Topdressing and changes to contours.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Tom,

Out of the thousands of courses you've seen, how many had greens that were substantively altered by "sand splash" ?

Patrick, I think it can have a big effect especially on drainage routes.


But, not green contours as you stated in your previous post.

In the last few years we have seen an increase in ice damage to Poa annua greens in the winter because of water turning to ice on the green before it can drain off during mid-winter thawing. I think that originally those areas drained off much faster and thats one of the reasons why ice damage has gotten worse over time.

Then "Global Warming" is mostly a myth on your course ?

I think "sand splash" has an impact on the bunker wall and perhaps the area immediately adjacent to it, but, not the putting surfaces, as you point out.

[Pat Burke]

It has been known to happen, so I may be wrong....

But I thought there was discussion on the "shoulders" of some of the greenside bunkers at Riviera
that had grown into the green surfaces, significantly impacting some old hole locations?

May have been when Crenshaw was involved. 

Operating off memory, maybe front right of #16?

FWIW, and with absolutely no evidence, I believe the splashing of sand really changes the contours of the bunkers, as well as the
edges of the greens where shots are directed.

Practice bunkers show it quickly, but obviously that is extreme

[Rich Goodale]

What about sand being thrown on to greens from shots played out of bunkers? Can't that effect green contours as well? 

Some say that the 13th green at Merion had the front portion of the putting surface elevated by sand splash.

 

The only time I played Merion the 9th green was the one pointed out to me as a victim of "front of the green sand splash buildup" (Sounds like an infomercial....) and it seemed obviously true to me (who has seen a lot of similar situations at other courses over here in Scotland and over 30+ years).

[David_Tepper]

Rich Goodale -

Do you think sand splash has built up the very front portion of the #10 green at Royal Dornoch? (I do )

DT 

[Rich Goodale]

Fully agree, David, and probably the reason too that they are re-laying the front prt of that green as we speak.

Rich