Aerification

The North Course greens and fairways were aerified on the 10th of April, so we would expect complete healing of the greens by April 24th. The weather has been close to expected averages for April and I see no delay in healing.

The bunker project is very close to completion. Our target date was May 3st and I see no problem beating that deadline.

Aerification Update

The North Course aerification of greens, tees and fairways went great! Perfect weather - dry, low humidity and 65 deg - helped make this process flow perfectly. Thanks to the staff for the long hours and attention to details.

North Aerification

WHY AERIFY?

CORE AERATION is one of the “dirty” words of golf course maintenance. With a golf season of seven months, many would question the necessity of disrupting play each spring and fall.


An important purpose behind core aerification is the removal of unwanted organic matter, allowing roots to grow. With a healthier root system heading into the golf season, the grass plant is better able to withstand the stress of traffic. Aeration also relieves compaction, promotes air exchange and helps with water infiltration.


How much aerification is enough?

There is no rule of thumb for what percentage of surface area should be impacted each year. It would be safe to say however that it is difficult to “over aerify”. The USGA suggests that 15-20% of the surface should be aerified each year. This would dictate a larger hole size – and closer spacing between holes during the aerification process – both spring and fall. Changing from a 1/4” tine to a 1/2” tine increases the surface area impacted by four times. Using a 5/8” tine versus a 1/2” tine increases the surface area impacted by approximately 50%.


How long after aerification before the greens are back to normal?

With cooperative weather, the healing process will take 10 - 14 days. Extra fertilizer and water are applied at this time to expedite recovery.

North Aerification

As you noticed yesterday, we adjusted the aerification schedule due to the suspect forecast. The front 9 greens were done yesterday afternoon, the back 9 will be aerified on Tuesday. We are not doing anything today - Monday - because of the weather.

Fairways will be aerified Tuesday and Wednesday by an outside contractor. I'll keep you updated on our progress.

Spring Aerification

I apologize for the absence of updates ... I'll do better.

You can also find more information on aerification in this blog under "Common Questions".


This spring we are aerifying the North Course greens, tees and fairways April 13 - 15, weather permitting. As you know it's been a long winter, but I think we can get it done in the allotted three days. (Please refer to your golf calendar.) A contractor will be coming in to aerify the fairways, that will be a big help at a time when we are typically short on labor.

The South greens did not like the cold temperatures this winter, we believe that they will survive OK, it may take a little longer before we open them for play.

Aerification Update

Yesterday was productive: all 18 South fairways aerified and the front 9 South greens completed. We have some cleanup to finish today but we will be finished with all greens and fairways by the end of today. Tees will be done at a later date as time and weather permit. Overall, a great fall aerification.

Aerification

It's just 2 weeks away: September 2nd - 4th. If the weather is conducive we'll be able to aerify most of the South Course. Fairways take the longest so those might require another two to three days to complete. Much depends on the weather.

Late Fall Aerification

At the end of each season - early November - our maintenance practices shift to "winter protection". Now is the time to give the turf a rest and prepare it for the hardships of winter. Fertility and cultural programs are adjusted, changing from a strictly "play focused" philosophy to a "plant health" centered regime.

Part of that program is to aerify greens deeply: Deep Tine Aerification. We use a solid tine that penetrates to a depth of 8-10 inches, loosening the subsurface and providing channels for melting snow to evacuate the surface. Melting snow that turns to ice is our number one concern for turf loss on the South greens, more of a concern than any risk the turf faces in the summer. Avoiding turf loss in the winter is far more complicated than during the summer months.

Fall Deep Tine Aerification

A "deep tine" aerification using a solid (vs. coring or hollow) tine has many benefits.

It leaves an open hole throughout most of the winter allowing melting snow and ice a place to evacuate. These open holes fill with water and freeze, causing the soil to expand and contract. This fracturing of the soil is another way that nature aerifies during the winter and spring.

Late fall aerification provides air an avenue to reach the roots of putting greens. Air is as important as water for the growth of healthy turf.

Aerification Status

.20" of precipitation yesterday prevented us from completing South greens aerification. We were able to complete the coring process, but not sand topdressing. In order to work the sand in to the aerification holes we need sunny and dry conditions. Wet sand will smear under moist, cloudy or humid conditions.

The forecast for Wednesday is more of the same: rain, cloudy and damp. Thursday's forecast is better. So in order to finish with a quality product, we will close the South Course all day Thursday September 6th to topdress greens.

Thanks for your understanding.

Food for Turf

In anticipation of the mechanical stress that comes with core aerification, we fertilize greens in advance to get them healthy and growing. Providing a little food just prior and also just after aerification helps expedite recovery.We fertilized greens earlier this week and will do the same at the end of the day, next Tuesday September 4th, the day we aerify the South greens.

Aerification

You can find the answer to many of your questions - like the one below - by clicking on the "Common Questions" page to the right. South greens aerification is next Tuesday, September 4th.

