A new sand mixture will be found in the sand bottles. Over the last several years, a green sand mixture has been provided to help fill divots that were too damaged to replace. This mixture consisted of 50% green sand + 50% Construction Mix (80% sand: 20% Peat). The green color masked the divot; however the sand mixture did not hold moisture very well, slowing a divots recovery speed. Although we've received a lot of rain this year, the new bentgrass fairways are too be kept firm and dry. A new sand mix is needed to help the divots recover during drier conditions.
The new mix is much darker in color as it is a mixture of 40% sand: 30% Marsh Peat: 30% Compost. It was attempted to create this mixture using green sand. However, there was no difference in color yet the green sand component doubled the cost. This divot mixture was created to help maintain moisture for seed development. Beginning in early August, the Grounds staff will begin using this mixture along with Memorial bentgrass seed. The seed will germinate quickly with the warmer temperatures and the cooling fall weather should promote a faster healing of the divots. Filled divots will be visually more obvious than those with the green sand, but the faster healing will be more beneficial to the quality of the fairway surfaces. A seeded mixture will only be applied by the Grounds staff in order to reduce the chance of rough contamination. In addition, a seeded divot mix does not store well in bottle or other containers. If the mix is not utilized within 3-4 days, the seed will germinate within the mixture clogging the bottle becoming useless. I am expecting this divot mixture to significantly improve the speed of divot healing on the Practice Range Tee as well as the fairways.
As a reminder: "When in doubt please replace your divot".
Old Green Sand Divot Mix / New Sand Divot Mix
