What Is the Easiest Way to Collect Aeration Cores?

Hollow coring is a fundamental turf management process, used on a high percentage of golf courses, particularly inland parkland courses. The process includes the removal of thousands of plugs which have to be gathered, loaded and taken away before the next operation, usually topdressing, begins.

An effective collection method needs to reduce the time taken without damaging the freshly treated surface. For many clubs, the best choice will depend on staff availability, access and weather.

Plan the clearing work before you start

Decide how the cores will be collected together and will be transported away. A fast gathering method also requires sufficient vehicle availability to keep up with it.

Inspect the surface during the first few runs. Wet cores can smear, while repeated turning and concentrated traffic can mark vulnerable turf. Keep loaded vehicles off the putting surface where practical, and arrange collection points that are easily accessible.

For a small practice green, hand tools may be adequate. Across a full course, however, repeated shovelling takes considerable effort and ties up staff who could be preparing the next stage of renovation.

Collecting behind the aerator

A collector attached behind an aerator can gather plugs as the work proceeds. These then discharge the material in piles at the end of each run for loading, reducing the need to gather it manually.

Assess the complete outfit before choosing this route. The combined length affects turning space, access and manoeuvring around bunkers or narrow surrounds. However, this can be an efficient arrangement where the green layout and disposal process suit it.

Use a dedicated sweeper or harvester

Specialist core sweepers and harvesters can offer high output, particularly where substantial amounts of material need handling. Some collect directly into a high-tipping hopper, reducing the separate loading work.

Compare the laden machine and its turning behaviour on your own greens. Weight when fully laden with cores can be substantial, so consider whether your greens surface is stable enough to operate without marking.

Hiring can make sense for occasional renovation, but also consider the cost of delivery, equipment availability and the consequences of postponing the work. A hired machine offers useful capacity, but a change in the weather may also require a change to the booking.

Push cores with the greens triplex

The GreenTek Triple Core Pusher offers a simpler approach to gathering. Three individual units replace the mowing units on a compatible greens triplex and push the cores into heaps ready for removal. Each unit runs on smooth skids and follows the contours independently.

Using the familiar triplex gives a manoeuvrable outfit and avoids adding a dedicated engine-driven collection machine. It is particularly attractive where the club wants equipment available whenever conditions allow coring, with less manual pushing and gathering.

The core removal needs organizing for easy access and loading. Position heaps where they can be lifted conveniently, keep routes clear and allocate enough transport capacity to prevent a backlog. 

What affects the cost?

Compare the complete operation, including staff, hire or ownership, loading and transport. A sweeper's higher purchase cost may be justified by its output and collection system. A triplex pusher may be a more proportionate investment where the club already has a suitable mower and can organise efficient loading.

The Triple Core Pushers cost around £2,650 in 2026.  There are various videos available showing how simple and effective they are in operation.

Frequently asked questions about collecting aeration cores

Is there an easy way to collect hollow cores from golf greens?

There are several easier ways than pushing a traditional snow shovel. 

Does the Triple Core Pusher collect cores into a hopper?

No. It pushes them into heaps for subsequent loading and removal. 

Will it fit my existing greens triplex?

The Triple Core Pusher is available for popular greens triplex machines, replacing the mowing units. Give your GreenTek dealer the exact make and model so the correct fitting requirements can be confirmed.

Can core collection damage a freshly aerated green?

Modern core collection equipment is specifically designed to operate without marking the greens surface.  However, be mindful of its weigh if the greens surfaces are soft or unstable. Make controlled turns, minimise repeat passes and keep heavier equipment off the putting surface where possible.

Is hiring a specialist collector better than buying?

Hiring can suit infrequent work or a requirement for high output. Ownership provides flexibility when the weather changes. Compare the annual workload and complete cost, including delivery and labour.

Can removed cores be reused elsewhere?

Potentially, after assessing their composition, and suitability for the destination. They may be useful in less demanding landscaping or restoration areas, but material removed to correct a green's profile should not be returned to that green without a clear reason.