Aeration notice

It is aeration time again. No person particularly likes this time of season, but it is essential for the continued health of the turfgrass.

This week, the front 9 and putting green will be closed on Monday, with play available on the back 9. Then, Tuesday, the back 9 and chipping green are closed, and play is available on the front 9.

It is not uncommon to hear of courses skipping aeration, or “my home course only aerates one time per year, in the off-season and it doesn’t bother anyone.” While these may be true stories, there is no sustainability to either program. Eventually the down sides of skipping or under-performing aeration will catch up and the turfgrass will suffer. Once that time arrives, catch up is very difficult to nearly impossible without major renovations.

We continue to adjust our aeration program to get the most out of each aspect. We will again be aerating the greens with a combination of solid and hollow tines, which we have done for several years. The roots of the putting greens are at there shortest of the year. Using a full set of hollow tines would cause more upheaval and damage than anything. However, continuing to remove thatch is still a need; therefore, we find a balance by alternating tine styles.

The Bermuda grass also is aerated at this time of year. The Bermuda grass is growing as aggressively as it will all season. Giving it some much need oxygen will increase its growth and should help us heal the last few remaining damaged areas. We will be using solid tines, like last year, in order to minimize injury to new sod and seeded areas.

We also apply our compost during aeration, which is another aspect of our aeration program that we have been performing for several years. While we have had Bermuda grass death the last couple of years, the problem has been less and less related to Spring dead spot. We believe this is in part due to the continued applications of compost. It gives the soil a needed organic component and a long-term food source for microbes.

Thank you for your patience during this time. Disruption now leads to better quality playing surfaces, not only for the remainder of this year, but for years to come.

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please remember to keep your cart on the cart path when we are “Cart Path Only.”

Also, as part of a Golf Committee initiative to improve course etiquette, we have included links to videos teaching proper on course etiquette. Please take a moment to watch:

Ball Marks - How to properly repair

Bunker etiquette

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org