You may notice from time to time a silvery sheen on our greens. In fact, you will notice it at all the best courses in Hawaii. As some of you may know, that sheen is evidence that the superintendent has applied a light sand topdressing. Many mistake this for a heavy maintenance procedure.

But trust us. It’s a good thing.

The common misconception is that sand equals poor greens. If you have ever played on top dressed greens, however, you will notice that they actually roll faster and truer than usual. That’s because topdressing improves the green in many ways:

  • Smoothness – Grass, being grass and not cement, has little gaps between individual leaves and stems. These gaps create an inconsistent surface than can affect putts. Topdressing fills in these gaps creating a smoother putting surface.
  • Firmness – The natural process of growth and exposure to the elements can create soft spots in a green’s foundation. Regular sand topdressing (along with seasonal aeration) improves surface consistency, firmness, and resiliency.
  • Recovery – A sandy layer under grass-blades helps cushion the blows greens take from every day play, improving recovery time by reducing damage. Sand also wards of algae as well as some species of weeds from taking root.
  • Improved root system – Sand provides better drainage and resists soil compaction, enabling roots to get the adequate foundation to thrive.
  • Thatch dilution – A fancy phrase essentially meaning “to keep grass and grassy stuff from clumping up.” Clumping organic material can lead to dry or dead spots. It also makes it harder to mow, disabling us from properly maintaining some of the best greens on the island.

Our greens crew puts forth tremendous efforts to ensure that we can offer you one of the best golf courses on Oahu. Amount of sand, time of year, grass growth rate: all are carefully considered when performing vital maintenance procedures such as topdressing.

With all this effort, we also want to make sure you, the golfer, are aware of why we do what we do. There are no secrets here. So do you have a maintenance question? I procedure you have always been curious about? Comment below and we will get back to you with our best answer.