At Desert Mountain’s Jack Nicklaus–designed Cochise Course in Scottsdale, director of agronomy Shawn Emerson reconstructed 19 greens that had been in play for 20 years to withstand brutal Arizona heat and heavy play. Using Profile™ Porous Ceramic (PPC) Greens Grade™ to replace peat in the sand-based root zone, the team addressed slow infiltration, low cation exchange capacity and organic buildup from frequent topdressing. Soil testing led to a PPC-only amendment, thoroughly incorporated into the profile. The rebuilt greens delivered deeper percolation, improved drainage and reliable performance under extreme weather and traffic.
Key Points
- Profile Porous Ceramic (PPC) Greens Grade replaced peat to dramatically improve percolation rate and nutrient-holding ability in the sand-based root zone.
- Soil testing and physical analysis by Nick Lubich and John Maeder determined that using PPC alone in the mix would achieve the best results.
- Reconstruction removed the top two inches, rototilled the root zone, added PPC, then rototilled in two directions to create a uniform soil profile.
- Percolation increased from six to eight inches to 10 to 12 inches, and the greens held up well in high heat, heavy traffic and extreme weather.
