Flood avoided, Greens Core Aerification under way

Monday, March 14, 2011

There are four things that I am very thankful for today.

1. We avoided a flood!
2. Day light savings time has sprung forward and we will have longer days for golf and work
3. We look to have a great week of weather for our greens core aerification
4. We have brought in our season staff so we can start to really gear up for the season by getting a lot of work done

Currently, our team is grinding stumps, working on four different bunker projects, core aerifying our putting greens, and taking soil samples to analyze the soil structure and composition of our putting greens.  We are thankful for a closed week to accomplish all of this work.  Later today, we will begin cleaning up from the first aerification, topdressing the greens with sand and rolling them to firm them up for the second aerification.  It will be a busy week and we still have to find time for our pre-emergent herbicide application and some tree work.


Here are some articles from the USGA Green Section Regarding Putting Green Core Aeration or Aerification

Oh No! Not Again!

Aerators are firing up all over the country. by the Green Section Staff

There are two sounds being heard on golf courses all over the country as spring makes it's way south. The first is the sound of aerator engines starting up. This is followed almost immediately by the collective groan of golfers. Aeration may be the most cussed and discussed golf course maintenance practice. While it is no secret that golfers hate it, we can assure you that no golf course superintendent looks forward to it either. So why do they do it? The short answer is that aeration is the most effective tool at the superintendent's disposal to ensure the rootzone remains capable of supporting healthy turf. For those that want to learn a little more about the why's and how's of aeration we have assembled a collection of articles, videos, and webcast recordings, developed by the Green Section staff and turfgrass scientists over the years. This is by no means a complete list since this topic has been written about in Green Section publications since the August, 1922 issue of the Green Section Bulletin. "Putting green aeration: It is more important than you think" "FLOG - What turfgrass would call it if given a choice!: Turfgrass is a living entity that has no voice in creating playing conditions for the game of golf. If turfgrass could talk, what would it say?" "Weigh your aeration carefully" "Get the most bang for your buck when cultivating greens"  "Aeration: Get it done!" "Customized cultivation: What is the goal of your cultivation program? The most effective long-term benefits are achieved from customized cultivation" "Aeration and topdressing for the 21st century: Two old concepts are linked together to offer up-to-date recommendations"