USGA Recommendations For A Method Of Putting Green Construction

by the USGA Green Section Staff

Following is the 1993 revision of the USGA Recommendations for a Method of Putting Green Construction.

Step One: The Subgrade

The slope of the subgrade should conform to the general slope of the finished grade. The subgrade should be established approximately 16 inches (400 mm) below the proposed surface grade - 18 to 20 inches (450 to 500 mm) when an intermediate layer is necessary - and should be thoroughly compacted to prevent further settling. Water collecting depressions should be avoided.

If the subsoil is unstable, such as with an expanding clay, sand, or muck soil, geotextile fabrics may be used as a barrier between the subsoil and the gravel blanket. Install the fabric as outlined in Step 2.

Construct collar areas around the green to the same standards as the putting surface itself.

Step Two: Drainage

A subsurface drainage system is required in USGA greens. A pattern of drainage pipes should be designed so that the main line(s), with a minimum diameter of 4 inches (100 mm), is placed along the line of maximum fall. Four-inch (100 mm) diameter laterals shall run up and across the slope of the subgrade, allowing a natural fall to the main line. Lateral lines shall be spaced not more than 15 feet (5 m) apart and extended to the perimeter of the green. Lateral lines should be placed in water-collecting depressions, should they exist. At the low end of the gradient, adjacent to the main line's exit from the green, drainage pipe should be placed along the perimeter of the green, extending to the ends of the first set of laterals. This will facilitate drainage of water that may accumulate at the low end of that drainage area. Drainage design considerations should be given to disposal of drainage waters away from play areas, and to the laws regulating drainage water disposal. PVC or corrugated plastic drainage pipe is preferred. Where such pipe is unavailable, clay or concrete tile is acceptable. Waffle drains or any tubing encased in a geotextile sleeve are not recommended. Drainage trenches 6 inches (150 mm) wide and a minimum of 8 inches (200 mm) deep shall be cut into a thoroughly compacted subgrade so that drainage lines slope uniformly. Spoil from the trenches should be removed from the subgrade cavity, and the floor of the trench should be smooth and clean. If a geotextile fabric is to be used as a barrier between an unstable subsoil and the gravel drainage blanket, it should be installed at this time. Under no circumstances should the fabric cover the drainage pipes or trenches. A layer of gravel (see Step 3 for size recommendations) should be placed in the trench to a minimum depth of 1 inch (25 mm). It may be deeper, as necessary, to ensure a positive slope along the entire run of drainage lines. If cost is a consideration, gravel sized 1/4 to 1 inch (6 to 25 mm) may be used for the drainage trench only. All drainage pipe should be placed on the gravel bed in the trench, assuring a minimum positive slope of 0.5 percent. PVC drain pipe, if used, should be placed in the trench with the holes facing down. Backfill with additional gravel, taking care not to displace any of the drainage pipe.

Step Three: Gravel and Intermediate Layers

Place grade stakes at frequent intervals over the subgrade and mark them for the gravel drainage blanket layer, intermediate layer (if included), and root zone layer.

The entire subgrade then shall be covered with a layer of clean, washed, crushed stone or pea gravel to a minimum thickness of four inches (100 mm), conforming to the proposed final surface grade to a tolerance of ± l inch.

Soft limestones, sandstones, or shales are not acceptable. Questionable materials should be tested for weathering stability using the sulfate soundness test (ASTM C-88). A loss of material greater than a 12% by weight is unacceptable.

The LA Abrasion test (ASTM C-131) should be performed on any materials suspected of having insufficient mechanical stability to withstand ordinary construction traffic. The value obtained using this procedure should not exceed 40. Soil engineering laboratories can provide this information.

The need for an intermediate layer is based on the particle size distribution of the root zone mix relative to that of the gravel. When properly sized gravel (see Table 1) is available, the intermediate layer is not necessary. If the properly sized gravel cannot be found, an intermediate layer must be used.

