Wiedenmann’s Terra Float Air continues to prove its worth for turf managers working on busy, high-traffic golf courses—where closure is only an option in extreme weather.
Calum Forsyth, Course Manager at Elgin Golf Club, has had his own Terra Float Air for a year but has been using them since around 2017. “Once you’ve worked with one, it’s hard to imagine running a season without it. The accuracy is spot on, it never wastes seed, and it just works without causing any disruption. We’ve had really good success with it putting out bent on greens and some ultra-fine rye. We’ve also used it for opening up the greens with a light spiking using the nail tines, then followed with a light topdressing,” he says.
Versatile and user-friendly, the Air has become a go-to for overseeding programmes. Many turf teams use it frequently, adjusting seeding rates to suit seasonal needs and turf condition. Greens are often the main focus, but tees and fairways also benefit.
On exposed or coastal courses, it’s particularly valuable for rapid recovery after salt or disease stress. Even if cooler weather follows, the seed is in place, ready to establish as soon as conditions improve.
At its core is a rotary spiker that opens thousands of clean holes for seed placement. Interchangeable star, spike, or cone-shaped tools allow holes to be tailored to the seed type or renovation goal. The seed delivery system is fully electric-driven, from the dosing sleeves to the fan, with seed transported pneumatically to deflector plates for precise placement.
Calibration is handled from the cab via an onboard computer, which stores application data for future reference. It also records a full work history, making it easy to resume after an interruption or repeat a programme exactly as before. With maximum precision assured, even at rates as low as 1 g/m², it’s an ideal choice when working with high-value seed and tighter budgets.
Many turf managers pair it with other equipment, combining spiking, seeding, and dressing in a single pass for improved germination and denser turf. Some programmes involve multiple passes between spring and autumn, starting with light seeding and topdressing in early spring and increasing inputs later in the season to maintain strong coverage ahead of winter.
Fast enough to keep ahead of the golfers, the Terra Float Air slots neatly into a busy maintenance day. A light roll afterwards and the surface is ready for play—showing that overseeding can be precise and productive without holding up play.