Greens aeration

We are aerating greens this week. It may seem early- and it is very early compared to most courses- but there are a couple of very specific reasons that this timing works for us.

Though the timing is early, this is nothing new for us. We have been aerating greens in this window for several years now and it works for our situation.  But, comparing aeration timing between two courses is not a useful metric because of grass differences, tournament schedules, agronomic programs, and more. So, this schedule is good for our greens and calendar, but it wouldn’t necessarily work at other courses.

Sometimes the mid-winter thaw that we target as our aeration window is also the first nice weather in a few weeks that golfers also aim to get back out and play. It may seem as though we are disrupting everything just at the time when some nice winter golf can be played. However, part of our reasoning behind the early season aeration is so that the greens are healed and ready for spring play when the weather turns nice consistently and golfers want to be out regularly. It also allows the course to be ready for our early season tournaments and outings. By aerating now, we impact the first nice winter weather, not the first nice spring weather.

Our biggest reason for aerating in February has to do with our type of grass, Poa annua, and its life cycle. Each spring the Poa plant produces seeds. We work very hard to minimize the number of seeds produced because they can negatively impact ball roll, as well as deplete the energy of the plant. To stop, or at least slow, seed head production, we must slow and nearly stop all plant growth. But, to get our aeration to heal, we need aggressive growth. Recovery and seed head suppression do not work well together, so we aerate early. This allows 3-5 weeks of healing for the greens before we start our aggressive seed head suppression program.  

Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, and our aeration gets delayed until we are much closer to our first chemical application for seed heads, but we have been lucky that last several years to aerate in February. We are in the midst of this year’s thaw and are hitting the window right on.

 

We will return to weekly posts starting in March. Thank you

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not try and remove a flagstick that is frozen into the cup. Turf damage may occur.

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

Golf Cart tips

 

 

 

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org