What do you see on a golf course?
Each hole in a course has 5 major parts namely Tee, Fairway, Green, Rough and Hazards. Understanding these parts allow you to plan your shots right.
What is the sand on a golf course?
Golf course sands are different. They are made of round particles “resembling a bucket of balls with large pore spaces between each ball,” Kidd says. They promote good drainage, and healthy air and water circulation.
Do golf courses use sand?
At most golf courses, topdressing sand is applied every seven to 28 days. Ultimately, the appropriate application rate and interval of sand topdressing depends on the rate of turf growth and the overall putting green management program.
What is the sandy area on a golf hole called?
Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. A "bunker" is a "specially prepared area intended to test the player's ability to play a ball from the sand," as the latest edition of the Rules of Golf puts it.
Why do golf courses use sand and seed?
A pure sand mixture allows divots to heal by providing a growing medium for the surrounding turf to spread into. Using pure sand also eliminates the risk of contamination in areas where seed is not desired.
Where do golf courses get their white sand?
In fact the sand is actually quartz, a waste product of the mining process that takes place in Western North Carolina. The quartz is so pure that it prevents golf balls from plugging or burrowing into tricky lies.
What is river sand?
Sand generally composed of rounded particles, and may or may not contain clay or other impurities. It is obtained from the banks and beds of rivers. Ref: Zern.
Why do you put sand on grass?
A layer of sand on the lawn improves the firmness of the soil. Too much organic material makes the soil a little spongy due to the fermentation and abundance of insects in the topsoil. Use sand to make the soil firm and healthy. Sand improves the drainage of the soil and aeration.
Why do golf courses have sand traps?
Sand bunkers provide a psychological landmark. They accentuate the hole and provide targets for directing the golfer to a defined landing area whether it is the fairway or green. Sand bunkers provide safety buffers for adjacent fairways, tees or greens, both physically and visually.
What is water on a golf course called?
The USGA defines "casual water" or "temporary water" as "any temporary accumulation of water on the course that is not in a water hazard and is visible before or after the player takes his or her stance.” In other words, "casual water" is water on the golf course that isn't meant to be there by design.
What are the parts of a golf course?
Learn the Layout: Parts of the Golf Course You Run IntoThe Tee Box. The tee box, also known as the teeing ground, is where the hole begins. ... The Fairway. ... The Green. ... The Rough. ... Hazards. ... Boost Your Golf Game with PEAK™ Certified Professional Training.
What are the 5 areas of the golf course?
There are five areas of the courseAreas of the Course: The five defined areas that make up the course: (1) the general area, (2) the teeing area you must play from in starting the hole you are playing, (3) all penalty areas, (4) all bunkers, and (5) the putting green of the hole you are playing..
What is golf sand made of?
Silica sand is used for bunkers and greens on golf courses, as well as for natural and synthetic sports fields. Those sand traps you find yourself stuck in way too often when you're playing eighteen are usually full of silica sand.
Why do you put sand on grass?
A layer of sand on the lawn improves the firmness of the soil. Too much organic material makes the soil a little spongy due to the fermentation and abundance of insects in the topsoil. Use sand to make the soil firm and healthy. Sand improves the drainage of the soil and aeration.
Why do greenkeepers put sand on the greens?
"So in golf greens, grass creates a thatch layer through dead and decaying shoots and roots and old fibrous plant material. Greens can become really spongy through excess organic matter and by adding sand within that organic matter layer it dilutes it and is a way of firming up the greens.
What kind of sand do you use for a putting green?
The silica sand infill normally used on landscape artificial turf lawns is #20 Clean Silica Sand. The #30 Silica Sand has slightly smaller granules, and we mainly recommend this size for sand-filled putting greens.
What makes bunker sand good?
Golf Association considers a list of eight factors when selecting bunker sand: particle size, particle shape, crusting potential, chemical reaction and hardness, infiltration rate, color, penetrometer value and playability. Depending on location and climate, how these factors are ranked vary slightly.
What sand is used for bunker sand?
For many years, selecting bunker sand involved calling the local sand pit. Superintendents were often told, “We have mason sand, brick sand and concrete sand. I think what you want is our mason sand. That stuff would work great for you.” Mason sand might or might not be desirable sand for bunkers, but in the current golf climate, the days of calling the local sand pit are over. There are few places in the United States that have natural sand deposits that meet specifications for great bunker sand. Most premium bunker sand is manufactured in only a few locations throughout the country. These manufactured sands, along with a few rare natural deposits, make the process of finding great bunker sand difficult and expensive.
