Why Do We Topdress Our Greens

The concept of topdressing is common for turfgrass managers and golfers these days. Management trends have changed from applying 60/40 or 80/20 dressing. This is now virtually unheard of and has evolved to pure sands. Creating a smooth the putting surface where you obtain a true roll and greater distance of ball roll is the most commonly known benefit.

By not applying organic matter in the dressing we can dilute the thatch layer above your root zone far quicker. Sand gives us the desired firmer putting surfaces, which in turn allows us to get closer heights of cut due to less thatch and puffiness.

We want to avoid heavy applications of sand early in the season which buries the thatch layer, and allows a new thatch layer to establish between topdressing again in the fall. These practices used to be common and would create a layering effect in the upper most portion of the rootzone. This is not desirable for the plants roots and leads to unhealthy turf and poor drainage.

Grass cultivars are also changing our management strategies of topdressing. The old style of infrequent and heavy applications just isn’t possible with the newer dense bentgrass cultivars with their aggressive growing habits. Light applications of finer sands are now being used with greater effectiveness. The reason for this is the sand has to be worked into the canopy for best results. By diluting the thatch this also helps to protect the plants crown and stand the grass up to obtain tighter cutting heights.

As mentioned, the best results occur when sand is worked into the canopy. Verticutting before an application drastically helps. Dry topdressing is best; either a broom or drag mat can work in a light application of around 1/16 inch quickly. Play can follow immediately after which wouldn’t be possible with a heavy application. These light dressings can be applied throughout the growing season as often as required to dilute present thatch or to help improve surface drainage (thatch can act as a barrier to water, slowing infiltration rates, by diluting it, this gives us our improved surface drainage) and when conditions allow.

Research at The Pennsylvania State University found that after applying both heavy and light topdressings, pace of the greens did reduce until the sand was incorporated into the canopy; after which the pace increased. Around 10 days has to be given to obtain the best results for speed increase. Therefore topdressing should not be done too close to a competition.


The topdressing you use has to be compatibility with your rootzone so as you don’t create further problems. It can be an expensive undertaking for a golf course to topdress frequently and lightly. Golfers gain the benefits with more consistent and better conditions through the season with this adapted management practice.

How ImportantAre Communication Skills?

How Important Are Communication Skills?

Communication skills are becoming the single most valuable way to expedite your rise to success. Do you even think of a superintendent as a major communicator in a golf club? Would your first impression be:

• Not really you only have to grow grass
• Fairly important due to having a large number of staff to organize
• Very important due to the level of financial investment you are looking after

I am finding quickly that when you have a goal in mind you need, as many influential friends and contacts in the industry. It’s easier to reach your goals and make them a reality with the proper connections.

To make these contacts in the first place it helps to obtain good ‘communication’ skills from experience, working in the industry and socializing/networking. By making yourself approachable and professional in appearance, you will gain respect from the people you wish to learn from.

Confidence in asking simple questions to promote more in-depth discussion is important and can lead to new topics you had not first considered, helping make you think as a leader and see through the eyes of others. There is something to be learned from everyone; even those of less seniority could have a different view and valuable local knowledge. Investing time and energy is the quickest way to utilize a co-workers experience. One thing you will find is no matter how long you’re in the industry for you will always be learning something new.

Resolving problems requires exemplary communication skills to obtain fast, effective results. Timing and a diplomatic touch also go hand-in-hand. In a large proportion of cases the members are your direct bosses, thus they have to be treated with the respect they deserve on a daily basis around the golf course.

My communication skills were valuable when I dealt with a member of staff. Other co-workers respected his words and deeds. I could see good leadership potential in this young man but wanted to point out to him that he needed to first believe in himself and realize his own position in the social group in which he works. I wanted to lead him in the direction that would benefit all parties including the golf course and the individual. Gaining responsibility, possible promotion, and future pay raises was a good incentive to catch his attention. Leaders are always needed in life for others can follow. Not every one wants to be a leader. Even though this individual was still young and impressionable, he had a good work ethic. Using communication skills to raise employees to the next level is both very satisfying and good for business.

Personally I hope to find more challenges like this as I progress through my chosen career as feeling you are doing well for your staff is an added bonus to looking after a golf course and trying to please your membership. Because of this, I realize that being a good communicator is the way to obtain your goals and become a valuable resource. Skills like these are most valuable, hard to teach in a classroom and well worth nurturing.

Where can a degree from The Penslyvania State University get you?

I interviewed a Penn State Alumnus to see how he is doing 4 1/2 years after graduating.

Matt Dachowski (First Assistant at The Los Angeles Country Club, CA) got started in the golf course maintenance industry from a passion of the game at a young age. As a college freshman, Matt made the career choice of turfgrass management. Advice from Matt includes to be patient, try and look at the big picture, and keep a goal in mind. Try to make well thought through decisions. Don’t try to fast track your way to a Superintendent position until you are truly ready. Staying positive and motivated will lead to good things.

Matt’s favorite class at Penn State was turfgrass nutrition. This has helped him in the managing of Poa annua greens at several golf courses. Matt believes:

I have an affinity for Poa annua greens. It is most likely due to the fact that every course I've worked at has Poa annua greens with the exception of 2 of them (golf courses). It provides a challenge that no other grass can provide.

The importance of a diverse knowledge of a turfgrass management is so important, but you don’t need to necessarily travel to gain such knowledge. Matt believes other superintendents and assistants are only a phone call away and more often than not willing to offer an opinion or just be happy to bounce ideas around. It’s important to be a rounded turfgrass manager and have the ability to adapt to many circumstances.

Matt's intern experience came from two years at Quaker Ridge:

I learned that it is all about building trust with your boss. If you consistently perform and are self motivated things will go smoothly. Internships are learning experiences and interns should take on any and all responsibilities that the superintendent is willing to give them and take pride in them no matter how little or big they are.

Now working in California, Matt is vigilant on the conservation of water. With restrictions becoming more common and water being such a valuable resource, we must learn to eliminate its use in certain areas at certain times of the year. With golfer expectations being so high the turfgrass manager of the future will be challenged with adapting to new management programs.

Matt currently works at a golf course with a fine tennis facility but can see the benefits of certain clubs where their sole business is golf. There the superintendent only has to concentrate on agronomics relating issues. After working in the industry for several year and having a four year turfgrass degree Matt now felts ready to hold the position of superintendent. However, Matt feels there is something new to learn ever day and as an assistant there is less pressure to know everything.

Matt is of the opinion that staff in a uniform look professional and if a club is fortunate enough to be able to afford it, highly recommends crews to wear one at all times.

Graduating from Penn State, Matt became even more of a die-hard football fan attending as many games as possible. While at Penn State he never missed a home game and even traveled as far as Miami and Nebraska. Matt feels strongly in wanting to aid other graduate, and will offer his advice when asked. Having a good mentor is a great thing and when he happens to be your brother (also a Penn State graduate), you feel even more passionate with what you do.