Master Greenkeeper John Quinn is the author of Performance Bowling Greens, and several other titles on Greenkeeping, Club and Business Management.
At its most basic, the answer is that excessive use of sand on bowling greens causes the under lying soil to become inert; lacking life or the complex web of interactions that go to make healthy, high performance turf. The natural balance of the soil/turf ecosystem is upset and the green will never be capable of consistent high performance for as long as the folly of top dressing is allowed to continue.
Understanding these microhabitats and their roles can help us manage our turf more effectively. By fostering beneficial microbial communities in these areas, we can enhance plant health, improve resistance to stresses, and ultimately, maintain healthier turf.