Where is Troon Golf located?
Troon Golf, which has the Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Ariz., in its portfolio, implements its support programs when it takes over management of a golf facility. “There’s no silver bullet for turning around a golf course operation,” says Steve Skinner, president of Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports Management.
Can round sand compact?
Round sands can’t compact. Therefore, highly angular sand with low sphericity will obtain the best penetrometer reading and offer the best resistance to compression from the golf ball. This translates into a low tendency for a ball to bury in the sand, which minimizes the dreaded fried egg lie. Penetrometer value.
Is Mason sand good for bunkers?
That stuff would work great for you.”. Mason sand might or might not be desirable sand for bunkers, but in the current golf climate, the days of calling the local sand pit are over. There are few places in the United States that have natural sand deposits that meet specifications for great bunker sand.
Who is the superintendent of San Diego Country Club?
Gary Dalton , superintendent at San Diego Country Club for the past 16 years, says he’ll draw a picture for his Spanish-speaking employees to help them gain a better understanding of what needs to be accomplished.
Who is the superintendent of Memorial Park Golf Course?
Jason Harsh, superintendent at Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, says he has learned key words in Spanish to work a little better with his employees who speak limited English. Learning the Spanish word for soil, sand, shovel, rake, etc., has been effective for him daily at his 18-hole, city-owned course.
Why are golf courses capped with sand?
Golf course sites with poor or inconsistent soils are capped with a 6-inch layer of sand to allow uniform water infiltration and a significant reduction in water use by reducing runoff and avoiding over-application of irrigation water. Educational Opportunities Concerning Water Use and Conservation.
What are some alternative irrigation sources for golf courses?
These include: Storage ponds to collect storm runoff water that might otherwise be lost and wasted. Use of tertiary treated effluent from municipal sewage treatment facilities.
What grasses are used in golf?
Ongoing breeding work on zoysiagrass (Texas A&M), saltgrass (Colorado State and Arizona State), annual bluegrass (Minnesota and Penn State Universities), alkaligrass (Loft's), fairway crested wheatgrass (Utah State), colonial bentgrass (Univ. of Rhode Island) and a number of grass species at Rutgers University and at other commercial seed companies, will provide new grass varieties for golf that reduce water and pesticide use for decades to come.
How much money has the United States Golf Association given to improve grasses?
Improved Grasses that Require Less Water. Since 1982 the United States Golf Association has distributed more than $18 million through a university grants program to investigate environmental issues related to the game of golf, with a special emphasis on the development of new grasses that use less water and require less pesticide use.
What is the USGA?
The USGA promotes and conserves the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions. It acts in the best interests of the game for the continued enjoyment of those who love and play it. The USGA: Celebrating 125 Years. Design Philosophy From Female Golf Course Architects. GIVING.
Does turf filter water?
The turf does an excellent job of filtering the water of nutrients and breaking down various chemicals and biological contaminants in the water. Use of recycled water on golf courses is mandatory in some locales in the Southwest, and it is estimated that more than 1000 courses nationwide currently use this source of water.
What is a water hazard in golf?
In summary, a water hazard marked with yellow is a standard water hazard. Water marked with red is called a lateral water hazard, and normally runs along the side of a golf hole. The three options you have in both cases are that you can play the ball from where it lies, go back to where you hit your last shot, or take a drop anywhere along ...
What are the rules of golf for water hazards?
Rules of Golf – Water Hazards. When you hit your ball into a water hazard, the first thing to do is to notice whether the hazard is marked with the red stakes for lines, or with yellow stakes or lines.
What is a red line in golf?
Red Stakes/Lines: Lateral Water Hazard. In a red, or lateral hazard, you have 2 additional options available to you. The first, and perhaps the most common, is to take the point where your ball last crossed into the hazard, and drop within two club lengths of this point, no closer to the hole.
Can you play the ball from where you found it?
Assuming you can’t play the ball from where you found it, each option from a water hazard comes with a one stroke penalty. In both red and yellow hazards, you also have the option to go back to the point where you played your last shot, and play from there.
What are the characteristics of sand?
Important characteristics for the sand to have are the correct particle size, water retention characteristics and angularity.
