Reduce heights of cut in increments of 0. Assuming the surfaces are level enough to permit culling at 3mmheight, double culling of the greens should begin three or four days before the designated competition Captain's Prize?
This will greatly increase speed, but at a cost to the greens. They will recover if, as soon as the competition is completed, heights are immediately restored to 5mm and culling is done on alternate days only, for a few weeks. Remember that prolonged culling at very low heights leads to die back. Lateral grasses always impact on speed and these can be controlled by regular verti cutting and grooming, which should be carried out only in the growing season.
Sound judgement is essential, however, if the correct results are to be achieved and a good rule of thumb would be to verti cut at 1mm every second week and use groomers 2mm below cutting height twice a week. Excessive thatch will result in slowish greens and it is essential to maintain a depth of thatch at about 10mm.
Hollow coring twice a year - subject to soil tests - and prudent top dressing, should deal adequately with thatch levels. Finally, nitrogen and irrigation regimes have a pronounced effect on speed and how greens generally perform. Too much nitrogen leads to spiking up under heavy traffic while its application too close to the competition leads to vigorous growth and a consequent slowing down of green speed during the day. No nitrogen should be applied within three weeks of the competition.
Too much water causes soft greens that can imprint, while reducing pace. Therefore, a sound watering programme should be undertaken. This will involve cutting back seven days before the competition to about five minutes per day in dry conditions, and none at all during showery weather. To sum up, speed depends on grass type, the amount of thatch, fertiliser dates, verti cutting and grooming programmes, irrigation programmes and height and frequency of cut.
Attention to detail and well prepared programmes of work should ensure that on Captain's Day, members will face largely the same putting challenge as tournament professionals. But we warned: not everybody will like it. Particularly the player who has three pulls for victory Monday — Sunday, November 8th — 14th. See a sample.
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Equipment Reviews. Latest Tips and Instruction. Tips and Instruction. Apparently, they held less than golf balls. That stood out for me. Scott, during his pre-tournament press conference, said during a typical week, Augusta will slowly put its foot on the grass gas. Tournament time they become another. On Friday this year, players said the greens slowed a touch. On Saturday, after an hour-plus under the rain, they slowed again, and Hideki Matsuyama rode them to four birdies and an eagle in a six-hole stretch on his way to a four-shot lead entering Sunday.
In the final round, with a green jacket on the line, the greens will no doubt have some jump again.
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