PARTICLE SIZE DESCRIPTION OF GRAVEL AND INTERMEDIATE LAYER MATERIALS

Material	Description
Gravel: Intermediate layer is used	Not more than 10% of the particles greater than 1/2" (12mm)
	At least 65% of the particles between 1/4" (6mm)and 3/8" (9mm)
	Not more than 10% of the particles less than 2 mm
Intermediate Layer Material	At least 90% of the particles between 1 mm and 4 mm

SIZE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GRAVEL WHEN INTERMEDIATE LAYER IS NOT USED

Performance Factors	Recommendation
Bridging Factor	D15 (gravel) less than or equal to 5 X D85 (root zone)
Permeability Factor	D15 (gravel) greater than or equal to 5 X D15 (root zone)
Uniformity Factors	D90 (gravel) / D15 (gravel) is less than or equal to 2.5
	No particles greater than 12 mm
	Not more than 10% less than 2 mm
	Not more than 5% less than 1 mm

TABLE ONE: Selection and Placement of Materials When the Intermediate Layer Is Used

Table one describes the particle size requirements of the gravel and the intermediate layer material when the intermediate layer is required.

The intermediate layer shall be spread to a uniform thickness of two to four inches (50 to 100 mm) over the gravel drainage blanket (e.g., if a 3-inch depth is selected, the material shall be kept at that depth across the entire area), and the surface shall conform to the contours of the proposed finished grade.

TABLE TWO: Selection of Gravel When the Intermediate Layer Is Not Used

If an appropriate gravel can be identified (see Table 2), the intermediate layer need not be included in the construction of the green. In some instances, this can save a considerable amount of time and money.

Selection of this gravel is based on the particle size distribution of the root zone material. The architect and/or construction superintendent must work closely with the soil testing laboratory in selecting the appropriate gravel. Either of the following two methods may be used:

Send samples of different gravel materials to the lab when submitting samples of components for the root zone mix. As a general guideline, look for gravel in the 2 mm to 6 mm range. The lab first will determine the best root zone mix, and then will test the gravel samples to determine if any meet the guidelines outlined below.

Submit samples of the components for the root zone mix, and ask the laboratory to provide a description, based on the root zone mix tests, of the particle size distribution required of the gravel. Use the description to locate one or more appropriate gravel materials, and submit them to the laboratory for confirmation.

Gravel meeting the criteria below will not require the intermediate layer. It is not necessary to understand the details of these recommendations; the key is to work closely with the soil testing laboratory in selecting the gravel. Strict adherence to these criteria is imperative; failure to follow these guidelines could result in greens failure.

The criteria are based on engineering principles which rely on the largest 15% of the root zone particles"bridging" with the smallest 15% of the gravel particles. Smaller voids are produced, and they prevent migration of root zone particles into the gravel yet maintain adequate permeability. The D85 (root zone) is defined as the particle diameter below which 85% of the soil particles (by weight) are smaller. The D15 (gravel) is defined as the particle diameter below which 15% of the gravel particles (by weight) are smaller.

For bridging to occur, the D15 (gravel) must be less than or equal to five times the D85 (root zone).

To maintain adequate permeability across the root zone/gravel interface, the D15 (gravel) shall be greater than or equal to five times the D15 (root zone).

The gravel shall have uniformity coefficient (Gravel D90/Gravel D15) of less than or equal to 2.5.

Furthermore, any gravel selected shall have 100% passing a 1/2" (12 mm) sieve and not more than 10% passing a No. 10 (2 mm) sieve, including not more than 5% passing a No. 18 (1 mm) sieve.

Step Four: The Root Zone Mixture

Sand Selection: The sand used in a USGA root zone mix shall be selected so that the particle size distribution of the final root zone mixture is as described in Table 3.

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF USGA ROOT ZONE MIX

Name	Particle Diameter	Recommendation (by weight)
Fine Gravel	2.0 - 3.4 mm	Not more than 10% of the total particles in this range, including a maximum of 3% fine gravel (preferably none)
Very coarse sand	1.0 - 2.0 mm
Coarse sand	0.5 - 1.0 mm	Minimum of 60% of the particles must fall in this range
Medium sand	0.25 - 0.50 mm
Fine sand	0.15 - 0.25 mm	Not more than 20% of the particles may fall within this range
Very Fine Sand	0.05 - 0.15 mm	Not more than 5%
Silt	0.002 - 0.05 mm	Not more than 5%
Clay	less than 0.002 mm	Not more than 3%
Total Fines	Very fine sand + silt + clay	Less than or equal to 10%

Soil Selection: If soil is used in the root zone mix, it shall have a minimum sand content of 60%, and a clay content of 5% to 20%. The final particle size distribution of the sand/soil/peat mix shall conform to that outlined in these recommendations, and meet the physical properties described herein.

