As you have played this year, you may have noticed the golf course maintenance continuously applying sand to many playing surfaces. This practice, commonly referred to as sand topdressing or just topdressing, has been the standard practice on putting surfaces for more than twenty years. Since their construction, sand topdressing has occurred on all of Hidden Glen’s putting surfaces. New this year is a more aggressive sand topdressing schedule that will include tees, approaches, and even fairways.
This approach to maintaining the finely cut turf areas at Hidden Glen is no small undertaking. An investment in new equipment, labor, and supplies was required to initiate the sand topdressing program. The goal of the new program is to provide the membership with firmer and healthier playing surfaces on a daily basis. Maintenance staff members apply sand to these areas by way of a large material handler that is pulled by a tractor. Once the sand has dried, another member of the maintenance staff pulls a large, tractor-mounted broom to incorporate the sand into the turf canopy.
There are many benefits to the new sand topdressing program. Firmness will improve as sand is incorporated into the substantial thatch layer of our tees and fairways and accumulates to a depth of two inches. Due to its much large particle size, sand dries much more quickly than our current clay soils. Improved drainage means more roll in fairways, less disease pressure, and improved cart access following rain events. Even though it will take a couple years to realize all of the benefits, overall playability will improve almost immediately due to the more intense grooming required to incorporate the sand. The golf course staff is already in the process of topdressing putting greens, tees, and approaches. Fairway topdressing will begin in the fall with the onset of cooler temperatures and fewer golf events.