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SubAir is the brand name for a group of subsurface putting green air systems used on golf courses to regulate moisture levels, provide aeration, and control heat. The system was invented by Marsh Benson, the senior director of golf course and grounds at Augusta National, and has since been implemented at other well-known golf courses, including Wentworth, Adare Manor, and East Lake. SubAir systems can be used to control temperatures in the root zones, helping to extend the growing season and creating a more consistent and smoother playing surface.
| Characteristics | Values | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Name | SubAir | ||||||
| Purpose | To regulate moisture levels and provide aeration and heat control, allowing greens teams to maintain green condition, regardless of the weather conditions | ||||||
| Working | The system is attached to the existing network of drainage pipes beneath the putting surface and acts like a giant Shop-Vac, hoovering moisture from below | ||||||
| Benefits | - Removing water from the soil profile by applying suction through the drain lines of a green | - Pulling air into the rootzone from the surface | - Reducing soil temperature during hot weather | - Improving the soil growing environment by warming or cooling it | - Helping to extend the growing season beyond normal seasonal variations | - Creating a more consistent, smoother playing surface | - Helping turf recover more quickly if it is subject to heavy traffic |
| Limitations | - Cannot remove water from the top inch of the green, only deeper in the profile, and this occurs over a period of days, not hours |
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What You'll Learn
SubAir is a brand name for subsurface putting green air systems
The pressure mode of a SubAir system can be used to cool the root zone when it's hot outside. By moderating moisture, temperatures, and aeration levels, the root zone will be healthier, and the grass more resilient, creating a more consistent and smoother playing surface. SubAir systems can also be used to remove water from the soil profile by applying suction through the drain lines of a green. In the process, they also pull air into the root zone from the surface, accelerating drying after rain.
Units can also push air into the drain lines and ultimately into the soil profile, which may help reduce soil temperatures during hot weather. The roots of cool-season grasses like bentgrass and Poa annua struggle to function when soil temperatures get too high, so cooling the soil alleviates stress on the grass. If equipped with heating and cooling units, SubAir systems can improve the soil-growing environment by warming or cooling it.
SubAir was invented by Marsh Benson, the senior director of golf course and grounds at Augusta National. The system acts like a giant vacuum, hoovering moisture from below. It is attached to the existing network of drainage pipes beneath the putting surface. SubAir's primary purpose is to pump air into greens from underneath.
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SubAir systems can remove water from the soil profile
SubAir is a brand name for a subsurface putting green air system, similar to how "Xerox" is used to refer to copiers. It is a mechanism beneath the surface of putting greens that moves air through the drainage pipes.
SubAir systems can also be switched to pressure mode, which forces air into the pipes and up into the soil and root systems of the grass. This can help control the temperature of the greens without interrupting play. When in vacuum mode, SubAir systems can also deliver fresh air to the root zones and balance oxygen and moisture levels in the growing zones to achieve sustained plant growth.
While SubAir systems can remove water from the soil profile, they have limitations. For example, removing water from the top inch of the green with a SubAir system is not likely. Removing water from deeper in the profile can speed up overall drying, but this occurs over a period of days, not hours. Additionally, while SubAir systems can influence grass health and playing conditions by modifying soil temperature, other factors such as sunlight, air temperature, and humidity also play a significant role.
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SubAir can be used to control temperatures in the root zones
SubAir is a subsurface aeration and moisture management system used by high-end golf courses to regulate moisture levels and provide aeration and heat control, allowing greens teams to maintain green conditions regardless of the weather. The system was invented by Marsh Benson, the senior director of golf course and grounds at Augusta National.
The SubAir system can be used to control temperatures in the root zones, helping to extend the growing season beyond normal seasonal variations. The pressure mode of a SubAir system can be used to cool the root zone when it's particularly hot. By moderating moisture, temperatures, and aeration levels effectively, the root zone will be healthier, and the grass more resilient, creating a more consistent and smoother playing surface.
