Introducing… Ninja Tines!
This week marks Greens Maintenance Week at Burstwick Country Golf, an important part of keeping our course in the best possible condition for members and visitors alike. Our greenkeeping team is currently carrying out hollow coring work across the greens using our brand new Ninja Tines, a recent addition to our maintenance equipment.
Hollow coring is a key process in modern greenkeeping. By removing small cores of soil from the surface, we relieve compaction that naturally builds up over time through play and machinery. Compaction restricts airflow, water movement, and root development, all of which are essential for healthy turf. The process also creates space in the soil profile, allowing fresh air, nutrients, and moisture to reach the grass roots more effectively.
Our new Ninja Tines are specifically designed to produce cleaner, more precise cores while minimising disruption to the putting surface. Compared with traditional hollow tines, Ninja Tines allow us to carry out aeration with much smaller holes, but there are twice as many of them.
This reduces surface disturbance, meaning the greens are puttable straight away and recover faster to return to excellent playing quality more quickly. They also improve the efficiency of the operation, allowing the team to complete the work with greater accuracy and consistency.
While the process may cause short-term disruption, the long-term benefits are significant. Improved drainage, stronger root systems, and healthier turf all contribute to smoother, firmer, and more consistent putting surfaces throughout the season.
With the introduction of the Ninja Tines, our aim is to carry out this type of maintenance more regularly through the summer months. By doing so, we can maintain optimal soil conditions and keep the greens performing at their best for as much of the season as possible.
We appreciate everyone’s patience during this essential work and look forward to seeing the benefits on the greens in the weeks ahead.