Home Golf Course Maintenance Advice

[Michelle Wie Fan]

Hello, I built a small 9-hole par-3 golf course at home on my little farm.  The 9 putting greens (10’ diameter) are lined with landscape fabric, and contain 5” crusher run, 1” bedding sand, then topped off with retired “Artificial Field Turf”.  I am writing to you today for some advice, hopefully you are willing to give me advice, it would be appreciated.  The problem I am having is with Ants, and other ground dwelling animals “Digging” in the sand and crusher run, especially in the areas around the location of the cups (Holes).  When the work was originally completed on the greens, the “Practice Putting Green Flags would stand straight up.  Now almost a year later, the Practice Putting Green Flags are often found lying on their side as a result of the ants and other animal’s digging and tunneling through the sand. My question for you today is, how do you prevent this type of thing from happening?  What product(s) have you found to be useful in preventing the digging and tunneling of small insects/animals in the sand and crusher run under your greens? I thought it best to ask people/companies that deal with this type of thing on a regular basis for their advice before I just “try something”.  I would greatly appreciate it if you would write back to me with some suggestions and advice about how I can resolve this issue and continue to maintain my greens going forward into the future.  Thank you for taking the time to read my Email.  I’m looking forward to hearing from you and hearing your input, advice and suggestions.   Have a nice day,

 

Joe

[bkuehn1952]

There are a number of companies that actually build artificial turf greens.  Presumably they have solved this problem.  You might search for local outside artificial turf installers in your area and ask if they might give you some free advice.  They might refuse since you are somewhat directly competing with them but I find many people are willing to share a bit of their knowledge without placing a price tag on it.

[Michelle Wie Fan]

Thanks,  I have contacted several companies.  I have had a couple of them not want to give me any information because Im not purchasing from them.  Im not a competitor,  I built this on my own.  I dont have a business doing this.  This was a DIY project!