Ask a golf course superintendent what their top agronomic priority is and the answer is almost sure to involve maintaining greens. Golfers will tolerate fairways and tees that are a little spotty, but will cringe at the site of putting surfaces that are in less than peak condition.
The SandCat represents the latest technological advancement in efforts to provide perfect putting surfaces. Developed in the Netherlands by Imants and distributed in North America by AQUA-AID, the SandCat creates sub-surface sand channels that improve drainage and break up compacted areas and layers of thatch. The channels are cut at a depth of approximately 6 inches by 21 blades that are 8 millimeters thick. The process requires large amounts of sand – 20-21 tons per acre. The hopper on the SandCat itself can hold roughly half-a-ton of sand at a time. Corey Kimball of St. John’s Turf Care in St. Augustine, Fla., has worked with the SandCat.
“That’s a good amount going into the profile,” he says. “So, if guys are looking to firm up their greens, it definitely helps in that situation. It also helps with drainage, because again, you’re cutting a channel from one side of the green to the other. It allows the water to not only perc down, but also perc sideways, meaning perc off the green.”
Kimball notes that the channels allow the turf’s root system to thrive. “It gives the root a core space to grow healthy in – to thrive and grow down because there is no compaction for it to compete against,” he says. “And that’s usually what will keep a root shallow and short because it runs into the compaction. It won’t compete. It can’t go through compaction layers and it will stay right there. It won’t go through it. If you’re busting it up and giving it a clear channel to go through, it will keep following that channel.”
The SandCat can be used on fairways and tees, but its most commonly found on greens and approaches. Kimball points out that it’s imperative to periodically break up the thatch and other material that periodically builds up beneath the surface.
“A major problem with greens is the buildup of collars, if you will. Over years and years of topdressing, they create a dam effect so the water at the surface drains and stops right there at that collar,” Kimball says. “What happens is called a bird bath effect. That water will stop right there. The roots will shrink and they will not grow and you have weak turf in these birdbath areas, with algae developing.”
Kimball says that periodically breaking compacted sub-surface areas on a regular basis is a desirable alternative to rebuilding a green. “Do it twice a year and you would be able to dilute (the root zone profile) over three years or so, get a new profile and putting a new profile down without having to rebuild,” he says.
Rick Woelfel is a Philadelphia-based writer and frequent GCI contributor.
The SandCat represents the latest technological advancement in efforts to provide perfect putting surfaces. Developed in the Netherlands by Imants and distributed in North America by AQUA-AID, the SandCat creates sub-surface sand channels that improve drainage and break up compacted areas and layers of thatch. The channels are cut at a depth of approximately 6 inches by 21 blades that are 8 millimeters thick. The process requires large amounts of sand – 20-21 tons per acre. The hopper on the SandCat itself can hold roughly half-a-ton of sand at a time. Corey Kimball of St. John’s Turf Care in St. Augustine, Fla., has worked with the SandCat.
“That’s a good amount going into the profile,” he says. “So, if guys are looking to firm up their greens, it definitely helps in that situation. It also helps with drainage, because again, you’re cutting a channel from one side of the green to the other. It allows the water to not only perc down, but also perc sideways, meaning perc off the green.”
Kimball notes that the channels allow the turf’s root system to thrive. “It gives the root a core space to grow healthy in – to thrive and grow down because there is no compaction for it to compete against,” he says. “And that’s usually what will keep a root shallow and short because it runs into the compaction. It won’t compete. It can’t go through compaction layers and it will stay right there. It won’t go through it. If you’re busting it up and giving it a clear channel to go through, it will keep following that channel.”
The SandCat can be used on fairways and tees, but its most commonly found on greens and approaches. Kimball points out that it’s imperative to periodically break up the thatch and other material that periodically builds up beneath the surface.
“A major problem with greens is the buildup of collars, if you will. Over years and years of topdressing, they create a dam effect so the water at the surface drains and stops right there at that collar,” Kimball says. “What happens is called a bird bath effect. That water will stop right there. The roots will shrink and they will not grow and you have weak turf in these birdbath areas, with algae developing.”
Kimball says that periodically breaking compacted sub-surface areas on a regular basis is a desirable alternative to rebuilding a green. “Do it twice a year and you would be able to dilute (the root zone profile) over three years or so, get a new profile and putting a new profile down without having to rebuild,” he says.
Rick Woelfel is a Philadelphia-based writer and frequent GCI contributor.
Latest from Golf Course Industry
- USGA focuses on inclusion, sustainability in 2024
- Greens with Envy 65: Carolina on our mind
- Five Iron Golf expands into Minnesota
- Global sports group 54 invests in Turfgrass
- Hawaii's Mauna Kea Golf Course announces reopening
- Georgia GCSA honors superintendent of the year
- Reel Turf Techs: Alex Tessman
- Advanced Turf Solutions acquires Atlantic Golf and Turf