Organic Matter Selection: Although the USGA encourages the use of organic matter in root zone mixtures due to its beneficial properties, it is recognized that some sands may meet the particle size and physical properties guidelines without modification. Therefore, the guidelines no longer specify a minimum organic matter percentage. Note: Since such sands rarely occur, the vast majority of sands must be modified with organic matter to meet the required physical characteristics.

Peats: The most commonly used organic component is a peat. If selected, it shall have a minimum organic matter content of 85% by weight as determined by loss on ignition (ASTM D 2974-87 Method D).

Other organic sources: Organic sources such as rice hulls, finely ground bark, sawdust, or other organic waste products are acceptable if composted through a thermophilic stage, to a mesophilic stabilization phase, and with the approval of the soil physical testing laboratory. Composts shall be aged for at least one year. Furthermore, the root zone mix with compost as the organic amendment must meet the physical properties as defined in these recommendations.

Composts can vary not only with source, but also from batch to batch within a source. Extreme caution must be exercised when selecting a compost material. Unproven composts must be shown to be nonphytotoxic using a bentgrass or bermudagrass bioassay on the compost extract.

Inorganic and Other Amendments: Inorganic amendments (other than sand), polyacrylamides, and reinforcement materials are not recommended at this time in USGA root zone mixes.

Physical Properties of the Root Zone Mix: The root zone mix shall have the properties summarized in Table 4, as tested by USGA protocol (proposed ASTM Standards).

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ROOT ZONE MIX

Physical Property	Recommended Range
Total Porosity	35% - 55%
Air-filled Porosity	15% - 30%
Capillary Porosity	15% - 25%
Saturated Conductivity
Normal Range:	6-12 inches/hr (15-30 cm/hr)
Accelerated range:	12-24 inches/hr (30-60 cm/hr)

Under the heading Saturated Conductivity in Table 4, Normal range refers to circumstances where normal conditions prevail for growing the desired turfgrass species. Accelerated range refers to conditions where water quality is poor, cool season turfgrass species are being grown out of range of adaptation, or dust storms or high rainfall events are common.

Related Concerns

IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO MIX ALL ROOT ZONE COMPONENTS OFF-SITE. No valid justification can be made for on-site mixing, since a homogeneous mixture is essential to success.

A QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM DURING CONSTRUCTION IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Arrangements should be made with a competent laboratory to routinely check gravel and/or root zone samples brought to the construction site. It is imperative that these materials conform to the recommendations approved by the laboratory in all respects. Some tests can be performed on site with the proper equipment, including sand particle size distribution.

Care should be taken to avoid overshredding the peat, since it may influence performance of the mix in the field. Peat should be moist during the mixing stage to ensure uniform mixing and to minimize peat and sand separation.

Fertilizer should be blended into the root zone mix. Lime, phosphorus, and potassium should be added based on a soil test recommendation. In lieu of a soil test, mix about 1/2 pound of 0-20-10 or an equivalent fertilizer per cubic yard of mix.

Step Five: Top Mix Covering, Placement, Smoothing, and Firming

The thoroughly mixed root zone material shall be placed on the green site and firmed to a uniform depth of 12 inches (300 mm), with a tolerance of ± 1/2 inch. Be sure that the mix is moist when spread to discourage migration into the gravel and to assist in firming.

Step Six: Seed Bed Preparation

Sterilization:Sterilization of the root zone mix by fumigation should be decided on a case by case basis, depending on regional factors. Fumigation always should be performed:

1. In areas prone to severe nematode problems.
2. In areas with severe weedy grass or nutsedge problems.
3. When root zone mixes contain unsterilized soil.

Check with your regional office of the USGA Green Section for more information and advice specific to your area.

Step Seven: Fertilization

Contact your regional USGA Green Section office for establishment fertilizer recommendations and grow-in procedures. USGA Green Section Staff