Jon, don't take anything I said the wrong way on here the cage hasn't been rattled
I think you misunderstand me on a couple points I wrote. I didn't put words in your mouth by saying courses in the UK don't see water reports. I was trying to ask you if you are saying that as a blanket statement UK courses don't ever see high levels of sodium, bicarbonates or sulphur ON the water reports? Especially in well water? Water reports can vary differently between courses right down the street from each other. So I think it's inaccurate to say UK courses all have good water and never have to deal with sodium, bicarbs or sulphur.
I understand your point about USGA mix being particle size specific. But I don't understand how that proves anything or makes a better case one way or another. Don't over think all of it. At the end of the day it's all just sand that drains faster than clay and it has organic material within it to retain water and nutrients. A links course sand being native doesn't make it better or perform more efficiently than USGA.
As far as cost? Using a SubAir doesn't have to be expensive. At LACC all I did was attach a slice valve to all greens drainage outlets, used an old SubAir unit sitting in the old North Course shed and transported it from green to green hooking it up at the drain day lights on the back of the green. Very cheap and efficient for the results we got from it. I could pump out all water from flushing greens or heavy rains instantly forming them up and never soggy and soft. It was the biggest factor in keeping them fast and firm. Not to mention healthier from disease. A dry green is a healthy green. It also cured our black layer problem from our bad water. Also, pumping air into them during the winter would warm the rootzone and you could essentially lengthen the growing season or keep a green that always got morning frost warmer. It was all a win/win situation.
But on a links course, if I had sulphur in my water that smelled like eggs along with bicarbs clogging up the thatch and sealing off the top few inches I would consider doing the same thing. I would find an old and used SubAir for cheap. Throw in drainage tile on a herringbone pattern right into the sandbase without gravel or any USGA mix. Just pipe into the sand. It's then going to kinda be like an XGD system. Water will go right to pipe because it's the path of least resistance. And just like at LACC throw on slice valves to isolate the pipe in the green and hook up a SubAir at the daylight.
It's faster water movement and increased oxygen. I can't think of any greens in the world that wouldn't benefit. And you are right, it's about cost. But it can be done cheaply if you think outside of the box. You don't have to convert to USGA greens and contract out SubAir to come in and install it. Dumb it down for what it is. A big blower hooked up to drain lines to either pump water or blow air. And those functions are the most important aspects of a greens health. Get it done cheap and it's nothing but return on investment.