Golf Course Maintenance: A Beginner’s Guide to Streamlining O&M

Seventy-four acres—that's the size of the average golf course. Unlike other popular sports, golf doesn't require any two competition areas to be exactly the same. In fact, part of the appeal of playing golf is experiencing new and different courses.

What many of the 24 million golfers in the United States don't realize is that golf course maintenance is more complicated than mowing a lawn and turning on the sprinklers.

Managing a golf course means juggling three critical areas: keeping the turf healthy, maintaining equipment, and making sure members stay happy. This coordination becomes more complex when managing assets across large properties where downtime directly impacts revenue.

This article walks you through what it takes to maintain a golf course, from the daily grind to the bigger operational moves that save time and money. You'll see how the right maintenance software can turn chaotic spreadsheets into organized workflows that keep courses playable without breaking budgets.

Key takeaways

• It’s critical to develop a proactive maintenance program using a computerized maintenance management system to schedule and track tasks for turf, equipment, and irrigation systems, preventing costly reactive repairs.
• Prioritize core playing surfaces, like greens, fairways, and bunkers, by standardizing daily tasks like removing ball marks, repairing divots, and raking to ensure member satisfaction.
• Deploy systematic management for critical assets like mowing equipment and irrigation systems to improve performance, conserve resources, and extend asset life.
• Streamline operations by scheduling maintenance to avoid disrupting tee times, using durable materials for repairs, and learning from best practices at other courses.

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What is golf course maintenance?

Golf course maintenance covers everything needed to keep courses playable, from caring for the turf to maintaining equipment.That means staying on top of mower repairs, keeping golf carts running, monitoring sprinkler systems, and applying the right chemicals at the right times. Behind every well-maintained course are maintenance teams using work order systems to track tasks like turf care, asset repairs, and water quality testing across the entire property.

How do you maintain a golf course?

1. Remove ball marks

One of the highest priorities for every greens crew is removing ball marks.

Predictable slope, speed, and putting surfaces are crucial to maintaining golf courses. Golf superintendents can assign a staff member to inspect each green with a ball mark repair tool to remove all visible marks. This is one of the simplest golf course maintenance activities guaranteed to keep members happy.

2. Prioritize ‘the big three’

Golf superintendents must prioritize maintenance routines for the three most important factors of well-maintained greens: firmness, slope, and speed.

• Firm putting greens ensure balls move far from where they land.
• Fast putting greens allow balls to roll freely.
• Slopes, or gradients, allow for challenging levels of play.

The USGA recommends maintaining firmness, speed, and slope with three tools: a Stimpmeter, TruFirm, and a digital level.

3. Maintainbunkers

 Maintaining bunkers includes: 

• Creating multiple access points for motorized rakes for each bunker.
• Ensuring bunkers have a proper drainage system and no water from other areas enters them.
• Raking bunkers daily to remove footprints and level the sand.
• Keeping sand depth in the bunker between 4-6 inches.
• Regularly mowing the turf around bunker edges.
• Following USGA standards for golf course design, construction, and maintenance.

4. Repair divots

The daily damage caused by divots depends on the number of golfers and the course size. Low-traffic courses don't see frequent divot damage, while heavily-used courses need more daily repairs.

Maintenance teams must routinely repair them for turf health and golfer experience. The most critical divots to fix are those located in the primary field of play: the tee box, the fairway, and the greens.

5. Involve players in maintenance

 Golfers can help lighten the maintenance burden by keeping carts on assigned paths, raking sand traps, and fixing noticeable ball marks. You can encourage players to do their part by hanging signs, issuing member policies, and rewarding helpful behavior when you see it.

6. Practice golf cart preventive maintenance

Golf cart repair and maintenance are essential for providing players with enjoyable experiences. If you're using electric golf carts, inspect them every week, including the following list of golf cart maintenance tasks:

• Wash carts daily.
• Fully charge golf carts daily.
• Recharge batteries regularly.
• Check tire pressure regularly.
• Check for oil leakages regularly.
• Inspect water coolant levels daily.
• Repair carts in a timely fashion.

7. Adopt the ‘Triple A approach’

Most golf courses use significant quantities of water to keep turfgrass healthy and green. Consider adopting the Triple A approach to conserve water usage. The method involves three steps: assessment, analysis, and action.

Managers assess course climate conditions, analyze anticipated weather changes, and irrigate based on data. This plan helps golf course management adjust their irrigation schedules to conserve water while keeping turfs green.

8. Prioritize golf course pest control

As reported by Golf Course Industry Magazine, one of the most critical issues faced by golf facilities is "turf loss due to pests." The most common culprits of unsightly turf loss include weeds, insects, and funguses. It’s essential to design pest control maintenance programs to suit your specific course.

