Greens aeration

We will be aerating the greens on Friday April 8th.  While most golfers have come to accept this process as a necessary evil, few truly understand why we do it, why different courses do it different ways and at different times.  Aeration programs are designed and scheduled to accomplish specific goals, and therefore no two courses complete the process the same way or at the same time.  Here are a few common questions and answers that will help you understand the aeration program at Pine Orchard.

Why do we have to do it?
Our primary goal is to create vertical channels of sand in the turf that allow water to infiltrate the surface, and will facilitate movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the soil and atmosphere.  The exchange of gases will help develop healthier, more resilient plants that tolerate the stress we impose throughout the summer.  The sand channels we create will function throughout the season, and we will supplement this aeration with less invasive "venting" every three weeks to keep the surfaces open throughout the season.

Why do we have to do it now?
Every course chooses their aeration timing based on their own set of priorities.  Some wait until late spring to minimize the recovery time, others wait until late fall to maximize revenue from green fees, carts, and outings.  I like to get the process out of the way at the beginning of the season while most golfers are just happy to get back outside, and are trying to find their swing.  At this time the greens are still a little slow and bumpy as the turf resumes growth, and many golfers have yet to return from their winter homes.  By the time the greens heal, many golfers have found their swing, and are ready to fine tune their short game for the season.  The real benefit of this early timing is that we will not have to endure another significant disruption to the greens until the end of the season which allows us to maximize the number of weeks that the greens are in top condition.

Why don't we pull cores anymore?
Core aeration is one of the most effective methods of controlling organic matter in turf.  Thankfully, our soil tests show that the organic matter in our greens falls within an acceptable range, and we are able to manage its development with less invasive practices such as topdressing and vertical mowing.  Core areation can lead to contamination of the turf by bringing native soil and weed seeds to the surface.  By using solid tines, the sand topdressing is not contaminated and we are able to promote more resilient perennial turf species.

What is the process?
We begin by applying straight sand topdressing to the greens, and once it dries we punch 1/2" holes into the turf.  The dry sand falls directly to the bottom of the hole, and the vibration helps sand permeate the turf canopy.  We then drag the sand into the holes using a brush to fill the holes.  Verticutting helps fill the holes and works any excess sand into the turf, which will produce the smooth firm surfaces expected at Pine Orchard.

How long until they heal?
The recovery process is driven by soil temperatures which are driven by the amount of sun and overnight lows.  Recovery typically takes about a week longer in early spring than when completed later in the season. Our goal is to have the greens smooth by the lat weekend in April and fast by the first week in May.  We will continue to monitor the recovery and will adjust any programs needed to achieve the goals of our program, and set the stage for another season of great golf at Pine Orchard.

What then?
Once the greens aeration is complete, we will shift our focus to tees, fairways, approaches, and rough. These areas will be addressed as weather and maintenance schedules allow.  There is much less disruption associated with aerating the rest of the course, and we hope to have the entire course complete by the time the greens have healed.  The course is closed on Mondays until 1:00 throughout the season which allows us to complete less invasive cultural practices every two or three weeks.  This schedule will ensure that the turf throughout the course can tolerate heat, drought, and traffic stress that is common during the summer months.

Nobody's favorite time of year.

Aeration week is here again, and not a minute too soon considering the extremely dry weather we have been experiencing.  This is one of the most important times of the year for the health and performance of the turf throughout the golf course, and is the first step in preparing the course for next summer.  The turf is beginning to shift all its energy from survival and recovery to building a root system that will sustain it through the heat and drought stress that we will experience again in nine months or so.  We are doing everything we can to facilitate this process by improving the soil and providing water and nutrients to encourage the plants to grow a deep, dense root system.

While the course was closed on Monday and Tuesday we core aerated the greens and tees and spiked the fairways.  Due to a few equipment malfunctions we had to drag some of the work out into Wednesday, but the bulk of the operation is now complete.  We will spend the rest of the week finishing the cleanup and shifting our focus to recovery and restoring the playing surfaces to their original condition.  The guys have been working long, hard hours to get as much done in these two days as possible, and we will continue these efforts throughout the week so that the course recovers as quickly as possible.

The core aeration and topdressing that was completed on greens and tees provide many benefits to the soil and turf.  First, core aeration removes excess thatch that builds up over the course of the season.  Then the sand topdressing dilutes the thatch and improves the soil structure and drainage, and improves the durability of the playing surfaces. 