How does sand capping affect turf?
The effect of sand capping can often be most striking when reclaimed water is used to water the turf. Reclaimed water generally contains elevated levels of bicarbonates, carbonates, salts, sodium and other materials that can adversely affect turf health, either directly or indirectly. For that reason, good knowledge and understanding of the local conditions is required before it can be decided which quality and what quantity of sand should be added. Using the incorrect sand can affect both the drainage capacity and water retention ability of the soil. Important characteristics for the sand to have are the correct particle size, water retention characteristics and angularity. A soil laboratory can help in identifying suitable sands that perhaps can be expensive but will deliver better performance while using a lower quantity. The soil laboratory can help understanding of the sand characteristics and local conditions which are essential to make a difference.
What golf course has 62?
While golf and the earth hold hands, fescue and bluegrass mix rough, and bentgrass tees, greens and fairways are maintained with immaculate care for public play. Cog Hill has four courses, including Dubsdread, where the record is a 62 owned by Tiger Woods.
What are the efforts at Sentosa Golf Club?
Efforts at Sentosa Golf Club include electrification of equipment fleet and usage of renewable energy sources.
Why is sand capping limited?
The practice does not always get the recognition it deserves, the reason being that in most instances, the effect of sand capping is limited, due to incorrect decisions. In an attempt to reduce construction cost, architects or owners of golf courses do not always respect the ideal depths of the sand layer that is added.
How effective is sand capping?
Ideal capping depth layer. Sand capping can only be effective if the root system of the grass can root deeply and extensively. Only once this has been tested and established by a soil testing laboratory, is it possible to determine how much sand should be added.
Why add sand to a lawn?
Sand capping, the art of adding several inches of sand or a high-sand mix to improve the turf growing conditions by increasing the drainage of the surface, has really gained momentum since the start of the century. It has proven to deliver a more consistent surface with a rapid drainage capability that remains firm, even in wet conditions. Once finished the turf is more resistant to compaction. Sand capping can also eliminate certain problems associated with turf growth in poor soils, as well as create a more conducive growing medium.
How to tell if sand is firm?
The uniformity coefficient (Cu) can be useful for predicting the relative firmness of sand by identifying if the material is narrowly or widely graded. A narrowly graded sand contains many particles of similar size and will have a relatively low Cu. Such material is more likely to produce buried lies and is more prone to erosion. Conversely, a widely graded sand is one that has particles of many different sizes and will generally produce firmer conditions due to the greater tendency for the sand to pack together. As a guideline, the Cu should range between 2.0-5.0. In a study by Bigelow and Hardebeck (2004), no meaningful relationship was detected between the Cu and the modified-penetrometer readings used for measuring firmness. However, Crum et. al. (2003) found a strong correlation between the Cu and bearing capacity – a measurement of material strength – in their study “ Agronomic and Engineering Properties of USGA Putting Greens .” The researchers used a modified California Bearing Ratio testing device to quantify the firmness and stability of sand rootzone mixtures for putting greens. When the Cu increased from 1.8 to 3.0, bearing capacity doubled. While this test is not used to evaluate bunker sands, it demonstrates the value of the Cu for predicting material stability in this study.
What are the factors that affect the quality of sand in golf bunkers?
Additionally, there are many other factors to consider such as drainage, cost, vulnerability to wind and water erosion, crusting potential, chemical stability and color. All these characteristics will influence the quality of the golf experience and are key considerations in selecting sand for your golf course bunkers.
What are the characteristics of bunker sand?
There are nine key bunker sand characteristics that can be tested in a laboratory: particle size distribution, particle shape, coefficient of uniformity , angle of repose, penetrometer reading, infiltration rate, crusting potential, chemical reaction and color. The soil moisture release curve (SMRC) and moisture column tests will also be discussed. The following text will summarize these characteristics and how they are tested, and offer new perspectives based on current challenges observed in the field.
How many bunker sands were collected in 1985?
1. Particle size. In 1985 and 1986, USGA agronomists cooperated with golf courses across the United States to assess bunker sand quality and collected a total of 42 bunker sands for laboratory testing.
What is the shape of sand?
