What is Overseeding in Golf?

In golf, “overseeding” refers to the maintenance process on a golf course in which grass seed is spread over existing grass to promote new growth or to swap seasonal grasses, replacing one type of grass for another.

Overseeding is most often carried out by programs that use bermudagrass, which is dormant during the winter. In the fall, the bermudagrass golf course is loaded with, for example, ryegrass seeds on the bunds, timed so that when the bermudagrass lies dormant, ryegrass grows in it.

In the spring, the process is reversed: bermudagrass seeds are laid on top of the ryegrass, turning the field grass back into bermuda.

Overseeding Aesthetic
It should be noted, however, that some types of golf course grass can still be played perfectly even when inactive. However, the dead grass is brown or tan, they look dead, in other words – and many golfers and golf course staff don’t like the cosmetics of the putting green.

Some golf courses beat tees, fairways, and greens while leaving the grass on the rough alone, which is dormant.

It can really create a nice cosmetic appearance with the surface color playing green really appearing in juxtaposition to a rough, dormant brown.

Overseeding Effect on Play
Over-sacrifice often involves placing the seeds together with a thin layer of sand, then allowing new grass to grow for a few days without being cut.

So overseeding (which is sometimes done in conjunction with aeration) can, for a period of a week or 10 days or more, result in very “furry” greens, fairways and tee boxes. Because greens with mowed grass can be difficult to use, some (but not all) golf courses offer discounted green fees during the overseeding period. Some courses also use “temporary greens” during the supervision process to keep golfers from walking on new and growing green grass.

The Seed Mixture Put Down Is Called ‘Topdressing’
“Petaking” is a golf course maintenance term that describes the layer of material laid on the green for the fairway following aeration or overseeding. If the green in question is aerated, fertilization consists of a mixture of sand, soil, and fertilizer. If green is mastered, fertilization consists of a mixture of sand, fertilizer and seeds.

Source: eferrit