Aerating the fairways is a bit more challenging due to the acreage as well as the rocks and shallow ledge found throughout the property.  The firm dry playing surfaces we have been enjoying all summer were the result of the extremely dry, compacted soil.  If we were to apply the same aeration process used on greens and tees we would spend more time repairing the machine than we would aerating the fairway.  Two years ago we chose to purchase a more durable machine that shatters the compacted soil with vibrating spikes rather than punching and pulling soil to the surface.  As this machine only deals with compaction, we will have to find other ways of managing thatch later in the season.

A light dose of fertilizer was applied prior to aeration, and we will be watering to promote growth and recovery.  The turf will recover slowly over the next 7-10 days, and soon our normal management programs will be back in place and the course will be ready for fall golf.  Thank you for your patience, and if you get a chance, please take a minute to thank the crew for their "above and beyond" efforts this week.

Click here for an article from the USGA describing keys to a successful aeration.

Course Conditions Update

After almost four inches of rain fell yesterday I am pleased to report that the course is not only open with carts, it is surprisingly dry.  The forecast was for 1”-2” which we desperately needed, and the crew was out preparing the course so that we would capture as much of the water as possible to recharge the soil rather than watching it run off into the ocean.

On Monday we needle tined the greens to create pore spaces and reconnect the old aeration holes to the surface.  This was followed up by an application of a wetting agent that not only helps water penetrate the surface; it also helps the turf dry out once the rain stops.  The two steps combined beautifully to recharge the soil moisture and reinvigorate the turf by purging the root zone of stale gases, replacing them with a fresh supply of oxygen. 

We also spiked some of the rough areas that were suffering from drought stress and cart traffic, and the heavy rains seem to have alleviated some of this stress for the time being.  We will continue to aerate the rough and will begin to add seed in the coming weeks to promote recovery and develop a more resilient stand of turf for the future.  There are still a few areas that have remained dormant, but with continued cool weather, a few more rain showers, and perhaps a dose of fertilizer we should see a bit more green return to the course as we head into the best part of the golf season.

Thankfully the course was prepared to handle the extreme rainfall, and we should return to the firm fast playing conditions we had enjoyed over the majority of the golf season.  I have received a number of compliments that the rough is just penal enough, yet manageable, and people seem to enjoy the extra few yards on their drives that find the fairways.  The greens are a different story.  The rough is lush and “aggressive”, which makes chipping to the firm, fast greens a significant challenge.  This provides a distinct advantage to those who find the putting surface with their approach shot, and punishes those who short side themselves. 

We are looking forward to preparing the course for the club championships at the end of the month and I expect to have the course as good if not better than we had it for the Invitational at the beginning of the month.  On Monday September 8^th we will be aerating the greens followed by tees, approaches, and fairways.  We will keep you posted regarding days the course will be closed as well as course conditions so that you can schedule matches and bring guests on days when the course will be in the best condition. 

Greens Aeration Complete

Today we completed our spring aeration on the greens, which included a 1/2" core aeration and a deep verticutting.  Tonight's rain should wash in the remaining sand that was left on the surface from the winter topdressing, and the sun will drive the recovery process over the next few weeks.
I figured this would be a great time to get the work completed for a few reasons. First, the 3/4" holes from the fall deep aeration had not healed so a few more holes would not hurt. Second, the different grass species break dormancy at different rates leaving the greens bumpy and inconsistent this time of year, so the disruption from aeration would be a minor additional inconvenience. Finally, there are fewer golfers this time of year than during our traditional timing, and most of the golfers that are playing are just trying to find their swing after a long winter. By the time people are ready to focus on their finesse on and around the greens, the surfaces will be healed and we will be shifting our focus to producing firm, fast playing conditions.
Aeration is never a popular endeavor, so we shifted our schedule to minimize the impact on the golf calendar without compromising our ability to achieve our goals.  In the coming weeks we will be shifting our focus to tees, approaches, and fairways, as well as completing the renovation projects on the first hole and driving range.  I will keep you posted on any progress we make on all fronts.  Until then, I hope the weather cooperates and you are able to get out and enjoy the golf course.

