Greens Aerification Update

 

This week we have completed our second aerification to all of the greens.  The weather also held up well for us with some cloud cover that keeps the stress levels of this operation minimal.  We started on Monday August 18th and went ahead and completed the practice green to get that one out of the way and to give the new guys a chance to see what this operation is all about.   We also used a smaller hole or tine size this time on all the greens which will help with the healing process.  Even though every Superintendent has different methods they use during aerification and constraints here is a brief list of the different steps we perform during our aerification. 

 

 1. We apply a granular fertilizer about 5days prior to aerification to get the grass growing.

 2. We spray the greens four days prior with plant protectants, bio-stimulants and wetting agents. 



 3. We mow the green to get the dew off so it helps with drying the surface.

 4. The aerifier starts to aerify the green.

 5. Cores are cleaned off with blowers and picked up.

 6. The greens are rolled.

 7. Topdressing sand is applied to fill the holes and smooth our the surface.

 8. The topdressing sand is dragged in using a brush towed behind a cart.

 9. Calcium and magnesium amendments are applied.

10. Green is watered.

11. A new pin location is cut ready for play the next day.

 

 

 Below is a brief video that explains why we need to aerate.

  



Course Update

 

 

A new fixture has been placed at the stairs by the green on hole 13.  A very generous member brought this to be mounted to let everyone know when the green is clear and they can hit up.  Mr. Pellerite, first off Thank You Very Much.  But I do have one question, I just have to know how long did you sit in front of your computer searching for this perfect bell.

 

 

This last project is finally underway at the cart storage building.  Here is a picture of what is left after the old wooden fence has been removed.  The old wooden fence is being replaced with a new vinyl tan fence that will give our curb appeal a big lift.

 

 













Wow! What a difference a new fence can make.  Now we just have to hope that the cart staff can keep from hitting it with the golf carts as they are cleaning up the carts.





Course Update

 

 

Here is an example of a tissue test that we perform on several greens every three weeks during the summer.  This one is a report of #1 green.  If you look to the left you can see the elements that we are testing and the middle column shows our results and the finally the far right shows the range or target values for bentgrass.  You can see we are only really short in phosphorus by a hair which gets tied up in the soil easily. Potassium is the other we are short in which leaches very easily with rain.  We are constantly spraying potassium or applying granular applications to make sure we are giving the plant what it needs to keep it happy.

 

You probably have noticed some weeds on the course that are "bleaching" or turning white.  This is happening because of a new herbicide that we have sprayed in the roughs and a couple of fairways to rid the golf course of a couple of weeds that we have not been able to control in the past.  Weeds like dallisgrass, nimblewill, bermuda and goosegrass are just some of the tough to kill weeds that this new product works well on.   This new product came out last year and even though the bleaching is distracting to the eye I assure you that it is doing exactly what it is supposed to do which is inhibiting carotenoid biosynthesis and then they start turning white because of chlorophyll loss.  Soon after this the weeds die.

 

It is nice to see roots this length during summer.  Now I wish I could say that all the roots are this long consistently every where on the greens but usually that is not the case.  It is also good to see the the sand particles sticking to the root hairs on this profile as well and not falling off.