Sand particle shape is just as critical as the particle size distribution and is characterized by the degree of angularity and sphericity. Sphericity is an indication of shape. Round particles have high sphericity and oblong particles have lower sphericity . Angular sands resemble a cut piece of glass with sharp, jagged edges, while a well-rounded sand is smooth and looks more like a potato. Figure 1 shows the six classifications used to describe angularity and the three classifications that describe sphericity. Selecting sands that range from very angular to subangular and have low to medium sphericity will likely produce desirable bunker playing conditions. Well-rounded, rounded and high-sphericity sands lead to soft conditions and buried lies.
How much infiltration is needed for bunker sand?
The physical soil testing laboratory community has suggested that the minimum infiltration rate for bunker sand is 20 inches per hour, which was based on the 20-24 inch per hour infiltration rate guideline in the 1993 USGA Recommendations for a Method of Putting Green Construction. However, in my experience testing bunker sands on golf courses, I’ve seen that infiltration rates often decrease significantly – e.g., from 22.8 to only 7.5 inches per hour – in just two to three years! Silt and clay from wind-blown dust, organic debris from clippings, leaves from trees or shrubs, algae growth and soil contamination all can decrease infiltration rates. Bunker sands that initially drain from 30-100 inches per hour should work well, depending on the climate and site conditions.
Why does sand slide down the face of a bunker?
If bunker faces are too steep, sand will continually slide down the face. Testing a sand’s angle of repose can help avoid this issue.
What is the vegetation of a golf course?
Each and every golf course that exists is this world has some form of vegetation. Vegetation comes in many different forms: turfgrasses, trees, agricultural crops, etc. One element all vegetation requires for establishment is soil.
What type of soil is best for golf?
The more consistent soil, whether it is sand or clay, the better. Having multiple soil compositions throughout any landscape will test the best of any agronomic professional. Having one or two soil types on a golf course that are consistent from the first to the 18th hole is the goal.
Why do you need to communicate with a golf lab?
Communicating with the lab can often help the lab to better tailor tests and reports to address golf course needs or concerns. Lab test reports typically include an explanation of tests results and recommendations for action. Therefore, samples should be sent to laboratories that specialize in the demands associated with growing ...
How much soil is needed for a golf course?
Golf courses typically have 25-30 acres of tee, fairway and green grasses and another 40-60 acres of rough and native grasses.
How many locations should a composite sample be?
A composite sample should be comprised of at least eight sampling locations. The eight locations should vary from the top to bottom and all around the pile. At least half of the samples should be taken from the lower third of the stockpile. Most tissue samples are collected from mower clippings.
Is golf course a treeless course?
Some golf courses are treeless, but most have several different coniferous and deciduous tree species. Anyone who cares for such a diverse landscape knows how much the soil effects the day-to-day maintenance and health of the plant. The more consistent soil, whether it is sand or clay, the better.
Is there any soil type in golf courses?
Just about every soil type that exists can be found throughout the golf course. In the heat of the summer the cool season grasses really struggle. The heat plays a factor in this but the inconsistent soils play a larger factor. The golf course turfgrass will struggle into the foreseeable future.
What happens when you drive through sand?
For instance, when driving through the sand, you may find that a lot of sand gets blown up and into the golf cart.
Why is there a cargo area on the front of a golf cart?
This is nice because it allows the driver to easily see whether or not their gear is still on the cart after rolling over a particularly large patch of sand.
Why lower tire pressure on golf cart tires?
The reason for this is that you increase the amount of surface area of the tire that is in contact with the ground.
Why do golf carts need a strong motor?
The reason a golf cart needs a strong motor for driving through sand is that sand does not allow the golf cart to take advantage of the momentum. Because of this, the golf cart’s engine must always work to push the golf cart through the sand.
What are the accessories on a golf cart?
These tires can be used on the sand without having to deflate them first. Standard accessories include a top and a windshield. The windshield will help keep the sand out of your eyes as you drive and the top will help to keep you out of the sun.
What size tires are on a Kawasaki golf cart?
The cart is lifted with a 4” factory lift kit and the all-terrain tires sit on 14” mag rims. Combine this with a 13.5 HP Kawasaki gas engine and you can see why this golf cart does well in the sand.
Why do you need a glove box for a golf cart?
In fact, you may want to get a lockable glove box so that you can lock up your belongings while you spend time in the water at the beach. Getting in and out of your golf cart in the sand can be difficult as well. Some people like to make it easier to get in and out by adding nerf bars to their golf cart.
