Is there a secret to getting greens to settle down to reasonable putting surfaces after coring?.
My Club seems to regularly have a problem getting the sand down into the core holes. The result is bumpy greens for too long.

I don’t know what you mean as too long – is it a week – 2 weeks etc… I’ve noticed that coring, sanding etc on a sun or after sat comp it’s usually only one sat that we put up with a bit of sand roughness.

It has been two weeks minimum. Unfortunately even 4 weeks later I would give the greens about 7 out of ten.
This year the course super is planning to do the Spring coring about 5 weeks later than usual so that will probably help a lot with turf growth.
What mystifies me is that the topdressing (a large amount of sand) when spread by a “screed” like bar seems to get very little sand into the core holes.
I believe the major idea of coring is to decompress and aerate the soil. Why so much sand and shouldn’t the idea be to get a fair amount in the holes, even fill em up? One bloke suggested that at some places very dry sand is used and it flows like a fluid and easily gets into the core holes. Could be an urban myth? Another thing I was told is that some places they use special brooms and by pushing the sand around on the greens with the brooms the sand gets into the aeration holes.
Note to ADMIN….maybe there is a possibility of having a course maintenance section or something that can inform us on lots of topices from the Course Superintendents’ viewpoint.
The punters would be interested to know more about stuff like mowers, dethatching stimpmeters and the rest of it, I think.

I really don’t know much about coring – I was told that core aeration will increase soil strength and to promote drainage through the root zone. I also think that depending on the method used denotes hard/er or soft/er greens..

I agree re the course maintenance section – I reckon it would be an eye opener having some of the “keepers of the turf” adding some posts and information on their profession…

I really don’t know much about coring – I was told that core aeration will increase soil strength and to promote drainage through the root zone. I also think that depending on the method used denotes hard/er or soft/er greens..

I agree re the course maintenance section – I reckon it would be an eye opener having some of the “keepers of the turf” adding some posts and information on their profession…

Ditty,
I have put a suggestion in the ISG feedback forum about a new Course Superintendents area.

It would be good to have those in the know about to answer questions and also have it as a source of info between yourselves.

The number of questions might be a bit slow coming but the more support and area gains, the more questions will pop up.

It would be good to have those in the know about to answer questions and also have it as a source of info between yourselves.

The number of questions might be a bit slow coming but the more support and area gains, the more questions will pop up.

Most certainly agree – more knowledge and understanding is more power on the green. We all know the basics re the way the grass grows and why denotes the roll of the ball but I’m sure there is much more we could learn – pesticides treatment is a big thing too – I shiver when I see golfers stick their tee in there mouth after hitting off.

Do we have any keepers of the turf on ISG?

Ditty,
I have put a suggestion in the ISG feedback forum about a new Course Superintendents area.

check this out – your baby and great idea!

Thanks Ditty,
there could be a bit of momentum going.
Languid

As an ex course super i would always buy dry sand so it would go down the holes and would also use brooms to brush the sand in…oh and this thread was done a few years ago you might want to search cored greens or coring greens ..

I was at Bathurst last week two days after the greeens were “cored” with a Vertidrain. They were fairly reasonable with not much sand still sitting on the greens.
Around the course we ran into some of the Course staff. They were using metal spreaders on broom handles. I think they use these things with concreting. They looked like a metal grate with about 5 inches between the bars.
The guys told me they use a brush hooked up to some machine and also use a mat after the sand is first applied.
I would have liked to investigate further but no opportunity. I referred it to our Greens Committee.
I realise that the vertidrain holes are much smaller than half inch cores but I was very impressed with the results I saw.
Thanks craigaw1. Very helpful to know about broom ing to brush the sand into the core holes. I will do a search too.

languid The spreader you are talking about cost about $50 from Bunnings . Maybe you can get your club to get some?