Mission Accomplished

The greens aeration and topdressing is complete.  We filled over 95% of the 3/4"x8" holes with sand, and then double rolled to smooth the surfaces.  It was a long, and at times tedious process, but the benefits will definitely be worth it.  The internal drainage will be enhanced throughout next season and beyond.  If this becomes the standard closing procedure we will realize deeper, more vigorous rooting in the greens and an increase in the percentage of bentgrass.  Ultimately this will allow us to be more aggressive in our efforts to provide dry, firm, fast playing surfaces throughout the year, and will improve our water management by allowing us to water deeper and less frequently.
The pins are back in the greens, for now.  Unfortunately there is also an excessive amount of sand left on the surface to protect the greens from the cold, dry winter winds that can damage the turf.  We will watch the weather in the coming weeks to determine the playability of the greens.  Once they begin to freeze and thaw I will make a recommendation to the Green Committee to close them for the season.  This is never popular, but it is the right thing to do.

Click here to read an article from the USGA about winter play on greens.

 

We have installed stakes for snow fences around the 3rd, 5th, and 13th greens.  The fences will be installed in the coming weeks to protect from damage caused by sleds and snowboards, and these greens will remain closed for the winter.

 

As spring approaches we will determine the best strategy for working as much of the excess sand into the greens.  The sand absorbs heat from the sun and warms the turf in April, and will provide smooth the putting surfaces as the turf breaks dormancy and resumes growth.

 



Going Deep

We are preparing to put the finishing touches on another challenging season at Pine Orchard.  Granted we did not have a major storm, but the season was extremely dry and July was the hottest month in recorded history.  I have learned not to complain about the weather, since it can always get worse, choosing instead to focus on the opportunity to improve things moving forward. 
We have spent the last few weeks focusing on leaf cleanup, which is almost complete.  Soon we will shift to completing projects on the golf course and beginning our seasonal maintenance on the equipment.  Before autumn turns to winter we have a few more things to do to prepare for winter and the beginning of next season.  This includes dormant seeding, final fertilizer and fungicide applications to greens, topdressing, and a little more aeration.  Today I scheduled a deep tine aeration for the greens, which will be completed Wednesday, November 20th. This will be the final major step in preparing the greens for winter.

What is going to happen?

A contractor is going to bring a machine mounted on a tractor that will punch holes in the green surface 3/4" wide and hopefully 7"-8" deep. Weather permitting we will apply a heavy load of sand on the greens the day before, so that it will instantly fill the bottom of the holes with sand. We will follow his macine with a brush to move more sand into the holes before they collapse or bridge with sand. The deep holes will be much farther apart than our traditional aeration making it difficult to move the remaining sand far enough to fill the holes completely. We will use our machine to make smaller holes in the surface on a much tighter spacing.  This will allow us to incorporate the majority of the sand into the root zone.  Finally we will roll and brush the greens until the holes are filled and the surface is firm and stable.

Why are we doing this?

Years of traditional aeration have created a 3"-4" modified root zone composed of native soil and sand. Below this layer there is a compacted layer of native soil that restricts water infiltration and root development. By breaking this layer water will penetrate deeper encouraging root growth beyond the upper 3"-4". This will allow us to manage moisture more effectively and maintain firm playing surfaces on the greens. Deeper root growth will also favor more resilient turf species, such as bentgrass over Poa annua, which will allow us to use less water and push harder for green speed. These results do not occur overnight, but when this strategy is adopted as part of a comprehensive program the playing surfaces are better earlier in the spring, and are more durable throughout the heart of the golf season.

What can you expect next week?

Greens will be closed once we begin top dressing, hopefully on Tuesday. Once the process is complete I will determine if the greens are stable enough to tolerate traffic and approach shots. If they are we will do our best to make them as playable as possible. If not, we will be establishing temporary greens in the approaches for people that want to get in a few late rounds. I will continue to monitor the surfaces until they begin to freeze, at which time I will make a recommendation to the green committee to close them for the season. All season we have done everything in our power  to make the course as playable and accessible as possible, and I intend to continue this approach until I feel that it will put the long term health of the turf in jeopardy. 

I will keep you posted as we approach and complete this process. 

4th fairway aerified today.

If you have played the course over the last few weeks you may have noticed the turf at the end of the 4th fairway thinning out.  This is due to a fungus knows as Gray Leaf Spot.  It is a disease primarily of Perennial Ryegrass, and its early symptoms mimic drought stress and wear damage.  The fungus started in late August as we were trying to dry out the course in preparation for the club championship.  The first infection occurred in areas where cart traffic to the 4th green is constricted by the fairway bunkers, and where players that fall short of the 13th green park and turn their carts to return to the path.

