Cinder based greens

[TEPaul]

Who knows why some of the old greens were cinder based?

Was it for agronomic reasons (plant health) or drainage or water retention or something like that or maybe some of all of it?

No blatant speculation please. Who really knows?

Does anyone on the other side know if this was common in GB&I or the continent in the old days?

[ANTHONYPIOPPI]

Tom,

It was a sub-surface level designed to draw water down, making it the first internal drainage system. If I remember correctly, Willie Park, Jr. used it as well on some courses. I can't speak for Willie Park, Sr. or Mungo Park.

I recently learned that about 8 inches below the greens at the Old Course is a clay-like layer.

Anthony

[Peter Pallotta]

Tom
I'll email you an article from those days (1910) by R.S. Emmet called "Reconstruction of Golf Greens". He describes work using a coal cinder base on the greens at the Mohawk Golf Club at Schenectady (and in general at sites with poor/clay soil). Along the lines you were thinking, it's because:

"This structure has good water absorbing capacity and by capillary action moisture is presumably drawn to some extent from the sub-soil. In the dryest weather comparatively little
water is required. The condition of quick drainage from the surface with moisture below seems to help the germination and growth of new grass. Greens made in this way are in good order for play very early and late in the season, and under all weather conditions, and are never muddy. The action of worms, particularly large ones, has been very materially checked on the cinder greens at Schenectady."

Peter

[Ian Andrew]

There is distinct cinder layer in the bunkers at CC of Scranton. I was always curious about whether this was a layer placed to seperate the rock from the sand or a drainage course (or both).

If someone can also speak to that - I would be very greatful.

Regards,

Ian