The system can be programmed to automatically introduce fresh air to the soil daily at set intervals, which can be overridden by the user via smartphone or computer when needed. This air can be added in two ways: a top-down vacuum mode, which pulls air from the surface down through the soil and into the drain pipes; and a bottom-up pressure mode, which pushes air through the drainage pipes and up to the surface. The control panel gets data from a sensor in the vault to select which mode to use based on ambient air temperature, the type of grass, and, if desired, soil moisture.
The Hydronics temperature control system, when used in conjunction with a SubAir Vault, will condition and maintain ideal root zone temperatures during warm and cool season operations. This is done by pumping warm or cool fluid into the soil beneath the green or playing surface, which travels from a holding tank to the surface via a supply pipe. The SubAir technology allows for much deeper control of turf temperatures overall.
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SubAir systems can be installed in one day
SubAir is a brand name for subsurface putting green air systems, which are used on golf courses to improve playing conditions. These systems work by moving air through the putting green drainage pipes, with some systems also having the ability to heat or cool the air to change the soil temperature.
While installing SubAir systems can be expensive, they offer a range of benefits, including the ability to remove water from the soil profile and improve the soil-growing environment. However, it is important to note that SubAir systems are not a "silver bullet" for putting green firmness under wet conditions, as other factors beyond soil moisture can influence firmness.
The SubAir system was invented by Marsh Benson, the senior director of golf course and grounds at Augusta National. The system is attached to the existing network of drainage pipes beneath the putting surface and acts like a giant vacuum, removing moisture from the green. Since its invention, Augusta National has equipped all of its greens with permanent, buried SubAir units and has even extended the system to other parts of the course, including fairway landing areas.
The installation process for SubAir systems can vary depending on the manufacturer and the specific features selected. However, in most cases, the installation can be completed in just one day. This typically involves connecting the above-ground or vaulted unit, which contains the blower and sensor, to the green's drainage pipes. Once installed, the system is commissioned to operation standards, and training is provided to the turf management team.
Overall, SubAir systems offer a range of benefits for golf courses, and with a quick and efficient installation process, they can be a convenient way to improve playing conditions and enhance the health of the turf.
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SubAir is used at golf courses such as Augusta National
SubAir is a brand name for a subsurface putting green air system used to regulate moisture levels and provide aeration and heat control, allowing greens teams to maintain green conditions regardless of the weather. SubAir's primary function is to pump air into greens from underneath, with the ability to push or pull air through the drainage pipes.
The SubAir system was invented by Marsh Benson, Augusta National's senior director of golf course and grounds, and first installed at the club in 1994. Augusta National, a golf club in Augusta, Georgia, is known for hosting the annual Masters Tournament. The club's greens are meticulously maintained to provide a fast and hard golfing surface, and SubAir helps to achieve this by removing excess water and supplying fresh air to the root zone.
The benefits of the SubAir system are not limited to golf courses. Bill Deacon, the director of landscaping and field operations for the New York Mets, uses SubAir to clean up after rainstorms and to ventilate the field when it is covered for concerts. SubAir is also used at sports stadia around the globe, including Wentworth, Adare Manor, East Lake, and Colonial.
While SubAir can provide benefits, there are some limitations to what it can achieve. For example, it cannot remove water from the top inch of the green, and it is limited in how much it can influence grass health and playing conditions by itself. Additionally, some experts argue that if greens are built properly, a SubAir system is not necessary, as their greens already provide the kind of gas exchange and drainage that SubAir promotes.
Despite this, SubAir has been a successful addition to Augusta National, with players able to return to action sooner after rainstorms, and the health of the turf improving.
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Frequently asked questions
SubAir is a brand name for a subsurface putting green air system. It is an underground system used by high-end golf courses to regulate moisture levels and provide aeration and heat control.
SubAir systems can be used to control temperatures in the root zones, which can help to extend the growing season. They can also remove water from the soil profile by applying suction through the drain lines of a green.
SubAir systems help to create a more consistent, smoother playing surface. They can also increase turf recovery and improve the soil growing environment by warming or cooling it.
SubAir systems are expensive and may not be necessary for all golf courses. They also have limitations in how much they can influence grass health and overall playing conditions as they are still subject to factors like sunlight, air temperature and humidity.
