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patented jacobsen turf groomer increases green speed and improves turf conditions

For years, golf course superintendents have been using the patented Jacobsen Turf Groomer to increase the speed of their greens without lowering the height of cut. Many would be surprised to hear that they were improving the health of their turf at the same time.

Before the turf groomer, superintendents used verticutting to remove thatch buildup and cut horizontal runners choking turf. Verticutting knives, however, slice deeply into the turf to remove thatch. It can take up to 30 days to completely heal. Agronomists recommend lightly verticutting greens, but how?

Jacobsen Turf Groomer offers two benefits

The invention of the Jacobsen Turf Groomer gives superintendents a solution that delivers two huge benefits. The first is healthier turf. The turf groomer’s powered vertical knives rotate through closely spaced roller slots to remove thatch and cut horizontal runners to expose the growth zone to more air, light, water and nutrients. The action of the turf groomer promotes a healthier, deeper root system and helps smooth out irregularities in greens caused by ball marks, old cup placements and grass stubble. The depth the knives penetrate the turf is fully adjustable to prevent turf damage. The short roller base of the turf groomer closely follows ground contours to deliver maximum results, even on severely undulating greens.

As an added benefit, superintendents have found that when the turf is “groomed” and material is removed, the speed of the green actually increases — without lowering the height of cut.

Today, many superintendents follow a strict schedule of using the Jacobsen Turf Groomer to maintain the health of their greens. The result is turf that stands up better to heavy play, exhibits improved stress tolerance during the growing season and responds faster to the application of turf amendments.

Fairways benefit, too

Though the use of the turf groomer on greens to improve turf health is well documented, what about fairways?

The Jacobsen Turf Groomer is available with roller and knife spacing of 0.25 and 0.5 inches. The 0.5-inch roller spacing is ideal for light grooming near bunkers, aprons or collars. It also works well for maintaining fairways in peak condition.

“Golf course superintendents should use the Jacobsen Turf Groomer for all their fairways and greens,” says Dr. Milt Engleke, Texas A & M University Professor of Agronomy. “Fairways should be groomed on a regular basis for healthier turf. I recommend the turf groomer be used every time zoysiagrass is mowed during the growing season. Use the turf groomer on bermudagrass less frequently and with it set 15 percent to 20 percent below the height of the bedknife.”

Superintendent stands by turf groomer

Racine Country Club, Racine, Wisconsin, is known for its fast, true-putting greens. Superintendent Mike Handrich credits much of this reputation to his maintenance program using the patented Jacobsen Turf Groomer.

“I really prefer using turf groomers instead of verticutting, which we used to do years ago,” he says. “To me, verticutting is too aggressive. If it is done when the turf is under stress, verticutting does more damage than I would like.”

Handrich says the use of turf groomers is more of a fine-tuning process because the roller’s blades don’t go into the turf as deeply.

“I can use groomers more often through the stressful summer months to help keep the grass in good condition,” he says.

In summer, turf groomers are used once a week on greens. In spring and fall when cool season grasses are growing more vigorously, groomers are used two or three times a week.

Faster, more consistent greens are the result of minimizing grain and thatch. The Jacobsen Turf Groomer takes out the longer “runners” or bentgrass stolons, which reduces friction on a rolling golf ball.

“Turf groomers cut these aboveground stems,” Handrich says. “If they get out of control, on hot, dry days bentgrass will completely dry out and require constant watering.”

Turf groomers have a minimal effect on the putting surface. In fact, golfers have no idea they’ve been used.

“A little horizontal growth on tees and fairways isn’t so bad,” Handrich says, “but if it gets out of hand on greens, thatch accumulates and the turf will have a tendency to retain water and become spongy. The roots stay up in the thatch layer and lose contact with the soil, which causes problems.

“Our program using turf groomers is a great tool in combating that issue,” he continues. “We’ve been doing this for 10 years and find it is most effective in combination with a good spring and fall aerification program. We don’t verticut at all.”