Course staff will be carrying out hollow coring from 2pm on the afternoon of Sunday October 16th. As a consequence, the course will be closed that afternoon and also for the full day on Monday, October 17th.
Only 9 holes will be in play on Tuesday October 18th and Wednesday October 19th.
What is hollow coring?
It’s the physical removal of cores of turf from a playing surface. The holes are generally 13-16mm in diameter and of varying depths. After extraction the cores are ejected, swept up and removed. When completed, a smaller mass of soil will occupy the same area of green/tee/fairway.
Why is it done?
Course traffic and maintenance cause the ground to become compacted and hardened. This means drainage is less efficient and the grass’s roots are prevented from absorbing oxygen. Hollow coring allows the compacted turf to expand and air and moisture to be more easily absorbed.
The coring helps address the problem of thatch. (Thatch is a layer of grass stems, roots, and debris that settle and accumulate over time). A thin layer is acceptable but too much thatch will hold water like a sponge.
Hollow coring also removes accumulated fibre in the grass’s root zone. It allows for the exchange of a poor soil for a better one through top dressing. That’s why the greens are normally covered in sandy top dressing immediately after they’re cored.
