Wayne,
Interesting that this topic has been brought up. I have 3 interns from various turf colleges and just recently, we have begun to raise all our irrigation heads around our greens. When asked as to why were doing this, this is the exact reason. Majority of these heads are not able to spray the putting surface or surround without hitting the lip of the soil. The heads are being raised anywhere from 3-4 inches. Our greens were resurfaced in 2001. Since then, we have tried to verticut and topdress every 2 weeks from April until October 1st. In the same time frame, the greens are core aerified and topdressed 3 times. We brush in the topdressing sand in lines as to try our best to not alter any of Mr. Dye's contours. We feel that doing circles to brush the sand in would allow excess sand to build up on countours and the edges of the collars. We feel, without a doubt, this is because of years of topdressing.
Granted, the newer varieties need less sand, but it needs to be done in a much more frequent manner-10-14 days in the growing season. Tifdwarf is an older variety that could just be buried and the grass would grow through it. Not so with the Tifeagle, Champion or Emerald. Hope so of this helps.
Tony Nysse
Sr. Asst. Supt.
Long Cove Club
HHI, SC