Jerry Fraser, club director of the Parkview Golf Club, stated that in simple terms, golf course hollowtining, or ‘aerification’, is necessary to achieve a healthy lawn.
Fraser stated that the aerification relieves the compaction of the soil, provides better oxygenation around the upper part of the grass roots and reduces the accumulation of organic matter or thatch.
“Over time, the daily passage of golfers’ feet, mowers and maintenance machines tend to compact the soil of the green. When the soil is compacted, the ‘air bags’ among the roots are crushed and the roots run out of oxygen and weaken. The mechanical hollowtining process creates more air space in the soil and promotes deep rooting, helping the lawn to stay healthy.”
Hollowtining involves removing cores of a couple of centimetres from the compacted soil, allowing an injection of air and water that will produce a revival of growth.
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