‘Mike Probert talks Golf – Hollow Tining of Greens

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Here on the Costa’s golf is one of the biggest leisure time activities for both tourists and resident alike and with this in mind we have secured the services of Mike Probert of Costa Blanca Green Fee Services to provide a weekly round up of local golfing events and topics and in conjunction with us at THE LEADER will provide discounted golf prices to all of our readers and run our golf competitions.

Hollow Tining of Greens – WHY?

Hopefully by the time you read this article the official announcement will have been made that the border between Murcia and Valencia is OPEN and that the wonderful courses in Murcia are once again available to the hordes of golfers that live in the Torrevieja area.

Due to the lack of tourist golfers many courses have taken the opportunity to do the spring hollow tining early or cancel it altogether.

There are still some courses where this work is planned to take place in May 2021 but just why is it necessary to cause a disruption to golf and produce a poor putting surface for a few weeks?

The surface of a green, colour, density and speed is a combination of the maintenance of the surface but also, about the maintenance of the root-zone. A healthy grass starts from healthy roots. Soil compaction can be a severe problem resulting in restricted root growth, lack of water infiltration into the soil, loss of resilience, weed invasion, disease problems and decline in turf quality.

Hollow Tining is used to prevent damage from an excessive soil compaction. It is also very important to provide the needed drainage, for water infiltration and aeration at the root-zone and is done during the warm season when temperatures favour rapid shoot growth and coverage of the turf openings.

The use of sand on greens is essential because it helps to digest the organic matter, enhancing the aeration of the root-zone, speed on greens and better recovery from pitch marks. In order to minimize the disruption to golfers, hollow tinning is usually carried out in 2 consecutive journeys so that the 18 greens are aerated in the same week.

The surface smoothness restoration process includes top dressing, drag matting and rolling and greens are normally puttable after 3 days with rolling putting surface within 10 days.

However in reality depending on a number of factors such as day and night time temperatures and watering it usually take greens 15 to 20 days to return to a perfect condition.

There you have it…so when you next question the parentage of the green keepers you will understand the reasons just a little more.

Below is a list of the golf courses undertaking maintenance work in May 2021:

03/05/21 La Manga North

05/05/21 Mar Menor (closed for two months)

10/05/21 La Manga west (closed until further notice)

10/05/21 Oliva Nova

17/05/21 La Manga South

24/05/21 Roda, Hacienda del Alamo and Valle del Este

25/05/21 Lo Romero

31/05/21 Campoamor

We at THE LEADER are committed to providing to our golfing readers affordable golf without the need to join a club or apply for a card but simply contact the number below to have instant access to discounted golf prices, many of which are exclusive to us:

The deals shown in the table are some of the best prices currently available to you:

For Bookings and more information contact Mike at info@costa-blanca-greenfees.com or direct on 966 704 752 or 661 345 931 quoting reference LEADER.