WHY AERIFY?



CORE AERATION is one of the “dirty” words of golf course maintenance. With a golf season of seven months, many would question the necessity of disrupting play each spring and fall.
An important purpose behind core aerification is the removal of unwanted organic matter, allowing roots to grow. With a healthier root system heading into the golf season, the grass plant is better able to withstand the stress of traffic. Aeration also relieves compaction, promotes air exchange and helps with water infiltration.


How much aerification is enough?
There is no rule of thumb for what percentage of surface area should be impacted each year. It would be safe to say however that it is difficult to “over aerify”. The USGA suggests that 15-20% of the surface should be aerified each year. This would dictate a larger hole size – and closer spacing between holes during the aerification process – both spring and fall. Changing from a 1/4” tine to a 1/2” tine increases the surface area impacted by four times. Using a 5/8” tine versus a 1/2” tine increases the surface area impacted by approximately 50%.


How long after aerification before the greens are back to normal?
With cooperative weather, the healing process will take 10 - 14 days. Extra fertilizer and water are applied at this time to expedite recovery.

Course Update

The Michigan Amateur preparation went well. We got .40" of precip last night which softened things a bit but it was very welcome. With the South Course closed today, we can do a lot of course maintenance. Here is our plan for today:

• Hydroject aerifiy several greens.
• Spray all South fairways with fungicide.
• Check irrigation.
• Work in problem bunkers: adjusting sand depth.
• Routine Monday mowing maintenance.
• Cart path repairs throughout course.

Hydroject #11 green South

Checking sand depth, right bunker #9 green South

North Greens Aerification

We have moved the North greens aerification from next Monday the 16th to this Thursday and Friday, April 12th and 13th.

The weather forecast for next Monday is unfavorable (rain) to complete aerification in a timely manner and to the standards we require. Wet conditions do not allow the sand topdressing to dry and can cause damage with the heavy equipment we use.

So in the interest of quality work, we will be aerifying over the next two days when we have plenty of sun and dry conditions.
Thanks for your understanding!

Benefits of Aerification

As if we needed to cover this further ... here is a photo of #1 green South Course. You can see the longer, greener tufts of turf in the aerification holes from last fall. Not only does aerification help with growing conditions in the summer, it also helps turf withstand the difficulties of winter. More air and water helps the turf when it comes out of winter dormancy.

Winter Preparations II - Aerification

As a part of getting the golf courses ready for winter, this past week we aerified all of the South greens and a few of the winter susceptible North greens.

Aerifying this late in the year results in the holes remaining open all winter. These open holes allow for better surface drainage when the snow and ice melts. It also allows for ice to form inside the open channels, causing an expansion of the soils surrounding the hole and providing another form of soil aeration.

Deep Tine

"Deep Tine" is the term we use to explain aerification that goes deeper than a typical core aerification on greens, tees and fairways. A routine aerification might go to a depth of 2-3". When we use a larger machine with a longer tine the depth can reach as far down as 10 - 12" or more.

On fairways, we perform a deep tine aerification two to three times per year. Solid, 3/4" tines will penetrate below any hardpan layers (created by years of aerifying to the same depth) and shatter the soil. Fissures are created by vibration movement of the machine thus improving water and air movement.

Disturbance is minimal and the improvement in playing surfaces is enhanced.

Big Day

Lots of activity today:

South greens aerified, topdressed and fertilized.
Short Game greens aerified.
North Course greens fertilized.
#3 green drainage installed.
Trees removed according the South Member Improvements Plan.
Fescue area #3 South finished seeding.

South Greens Aerification

Everything is on track this morning. The weather looks great and we should have no trouble finishing today. I'll post pictures later this afternoon and keep you updated on our progress.

Here We Go!

WHY AERIFY?


CORE AERATION is one of the “dirty” words of golf course maintenance. With a golf season of seven months, many would question the necessity of disrupting play each spring and fall.

An important purpose behind core aerification is the removal of unwanted organic matter, allowing roots to grow. With a healthier root system heading into the golf season, the grass plant is better able to withstand the stress of traffic. Aeration also relieves compaction, promotes air exchange and helps with water infiltration.

How much aerification is enough?

There is no rule of thumb for what percentage of surface area should be impacted each year. It would be safe to say however that it is difficult to “over aerify”. The USGA suggests that 15-20% of the surface should be aerified each year. This would dictate a larger hole size – and closer spacing between holes during the aerification process – both spring and fall. Changing from a 1/4” tine to a 1/2” tine increases the surface area impacted by four times. Using a 5/8” tine versus a 1/2” tine increases the surface area impacted by approximately 50%.

How long after aerification before the greens are back to normal?


With cooperative weather, the healing process will take 10 - 14 days. Extra fertilizer and water are applied at this time to expedite recovery.