More information on aeration

We are on the other side of course aeration now. The operation was smooth, but the weather didn’t perfectly cooperate. Being closed Monday through Thursday can seem like an inconvenience, but it gives us the time to accomplish our work in the correct sequence with the right amount of delay between each task.

One of the biggest keys for aeration is having 4 days scheduled for closure. When things go exactly right and the weather cooperates, we can finish all the course in 3 days, allowing us to give back the 4^th day. However, when our plans get scrambled, like this year, we can use that 4^th day to finish without having to completely alter a tee sheet that has already been booked. We received rain the night before aeration, Monday during our first day, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoon. This forced us to pause our work on Wednesday and then finish Thursday.

During aeration this year we poked solid tine holes in the fairways, approaches and greens and removed cores on tees. We have a contractor help us on the fairways because we don’t have the labor or machines necessary to finish in a timely manner. Our staff handles greens and tees in house.

Greens- we mow the greens first; this helps dry the surface so we can apply dry sand. The sand is spread before the aeration begins because research has shown it will actually get into the holes better when applied first. Then the aerator traverses the green with a brush attached on the back that moves most of the sand into the hole automatically. We then drag the remaining sand into the holes, roll the green smooth, and water if necessary. Now that we don’t remove any material, the whole process is smoother and much less labor intensive.

Tees- this is the first time in 12 years that we have pulled a core out of the tee surfaces. That is a very long time to go without removing material, but each year we monitored and solid tines continued to be a good choice. Up until now there was not enough thatch to necessitate removal, and the tees were not healthy enough to withstand the stress. This year we finally reached the point where thatch needed to be controlled, so we pulled a small core out of the tees. We allowed the core to dry on the surface and then dragged it until the soil broke away from the thatch. After the drag, we then blew the thatch off the tee.

Fairways- As mentioned, fairways and approaches were done by a contractor using solid tines. Using our verticutting program to control thatch in the fairways is working really well. So, we will continue to use solid tines on the fairways until it is necessary to pull a core.

Compost- we also use this time to apply compost to all of the Bermuda grass. This is a great way to build healthy soil and help the plants be stronger naturally.

 

Having the time to accomplish all this work is key, because without aeration, the turf would begin to suffer and playability would decrease.

 

 

 

Etiquette Reminder of the Month

Please do not drive carts into the tall grass native areas. Because the carts are low to the ground, grass gets caught in the front bumper and then falls off back out on the course. Thank you

 

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