While the rolling hills of a beautiful fairway may serve to attract golfers to a particular course, it is the putting greens that define a course and bring the golfers back. Caring for greens is a fulltime endeavor as varied weather can bring a host of challenges for even the most dedicated grounds superintendents.

Bent grass is a popular choice for golf greens. This creeping grass is known for its beautiful, rich color, dense growth and its ability to withstand frequent and intense mowing. Bent grass was introduced to the United States from Europe and Asia and is used extensively in northern regions of the country due to the fact that it is a cool season grass that requires a great amount of watering. Golf greens are usually cut and watered daily. Bend grass can be cut to less than an 1/8 of an inch.

Golf courses employ a variety of strategies to ensure the beauty and utility of their greens and fairways. Those who are hoping to recreate the richness and splendor found at local courses can incorporate many of these strategies on their own lawns at home. Here are a few of the most widely used techniques that can also improve your lawn’s appearance.

In order to ensure proper moisture content and to even out small bumps in the greens, many golf superintendents will use the process known as top dressing. Top dressing involves spreading a mixture of loam, peat, and sand over the top layer of the soil. In addition to aiding with moisture retention, top dressing will encourage the grass to create new shoots, thus adding to the green’s density. It is often recommended that top dressing be done in the fall and following aeration so that the dressing mixture is able to penetrate into the soil and not just lie on top of the grass.

Overseeding involves adding grass seed to an existing lawn. This allows for the grass to grow in thicker and resist weeds. Overseeding is often recommended in the fall as the key to its success lies in watering. Overseeding is one method used to combat dollar patches and uneven color due to the changing climate.

While the technique of aerification is not always appreciated by golfers, it is a necessity to keeping and maintaining a good quality putting green. The tiny holes often seen around the edges of the greens, serve the purpose of bringing oxygen down to the roots where it is needed for adequate growth. High traffic by foot and heavy mowing equipment can compact the soil, essentially crushing the air pockets that would normally exist. Without oxygen, the grasses will shrivel up and die. Therefore, it is important to remove small cores of soil so that oxygen can be returned to the roots of the grass. This process if often combined with top dressing enabling the retention of air pockets that allows for further root development.

The mowing cycle for golf greens is intense and occurs daily. Course superintendents use specific grasses to achieve the highly specialized look of a well-manicured green. These grasses are chosen for their ability to withstand high traffic and continuous cutting. Residential lawns require less management, but remembering a few basics will help you to achieve a well-groomed look at home.

Many of the top golf courses utilize labs in assessing the specific needs of greens. While the average homeowner might not have this technology at their disposal, some basic knowledge can go a long way towards achieving your lawn’s desired look. All fertilizers are compromised of three main ingredients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The nitrogen is necessary to promote growth and maintain color. Nitrogen and potassium assist in root development thus keeping your lawn healthy during difficult times. It is recommended that you fertilize your lawn 4-5 times a year for ultimate affect. Early spring when the grasses are just coming out of their dormant stage and late fall when the heat of summer has past are generally considered the two most important times to fertilize.

While it is always important to water your lawn frequently, watering after fertilizing is key as it helps get the nutrients down to the root level. Depending on the severity of your summer heat, most cool season grasses need to receive 1 to 1 ½ inches every seven days. Additionally, water should not be allowed to “pool” or “run off’ the lawn. If this occurs, turn the water off for a bit and let it soak in.

It can be said that a golf course’s greens are its calling card, a token of the care and diligence required to maintain a proper course. While our lawns at home may never fully attain the magnificence of a professional golf course’ learning a few “good habits” from our local courses can help us to achieve a lawn that continues to call us home all summer long. So get out and enjoy your golf game, while knowing that your own lawn can mirror much of the beauty displayed at the course.