
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the rules of golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system f…
What is a SubAir system in golf?
Apr 07, 2022 · The Sub Air system is, effectively, an enormous vacuum directly under or near the ground underneath green complexes. The Sub Air system connects to the existing drainage piping system underneath a...
What is Subair systems?
For decades, those respected courses, unwilling to let Mother Nature consistently play havoc with their conditions, have turned to SubAir. Why? SubAir Systems provides aeration, moisture removal and root zone temperature control in order to create an optimal subsurface growing environment for deep-rooted, resilient, healthy green grass.
How does the SubAir system work at Augusta National?
A SubAir System provides turf professionals with the ability to consistently deliver fresh air to the roots and subsoil, eliminate oxygen- poor conditions, stimulate plant growth and increase root growth to support healthy, constantly growing turf. The result: A premium playing surface that can bounce back quickly from excessive precipitation.
What is included in a Subair sport system?
A SubAir Sport System includes complete integration with our TurfWatch™ Technology. Oxygen and moisture sensors placed below the playing field surface report real-time soil conditions’ data to the control system.

How does SubAir system work?
The perforated pipes allow water to enter and flow downhill to an exit area or drain. When it is activated, the SubAir system acts like a vacuum and pulls air and water down, into those pipes, much more quickly. This video, created by SubAir in 2010, shows how quickly puddles can disappear.Nov 12, 2020
How many golf courses have sub air systems?
More than 500 other golf clubs, including Congressional and TPC Sawgrass, now have SubAir systems, in one configuration or another.Apr 7, 2022
What is the SubAir system at Augusta National?
The Sub Air system connects to the existing drainage piping system underneath a USGA spec green, and it can suck moisture out of the ground so that water doesn't linger on the greens to slow them down and soften them.Apr 7, 2022
Are Augusta greens heated?
2:444:44What Is Under the Greens at Augusta National Golf Course? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs well as temperature. Control without any disruption of the play surface. In both methods ofMoreAs well as temperature. Control without any disruption of the play surface. In both methods of operation.
How is the Masters grass so green?
It's likely that a blend of cultivars is used across Augusta, but the quality of the surface is impeccable. The turf matches the jacket. Perennial ryegrass, also referred to as English ryegrass in the literature, has several appealing characteristics.
Why are greens at Augusta not green?
Since 1980 Augusta's greens have been carpeted with bent grass, a strain which thrives in milder temperatures that makes it more common in the northeast than the warmer south. When temperatures climb, bentgrass begins to heat up and come under stress. And what it does that, the purple-ish color follows.Nov 10, 2020
What is under the greens at Augusta?
While this golf course may appear to be a natural beauty, if you dig deep under the surface, you'll find some extensive interesting engineering. Underneath the greens at Augusta National is an array of pipes, drains, and mechanical blowers that work to keep the playability of these surfaces perfect.Dec 24, 2019
What type of grass does Augusta have?
bermudaAugusta National's primary turfgrass is bermuda. During the hot and humid Georgia summer, bermudagrass covers the landscape because of its heat tolerance characteristics (amongst other reasons).
Can non members play at Augusta National?
The club's membership roll is not public, but it's believed that Augusta National has about 300 members, and most are allowed to bring guests on select days of the season to play golf. Even without a connection to a member, there are still other ways to play the course.Mar 15, 2018
Do they dye the grass at Augusta?
Trees are cut so they all lean in toward the fairway, making the holes seem tighter. Any patches of bare grass are painted green to disguise them. The water contains food dye to maintain its immaculate sheen.Apr 10, 2019
What is wrong with Masters greens?
Augusta's oceanic greens have no set form and are defined by swells, troughs, plateaus and false edges.Mar 16, 2022
Why is Augusta National closed in the summer?
The course is shut down each May and reopens in October to eliminate a lot of wear and tear during the peak summer months in Augusta's humid, subtropical climate. That time of year is when improvements and construction on the course take place.Mar 28, 2022
What is subair turf?
Throughout the construction or renovation of a field, SubAir turf specialists provide on-site installation supervision to integrate with construction workflow. Once installed, the system is commissioned to operation standards and training of the turf management team is conducted. TurfWatch Technology allows remote access to SubAir agronomists to provide support for equipment operations, turf conditions, and updates to control programs.
What does a vacuum system do in a sudden downpour?
In a sudden downpour the vacuum systems activate to eliminate excess moisture in the soil profile. Successive high temperature days that increase soil temperature will activate aeration to moderate subsoil temperatures.
Which golf courses have subair?
Several other golf courses also have a SubAir system now, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, site of the 2019 U.S. Open. The Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets recently had SubAir systems installed on their baseball fields and the several professional and college football teams have SubAir systems on their practice and game fields.
What is the subair system used for?
When the SubAir system is used to pull a lot of water off greens, supplemental pumps and drainage mechanisms can be added to pull the water farther away from the green and release it in areas away from play . Water shoots up from the ground as part of the SubAir system at at Augusta National Golf Club. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports)
What is the water shoot up from the ground?
Water shoots up from the ground as part of the SubAir system at at Augusta National Golf Club. (Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports) When a SubAir system is switched to pressure mode, it forces air into the pipes and up, into the soil and root systems of the grass.
Where is SubAir located?
SubAir Systems, LLC, is based just north of Augusta, Georgia, in Graniteville, South Carolina. It’s main product is comprised of a series of pumps and blowers that connect to the drainage system below greens.
When did Augusta National Golf Club open?
AUGSUTA, Ga. — Augusta National Golf Club opened in December of 1932, but in every regard it is a state-of-the-art facility. When spring rain (or in today’s case, fall rain) falls in Georgia, and greens get soaked, the club can fight back by turning on a SubAir system and to remove the water and keep the course playable.
What is a PC drainage system?
Passive Capillary (PC) Drainage is the only drainage system that can be pulled into the green at narrow three foot spacing for more efficient drainage. Layering occurs when a sandy root zone overlies a finer textured native soil, which is typical after years of topdressing. Layering is common in putting green soils.
Does PC draining work?
No pumps, motors, or energy using equipment is required. The PC Drainage system creates a very effective “hanging water column” suction effect that follows the natural contours of the green, is installed only where drainage problems exist, and helps improve turf health by providing better drainage in chronically wet soils.