Once the humid weather of late August returned, the infected turf declined rapidly.  Once I determined the cause of the decline I immediately filled my sprayer and treated the 4th, 5th, and 6th fairways.  The treatment halted the progression of the disease, and the remaining turf is now healthy enough to withstand the recovery process.

Today we aerified, seeded, and topdressed the affected area.  This initial seeding was completed using disease resistant and wear tolerant varieties of bentgrass, which should germinate in 7-10 days.  Once the threat of Gray Leaf Spot has passed, which comes with the first killing frost, we will overseed with a Gray Leaf Spot resistant variety of Ryegrass, which is more wear tolerant than bengrass.  The combination of these grasses will provide a wear tolerant turf that is dense enough to provide a good playing surface. 

While the seedlings are becoming established we will keep the area roped off to carts.  As the turf matures we will continue to topdress the area to improve soil structure and surface drainage.  The long term solution will require additional aeration and topdressing to improve the overall health and wear tolerance of the turf in this area.

On a more positive note, the greens are healing ahead of schedule considering the aggressive aeration that was completed two weeks ago.  The smoothness and speed of the greens should improve noticeably with each passing day, and they should be in fantastic shape for the Fall Member-Member.

Venting greens today

We are venting the greens today. This was originally scheduled as part of last weeks greens maintenance day, but was postponed so that we were sure all of the greens would be top-dressed in time for the rains. The topdressing was a success, and the venting will help dry the greens out after a week that delivered 9" of rain. Not only will this help the greens dry out, it will provide much needed oxygen which will stimulate root growth heading into the dog days of summer.
We will mow and roll them throughout the week, and I expect them to be in excellent condition for the Ladies Guest Day and Member/Member later in the week.

New Tree on 3

The new sugar maple has been planted on the 3rd hole. It is one of three trees that were approved by the Golf Long Range Committee, and is part of a larger plan developed by Tim Gerrish. It was the largest tree we could install considering the cost and equipment available.
Most people have commented that it is smaller than they expected, which is reasonable considering the size of the other trees in the area. The mature size will be 50'-70' tall and almost as wide and will compliment the other trees on the hole very nicely. It will take time to fill in the void and restore the penalty for an errant tee shot, but we will be fertilizing the rough in the area to add additional penalty to shots that stray left off the tee. We hope to add money into next year's budget to add more trees in the area.

We finally received a few showers this week which will promote a lot of growth throughout the course. The tees bounced back nicely from the dry spell as did the greens. The rough seems ready to explode which will pose many challenges for golfers as well as my staff. We Aeravated the fairways last week using our new aerifier. This shattered the firm dry soil allowing the rain to penetrate deeper and rehydrate the root system. After we mow them this week you will not know we did anything. We performed a similar "venting" of the greens last week which will provide oxygen for the root system for about three weeks. We will complete this periodically throughout the season to help the turf survive the heat and drought stress of the coming months.
The coming weeks will be dominated by fertilizer and chemical applications that will set us up for what I anticipate will be a great summer.
Thanks for checking in, and I look forward to seeing you on the golf course.

Spring update, or should I say recap.

I have been meaning to sit down and share some thoughts and observations about spring on the golf course, but I think I missed my opportunity.  The cool weather in April got the golf course off to a slow start, and the persistent rains in May made it difficult to keep up once the grass started growing.  Before I could stop and enjoy the tulips and azaleas, spring had sprung and summer came almost overnight.  I guess that happens every year and I am too busy to realize it.  May is one of the busiest times for the golf course maintenance staff.  There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that prepare the course for the summer months, and they all must be completed within a narrow time frame to be effective.

On top of all the things that we have been doing behind the scenes, many of you have noticed (and commented on) how fast the rough has been growing.  We have been doing our best to keep up with the mowing and blowing the clippings but it has been a struggle to say the least.  We have been mowing the rough twice each week and will continue our efforts to keep up so that the penalty for an errant shot is not too severe, and more importantly to maintain an acceptable pace of play.

We have been discussing the condition and impact of the natural fescue areas that lend so much character to the golf course.  I am consulting with other golf course superintendents that have been managing similar areas and will develop a comprehensive management plan to preserve the appearance of the areas, but make it so that players can find and play their balls.  One of the keys seems to be cutting them down once or twice in the spring until the heat of summer can dry and thin out the grass close to the ground.  We have mowed a few of the areas that come into play most often and will continue to work on it in the coming weeks.  I will be developing a chemical program as well that will control broadleaf and grassy weeds that can take over these areas as part of natural succession.  We will make applications using product from our existing inventory, and build a comprehensive program into the 2012 budget to make sure these areas are maintained such that they do not detract from the beauty of the course, or the members’ ability to enjoy it.

