A golf course in perfect condition looks effortless, but it is the result of skilled, year-round work by greenkeepers. Many golfers grumble when greens are hollow-tined, bunkers are being rebuilt or the course is on temporary greens, but those jobs are what make the good days possible. Understanding why greenkeepers do what they do helps you enjoy the course more, and shows you how to help look after it.
The greenkeeping team
A typical course has a head greenkeeper or superintendent, assistants and a team of greenkeepers. Their work includes mowing, irrigation, feeding, pest and disease control, bunker care, drainage, tree management and preparing the course each morning. The team usually starts at dawn so that most work is done before golfers reach each hole.
Mowing heights
| Area | Typical height of cut |
|---|---|
| Greens | About 3 to 5 mm |
| Tees | About 8 to 12 mm |
| Fairways | About 10 to 15 mm |
| First cut of rough | About 25 to 40 mm |
| Rough | 50 mm and more |
Heights vary with the grass species, the season and the course. Greens may be mown daily during the playing season.
Green speed
Green speed is measured with a stimpmeter: a grooved ramp that releases a ball at a consistent speed onto a flat part of the green. The average distance the ball rolls, in feet, is the green's speed.
| Stimpmeter reading | Speed |
|---|---|
| 7 to 8 feet | Slow to medium |
| 9 to 10 feet | Medium to fast, typical of a well-kept club course |
| 11 to 12 feet | Fast |
| 13 feet and above | Very fast, typical of elite tournaments |
Very fast greens require very short mowing and dry conditions, which stresses the grass. Most clubs aim for consistent, healthy greens at a moderate speed. Read how to read greens.
Aeration: hollow-tining and more
Over time, the soil under the greens becomes compacted by foot traffic and machinery, and a layer of dead organic matter (thatch) builds up. That leads to poor drainage, shallow roots and disease. Aeration relieves these problems.
- Hollow-tining (core aeration): removes small cores of soil, which are replaced with sand by topdressing.
- Solid tining and slitting: create holes or slits without removing soil, causing less disruption.
- Deep tining: relieves compaction lower in the soil.
- Scarifying or verticutting: cuts into the surface to remove thatch.
After hollow-tining, greens are bumpy and sandy for a couple of weeks or more, depending on the weather. It usually happens in spring and autumn, when the grass recovers quickly. The short-term disruption leads to healthier, firmer and faster greens for the rest of the year.
Topdressing
Greenkeepers spread a thin layer of sand or a sand mix over the greens, then brush it in. It smooths the surface, dilutes thatch and improves drainage. Light topdressing is often done regularly during the season.
Feeding, watering and overseeding
- Irrigation: automatic sprinkler systems water greens, tees and fairways, usually at night or early morning.
- Feeding: fertilisers keep grass healthy without encouraging excess growth.
- Overseeding: adding seed to thin areas or, on warm-season courses, sowing winter grass into dormant turf. Read golf in Arizona.
- Disease and pest control: monitoring and treating problems early.
Bunkers
Bunkers need regular raking, edging, sand top-ups and drainage maintenance. Heavy rain can wash sand from the faces, which must be pushed back. Many courses have local rules for damaged or waterlogged bunkers. Read how to hit bunker shots.
Winter and difficult conditions
- Frost delays: walking on frozen grass breaks the leaves and damages the turf. Courses delay tee times until the frost lifts.
- Temporary greens and tees: protect the main surfaces in frost, snow or waterlogged conditions.
- Cart and trolley restrictions: wheels compact wet soil and damage the turf.
- Winter rules: preferred lies and fairway mats may be used. Read winter golf.
Read playing golf in bad weather.
Environmental care
Many courses manage areas of rough, woodland, ponds and wildflower meadows as habitats for wildlife, use water carefully and reduce chemical use. Golf courses can be valuable green spaces for birds, insects and plants.
How golfers can help
- Repair pitch marks on the green, including one more than your own. Use a pitch-mark repairer, pushing the edges towards the centre without lifting the soil.
- Replace divots on fairways, or fill them with the sand-and-seed mix provided.
- Rake bunkers after use, and leave the rake as the course requests.
- Follow cart and trolley signs and keep wheels off greens, tees and wet areas.
- Respect frost delays and temporary greens.
- Do not drag your feet on the greens or lean on your putter.
- Wait for greenkeepers to signal before playing towards them, and give them a wave of thanks.
Read golf etiquette 101.
Frequently asked questions
Why do golf courses hollow-tine the greens?
To relieve compaction, remove thatch and improve drainage and root growth. Greens are bumpy for a short time, then healthier and better for the rest of the year.
What is a stimpmeter?
A simple ramp used to measure green speed by rolling a ball onto the green and measuring how far it travels, in feet.
Why can't I play on frosty greens?
Walking on frozen grass damages the leaves and can leave brown footprints for weeks. Courses delay play to protect the greens.
How short are golf greens cut?
Typically around 3 to 5 mm, depending on the grass and the season.
The bottom line
Great playing conditions are the result of skilled, year-round work. Aeration, topdressing, careful mowing and winter protection keep the course healthy, even if they cause short-term disruption. Do your part by repairing pitch marks, replacing divots, raking bunkers and following course instructions, and thank the greenkeepers when you see them. For more on what makes a course special, read what makes a great golf course.
For more on nature at the course, read golf courses and wildlife.
Behind the scenes: golf grass types, golf bunker sand, how golf greens are built, pin positions and flags and why golf courses remove trees.
Read how technology is changing greenkeeping in technology in course maintenance.