Put simply, familiarizing yourself with your golf course's ecosystem—soil type, average weather conditions, local pests, and weeds—is essential to preventing and managing turf. Talk to other local course owners, county agents, and golf experts to learn more about your unique ecosystem.

Essential turf and mowing management

Mowing can make or break a golf course. It's more than just cutting grass—you need smart scheduling, well-maintained equipment, and healthy turf.

Your golf course mowing program should include:

• Scheduled frequencies: Define mowing schedules for greens, fairways, and roughs based on growth rates and play schedules.
• Standard procedures: Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for mowing patterns and blade height adjustments to ensure consistency.
• Equipment maintenance: Create preventive maintenance schedules for blade sharpening, engine checks, and cleaning.
• Performance tracking: Monitor equipment reliability and cut quality to prevent turf damage.

A consistent mowing routine keeps courses looking sharp and helps grass stay strong.

Irrigation system maintenance

Irrigation systems need regular attention to avoid expensive breakdowns. There's more to irrigation than flipping switches. Smart management cuts water waste, lowers bills, and prevents expensive system crashes.

Your irrigation maintenance program should include:

• Regular inspections: Check sprinkler heads, pumps, and control systems monthly.
• Leak detection: Identify blockages and incorrect spray patterns that cause overwatering or dry spots.
• Work order tracking: Use a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to schedule repairs and track inspection histories.
• Data-driven scheduling: Adjust watering schedules based on weather data and turf needs.

This approach keeps systems running smoothly while cutting waste and saving resources.

What chemicals are used to maintain golf courses?

Golf course superintendents use a variety of chemicals to keep turfgrass healthy and protected from harmful pests and weeds. Treatment substances, application frequency, and application methods vary widely depending on golf course climate and location.

As Todd Lowe, a Green Section agronomist, says,"You're dealing with microclimates and unique ecosystems that demand different management programs," he says. "We have golf courses in Florida that were built on old tomato fields or citrus groves that have wall-to-wall nematodes. On other courses, the problem might be on one green and a tee box."

Common golf course maintenance chemicals

Pre-emergent herbicides

Maintenance workers apply these solutions during fall and spring to prevent unwanted seed growth. Notably, pre-emergent herbicides don't affect already established plants. Examples include Atrazine 4L, Barricade 4FL, and Dithiopyr 40 WSB.

Herbicides

In recent years, some golf courses have begun partnering with environmental experts to experiment with organic treatment options. The goal is to improve the public health and ecological footprint of greens and fairways. Unfortunately, going completely organic isn't easy. In fact, it requires a much greater time commitment to routine soil monitoring.

Fungicides

Fungicides kill or inhibit fungi and fungal spore growth. There are different types of fungicides, including contact fungicides such as Banol Fungicide, systemic fungicides like AzTeb Select, and phosphites such as Quali Phite F.

Insecticides

Golf maintenance teams use these chemicals to combat invasive pests that harm soil and turfs. Examples include Abamectin 0.15EC Select, Xentari (Lbs), and Avid + Heritage Multipak.

Growth regulators

Golf course maintenance teams must regularly aerate soils, measure pH/nutrient levels, and carefully water their lawns. Golf course managers emphasize environmental practices so that maintenance teams use toxic and biologically based pesticides only as a last resort. As always, it's essential to carefully research your options before determining what's right for your individual facility, climate, and operations and maintenance budget.

Growth regulators suppress the growth of seedheads and leaves to minimize mowing costs and improve turf safety. They enhance the overall quality of turf, enabling smooth and uniform playing surfaces. Examples include Agra-Rouse, Atrimmec, and Cutless 0.33% Granular.

Plant stimulants (hormones)

Plant stimulants enhance seed growth, flowering times, and plant shapes. They determine leaf formation, fruit development, the types of tissues that grow upwards or downwards, and plant longevity. Examples include Agra-Rouse and Pro-Gibb 4%.

These post-emergent herbicides treat both broadleaf and grassy weeds. Golf superintendents often use them to spot-treat specific problem areas. Examples include 2-D Herbicide, Captain XTR Algaecide, and Aquanaut.

How to streamline golf course operations and maintenance

Diligent preventive maintenance plays a significant role in preserving golf course functionality. However, that doesn't mean golf courses don't find themselves in reactive maintenance mode from time to time. Below are the best ways to simplify and streamline golf course operations and management.

1. Organize a proactive maintenance program

The right CMMS software completely changes how golf course maintenance teams work. This approach helped Villages Golf and Country Club reduce reactive work by 30% while increasing preventive maintenance by 116%.

CMMS platforms provide maintenance teams with:

• Centralized coordination: Manage preventive maintenance tasks in one digital location
• Digital work orders: Replace paper-based systems that limit tracking and accountability
• Asset history tracking: Maintain complete maintenance records for all equipment‍
• Staff coordination: Improve communication and task assignment across teams

MaintainX allows operational managers to create, assign, and monitor recurring work orders for everything from pest control to landscaping duties. Golf maintenance technicians respond to work orders and message managers from the convenience of their mobile devices. Teams using the platform report significant reductions in unplanned downtime, directly adding capacity to their operations.

