score - Your score after you apply your handicap stroke allowance. Alternate Shot - Another twist of stoke play.

What is overseeding in golf?

Overseeding is a process on the golf course in which grass seed is spread onto existing turf. Overseeding, also known as topdressing, promotes new growth and can be used to swap out existing turf and or dormant turf. A typical example of overseeding is when Bermudagrass goes dormant and is swapped with Ryegrass.

Why do golf courses need overseeding?

Overseeding is generally done to keep the course open year-round, as one grass type goes dormant the other enters a growing season allowing for turf to stay playable .

How long before overseeding to use growth regulator?

Utilize plant growth regulator three or four days before overseeding to help the new seed take.

How to minimize impact to play?

While overseeding, the best ways to minimize impact to play are by using temporary greens, hosting special events, or partially closing.

Can anyone read overseeding?

Anyone can read about overseeding, but not anyone can get it right. Hiring licensed and certified golf professionals are just as important as knowing yourself. Relying on the best possible staff, and having a support system for the future, means processes like overseeding and aeration don’t have to be a big deal anymore.

Where is overseeding practiced?

Golf courses in California's Coachella Valley and Phoenix-Scottsdale are hotbeds of overseeding, but it's a common, and sometimes controversial, practice throughout the southern United States.

What does Whitlark like about golf?

For Whitlark, it comes down to pitting the aesthetics of a green golf course against more natural playing conditions. He prefers playing courses that don't overseed, a stance many golfers probably aren't ready to embrace.

What is verticutting in Bermuda?

Verticutting is part of the scalping process of the Bermuda turf during the fall overseeding at Wigwam. Courtesy photo

Should we oversee golf?

The question - "should we overseed or not?" - occurs regularly in Texas, Georgia and Florida. It is an individual choice. Golfers in these locales tend to face much smaller inconveniences, perhaps with only minimal overseeding. Courses often don't close during minor overseeding projects.

Is overseeding bad for the environment?

Critics say overseeding is bad for the environment, considering how much extra water, fertilizer and machine power is required.

Is overseeding a mystery?

To everyday golfers, especially those in northern states, overseeding is a mysterious, maybe even confusing, process. Every year, GolfPass gets reviews from golfers who visit southern states and think the grass is "dead" when they see a green fairway overseeded with Rye grass framed by brown rough of dormant Bermuda. Explaining the overseeding process should help more golfers understand why it's so popular in certain parts of the country and why it is falling out of favor in others.

When does rye grass turn green?

By the 10th day of watering during the Wigwam's fall overseeding, the Rye grass has turned green and looks more ready for play. Courtesy photo

Why does Guilfoil oversee the yard?

The calculus can get complicated. At his own home, Guilfoil overseeds the yard, but not because he wants to. It’s because he lost an argument with his wife. “Personally, I’d rather save the water, the money and the hassle, and just let the grass go dormant for the winter,” Guilfoil says.

What is ryegrass overlay?

An overlay of ryegrass keeps courses green while providing purer playing conditions throughout the winter. It also helps protect the dormant Bermuda at a time when the grass is vulnerable to damage. “Divots and cart traffic are the big problems,” Guilfoil says.

When does Guilfoil oversee Desert Canyon?

At Desert Canyon, Guilfoil overseeds every autumn, usually around the third week of September. He estimates that 95 percent of courses in and around the Phoenix and Scottsdale area overseed as well. The motives are aesthetic and pragmatic. An overlay of ryegrass keeps courses green while providing purer playing conditions throughout the winter. It also helps protect the dormant Bermuda at a time when the grass is vulnerable to damage. “Divots and cart traffic are the big problems,” Guilfoil says. “They can really beat up dormant turf during a season when it’s just not able to recover.”

Do overseeded lawns require more maintenance than dormant lawns?

Overseeded lawns also require more maintenance than dormant lawns.

Is Bermuda grass better than overseeded ryegrass?

Not only does dormant Bermuda require less maintenance than overseeded ryeg rass, it also provides a firmer, faster playing surface. Tee shots roll farther, a boost for many golfers who need all the distance they can get. And while the conditions might not be as pure, some would argue that that’s a good thing: it adds another layer of variety and challenge, which is what golf is all about.

Is ryegrass in the fall?

Courses that transition to ryegrass in the fall have to transition out of it in spring. That process can be difficult on Bermuda as it reawakens and finds itself in competition with the lingering ryegrass. No overseeding means no springtime competition. The Bermuda greens up faster and provides a healthier playing surface in the longer run as well.

Who is the superintendent of Desert Canyon Golf Club?

GOLF.com rang up Matt Guilfoil, superintendent at Desert Canyon Golf Club, in Fountain Hills, Ariz., and co-host of From the Jingweeds, a podcast devoted to the turf-care trade, to discuss the rationale behind each option, and what homeowners should consider when contemplating whether to overseed their yards.