Verticutting greens

During the growing season, we will verticut the greens weekly.  This is one cultural practice needed to keep green speeds above 10 ft on stimp meter.  Basically we are mowing vertically with knives that penetrate an 1/8 Inch into the green canopy.  The knives are spaced less than a 1/4 inch apart.  The picture illustrates the material that is removed from canopy.  We will clean up greens by dragging with brush which will brush any sand back into canopy.  This will be followed by blowing debris off greens which recycles nutrient back into roughs.  The final step is double mowing green surfaces leading to smoother and firmer putting surfaces.