Final Aerification Update

That's a wrap on aerification, the staff finished up topdressing and brooming greens last night.  The brooming process is used to equally distribute the topdressing layer of sand across the greens while filling the holes.  All greens were broomed in two directions.  This practice will continue over the next couple days as we continue to work the sand into the canopy.  Below is a picture of the process.

Today was an exciting day for me as we put our first cut on fairways, I'm excited that the weather is breaking and we can start putting all the planning into action! 

Aerification Update #3

First and Foremost, a special thank you is in order for the membership for giving us the course today to finish up all the tasks needed to complete aerification.  The theme of the winter months has carried over into this week and has really hindered our productivity.  The combination of snow, rain and frost have added up to a full day (hour wise) of lost production.  Therefore, "thank you" for your understanding and patience on a practice that will pay dividends for a successful season.  Spring is right around the corner, with the 10 day forecast, we couldn't ask for better weather to aid in a speedy recovery.

Day 3 allowed us to finish up the cleaning of plugs and initial rolling of all greens.  Then, Assistant Max and I started amending all the greens with soil building products prior to topdressing for better incorporation into the soil.  Topdressing followed, although a nuisance for the mechanic, incorporating sand into the native soil greens here at Longue Vue is paramount to the success and playability of our putting surfaces.  Below are some pictures of the process:

 

                                                    Assistant Steve applying the sand

 

 

Utilizing our new material handler to load up the topdresser 

The finished product

 

 

The use of our new material handler was a life saver with topdressing for this aerfication.  With half the manpower needed and a lengthy frost delay, we were able complete 9 greens.  The same output produced in the past on a full day without frost.  Today, we will broom greens in a couple of different directions to move the sand into the holes. 

 

On a side note, today during frost we are firing up the irrigation system, a true sign that spring is here! 



Aerification Update #2

Day 2 was hindered by a lengthy frost delay preventing us from getting started till 11am.  However, the crew worked hard till dark as we were able to finish poking all the greens and only 4 greens are remaining for clean-up today once the frost lifts.  A final touch crew was created yesterday that blew greens a second time along with rolling out the imperfections created from the Aerification process with our Salsco rollers.

Amending and Topdressing will start today on greens as we are still hoping to finish all tasks by tomorrow (Thursday) night, weather permitting.  The weather forecast is shaping up for a speedy recovery and we could not have asked for better timing to conduct this process.

Aerification Update

Old man winter continues to hold a strong grip on the season even into the first of April.  Day one of aerification was plagued by cold temps in the upper 30s along with on and off snow/rain showers.  The crew worked through the elements and were able to finish 7 greens yesterday.  The mid day snow fall hindered the overall production of the day because of the amount of moisture that accumulated on top of the putting surface preventing cores from being pulled properly along with creating a mess with clean-up.

Spring Aeration

 

 

 

 

The process of aerification started on greens this morning.  We are using a 5/8 inch coring tine to remove the top 2 inches of thatch and organic matter from the putting surface while creating a hole to incorporate sand into the green profile.  This process is paramount to the success of any playing surface on a golf course while improving surface drainage, firmness and ultimately providing a healthier growing medium for roots.

Weather permitting, the goal is to have all greens poked, amended and topdressed before Friday.  The greens department appreciates the patience and cooperation of the membership with this process.  Below you'll find a video outlining the process and the agronomic benefit of Aerification.  Stay tuned over the week with additional post and twitter updates on the progress.