In my final presentation at the Oregon GCSA fall meeting, I asked if it is possible to maintain a high performing putting surface without core aeration? Perhaps, but under what conditions? And if no coring is done, how much sand topdressing would be required? Case studies and data from golf courses around the world are discussed in this seminar, in which I make the case that it might be possible, and not just humbug.
I used to recommend, pretty consistently, that high performance turfgrass surfaces should have 20% of the surface area removed each year and that sand topdressing be applied at 12 to 15 mm per year. I don’t make those recommendations any more, because I’ve seen so many high performing surfaces, in a range of climates, that are produced with a lot less disruption and sand addition.
I’ll talked about how to make this a site specific decision, based on current and desired conditions at a particular site. For more about this, and to follow the development of my thinking about this topic over the past five years, see the organic matter & OM246 tags at https://www.asianturfgrass.com/tags/#om246