Aerification completed

     Last Sunday and Monday we aerated our greens.  We used a deep drill machine that makes a 9 inch deep hole and our Toro Pro core aerator that goes down 3 to 3.5 inches deep.  This is a very labor intensive project to take on.  We had 10 people counting myself helping out to get this done in 2 days.  We first verticut all of the greens.  Then E and E Enterprise came in with two Floyd McKay deep drill machines.  After they were done we came behind them with our Toro Pro Core aerator.  Now the work begins, we have to pick up all the cores.  Blow open any aerifying holes that are covered up.  Topdress greens with sand. Drag sand into holes. Apply a granular fertilizer and a soil conditioner.  Change the cup, and lastly turn the water on.  That is all.  It takes us 16 hours to do 19 greens if everything goes smoothly.  We used 40 tons of Sand, 350 lbs. of Fertilizer, 300 lbs. of soil conditioner and 70,000 gallons of water.  It will take about one week to 10 days for greens to fill in.

 Green is verticut

 Deep Drill Machines

Here is hole spacing for Deep Drill

 Dan using Pro Core.  Staff ready to pick up plugs

 Topdressing aerated green.

 

 Ready for the brush.

 

 Brushing in topdressing.

 

Ready for water to be turned on.

Spring Aerification

     It is that time of year for us to do one of the most important cultural practices to our green, aerification.  We are going to deep drill our greens and use our conventional Pro Core aerator.  The deep drill machine uses 5/8 inch tines and drills down 10 inches deep with a hole spacing of 5"x5''.  Our Toro Pro Core will have 3/8'' tines that go down 3 - 3.5 inches with a hole spacing of 1.75''x 2.5''.  The most important thing we are trying to manage when we aerify is  thatch reduction.  Bentgrass is a big thatch producer.  Too much thatch in a golf green causes lots of problems.  Greens become soft, spongy, ball roll is inconsistent, balls will not hold,  thatch is a place to harbor insects and disease and the greens can become hydrophobic where the thatch will repel water.  After we aerate the greens the greens go through a little bit of shock.  After about one week they will begin to grow.  They are rejuvenated.  We cannot have good greens without aerifying them.  We will aerate our greens on Sunday March 19th and Monday March 20.  If the weather does not cooperate we will finish Tuesday March 21.  Here are a few pictures of the Aerators we will be using.

 Floyd McKay Deep Drill Machine

 Leave piles of sand around each hole.  Drills 10'' deep.

 Pro Core

Lots more holes closer together.

Construction is complete

     Today Schaefer-Meyer sodded the last half of 9 cart path.  We now have to grow in the new sod.  This has been a long 4 months.  The new bunkers and cart paths look great.  We will have to do a little fixing up.  Some trenches will settle and some of the irrigation we had to replace will settle.  We will fix these areas as they develop.  It will be a few more weeks before everything roots.  With the unseasonal warm weather even the Zoysia is starting to root.  Remember please play all new construction as Ground Under Repair until further notice.

 Old path under mined

 Pouring new path

Finished

#6 is completed

    # 6 was completed on Friday.  What a change to this green complex.  Both bunkers were relocated and the approach to the greens is now on the right side of the green.  Remember this hole is sodded but it is not ready to be played on.  Please all new construction is played as ground under repair.  The cool season turf will root in a couple of weeks but it will take the Zoysia more time.  Please be patient and avoid hit off any sod until further notice.  Here are a few picture of # 6 transformation.

 Pre construction

 Shaping

 Working on new approach to green

 My staff installing liner

 Installing sand 

 New sod

Done

Pictures of # 4

Bunkers on # 4 are completed here are some pictures of progress.

 Pre construction

Removing sand

 Finish grading

Finish product

Hole # 5 is completed

Schaefer-Meyer has completed sodding on # 5.  Here is the some picture from start to finish

 Pre construction

 Removing Sand

Finish product