2. Never disrupt tee times

Noise from mowers disrupts concentration and poorly timed maintenance activities interfere with play. For this reason, maintenance planners develop maintenance routines that systematically work alongside players without interference.

Successful golf facilities like Villages Golf and Country Club now complete work orders within two to three days instead of two weeks. A user-friendly CMMS app keeps maintenance teams on the same page when assigning, monitoring, and completing tasks at ideal times.

3. Prioritize sustainability

People enjoy golf because they play it in a beautiful environment. Of course, beautiful and functional playing environments don't just happen. Costly resources like water, fertilizers, and electricity keep facilities running smoothly.

Focus on protecting that environment while conserving resources. This includes using sustainable construction materials like solar power, stone walls, and thatched roofs that minimize environmental waste. Also, consider collecting and using rainwater for irrigation.

4. Source durable materials

Light fixtures, planters, and decorative features take hits from flying balls now and then. For this reason, it's worthwhile to invest in durable materials for both original installations and replacement parts. Assets need to withstand harsh weather conditions so they don't rot or rust quickly.

5. Prioritize member benefits

Nearly 63% of members report feeling happy with their golf club's member benefits. Many benefits require routine maintenance and inspection checklists to execute as promised. Consider creating policies and SOPs for the following:

• Simple booking processes
• Stocked locker rooms (e.g., mouthwash, shaving kits, and fresh towels)
• Stocked golf amenities (e.g., tees, filled sand bottles, golf carts)
• Beverage cart services
• Clean restrooms throughout courses
• Timely responses to maintenance requests

The good news is these benefits require only a small effort from a maintenance team but generate strongly positive impressions. Modern maintenance management platforms help field service requests, manage tasks, and message team members efficiently.

6. Learn from other golf courses

Different golf courses take varying approaches to maintenance. Sometimes, the best way to strategize your maintenance program is to study those of others.

Though you will find differences—resources, staffing, climates—it's possible to adopt strategies to meet your needs. Track down the golf superintendents charged with managing the clubs you most admire on a professional site like LinkedIn. It may surprise you who is willing to share their knowledge, experience, and tips. Just remember: the goal is to improve golf course maintenance and offer patrons a better playing experience.

Risks of falling behind on golf course maintenance

It's essential for golf course management to periodically review and update its maintenance strategies to keep up with emerging situations. This enables management to focus servicing resources on the parts of the golf club that are integral to member satisfaction. Keeping up with golf course maintenance is challenging. But performing little to no upkeep is worse.

Consequences of failing to observe standard golf course maintenance practices include:

Unhealthy grass

Unattended grass allows for the growth of moss, algae, and other unwanted pests. The longer the grass grows, the more difficult it becomes to return to ideal conditions. Mow no more than one-third of the leaf blade within a single mowing. Otherwise, you risk scalping the blades, which creates thin, brown patches of grass. Workers mow greens at least twice per week.

Abandoned fairways

You can grow fairways longer than the greens but should still mow them at least once a week. Otherwise, the course will sport shaggier landing areas.

Costly pests

Prepare your grass for the spring before it arrives if you live in cooler climates. Lay down materials that protect the grass from insects, weeds, and various diseases in time. Without such protection, unwanted weeds and pests will invade the grass. It requires more resources to deal with the invasion than to prevent it.

The amount of water to use for irrigation depends on the turf type, climate, rainfall, and soil. The fairways and rough areas are more drought-tolerant compared to the greens. Without sufficient water, the grass is likely to burn out. In some cases, you need a complete rebuilding or replanting to correct the situation.

Costly weeds

When it comes to maintenance, especially on courses that are largely inactive, maintenance teams often ignore bunkers. Weeds overtake abandoned bunkers, and while they're easy to remove, it's costly. The bunkers are also at risk of washouts, which contaminate the sand.

Neglected amenities

In many courses, it's common to find neglected ball washers, benches, drinking stations, and trash bins. Without maintaining these amenities, a golf course poses a health risk to users.

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The final word on golf course maintenance

Golf course maintenance success depends on systematic coordination of assets, teams, and processes. Modern maintenance teams that implement proactive maintenance programs see measurable improvements in both operational efficiency and member satisfaction.

MaintainX provides the mobile-first maintenance platform that empowers golf course maintenance teams to coordinate work orders, track assets, and optimize operations from any location. We specifically designed our platform for frontline maintenance professionals who need reliable, easy-to-use tools that deliver results.

Ready to transform your golf course maintenance operations? Sign Up for Free and join thousands of maintenance teams already using MaintainX to reduce downtime and improve efficiency.