The greens are finally starting to perform as I would expect.  The cool spring prevented them from growing which affected ball roll and smoothness.  Then the rains released any nutrients that had been applied last fall and this spring causing the turf to become very lush and sluggish.  Now that the sun is stronger and the days are longer, the surfaces have dried out and the greens are rolling nicely.  The aeration, verticutting, and topdressing have produced smooth putting surfaces, which is our top priority.  We will continue our efforts to maintain smooth, firm playing surfaces throughout the year.  In order to maintain turf that is healthy enough to withstand our grooming programs we will be “venting” the greens from time to time.  This is a less invasive version of solid tine aeration.  We use small tines to create holes in the greens to maintain adequate gas exchange and water infiltration in the soil.  We may use the same tines as last month one more time, and then we will move to a needle tine that will make holes so small you won’t be able to see them when we are done.  This practice will be scheduled as needed based on the health of the turf, weather conditions, and the golf calendar.  I will post any such practices on the blog and inform the golf shop, but I do not expect that there will be much inconvenience to the membership.

As we head into the heat of the summer, maintaining firm, fast putting surfaces requires very diligent water management.  A key component of this process is syringing the greens in the afternoon to prevent severe wilt, which requires us to apply a light mist of water over the green surface with a hose.  In order to do this effectively and efficiently we must be given the time to get on the greens between groups.  I will instruct my staff to quietly plug the hose into the system while the group is putting and wait until they are done before turning the hose on.  While the group replaces the flagstick and walks off the green, we will syringe the turf by creating a cloud of water that will cool the surface without wetting the soil or affecting the playing surface.  The process takes about one minute to complete on a large green.  If you see us walk onto the green with our hoses, please wait until we are done and have left the green before hitting your approach shot.  If we are not afforded this time we will be forced to use the overhead sprinklers which apply too much water and may affect the speed of the greens.  Click here to view a video clip from USGA.com that explains this in more detail..

As I learn more about the limitations and resiliency of these greens I will be able to be more aggressive with our maintenance strategy.  Right now I am pleased with seven of our eleven greens.  There are three that are not performing as I would like and therefore are the limiting factors with respect to pushing for the firm, fast greens many of you have come to love and expect.  I will be watching these greens very closely and will develop specific strategies to allow us to push them a little harder.  I would hate to exceed their limits in preparation for the member-member in June and lose them for the member-guest in July. 

Thank you for your patience as I continue to become acquainted with the course, the membership, and my staff.  I am confident that we are going to have a great season and I look forward to seeing you on the golf course.

Aeration update

At the end of last week I thought I would be writing this post to pacify the mass of angry golfers that wanted to hang me from the flag pole for ruining their greens.  Surprisingly I don’t feel that I have to mention it at all.  In fact, I would be surprised if anyone could tell that we had done anything to them at all.

Unfortunately this does not mean that the greens are rolling beautifully.  The heavy, persistent rain delayed our follow up maintenance and has released nutrients that were stored in the soil.  We finally mowed the greens on Thursday and mowed and rolled today.  The turf is very lush preventing us from dropping our cutting height back to its original setting (we’re still only 0.005” or 4% above normal).  I made two applications to the greens that should improve the firmness and speed of the greens over the weekend.

A few people have commented about how much they like the less aggressive approach we took with respect to aerating the greens this spring.  It is my goal to continue with this approach as long as the turf remains healthy and the weather cooperates.  In order to achieve our goals using this strategy, we must complete our cultural practices more often.  We will try to use Mondays to get this work done, which means that there will be some weeks where the greens are much slower on Monday than they were the previous weekend due to verticutting, topdressing, spiking/venting, or a variety of other practices we employ to improve the health and condition of the greens.  We appreciate your patience and support as we fine tune these programs to minimize the impact of these practices and maximize the number of days that the course is in pristine playing condition.

Considering the weather we had this week I am very pleased with condition and appearance of the golf course.  I attribute this to the hard work and dedication of the crew.  In spite of the persistent rain the guys remained focused and were able to get all of the routine maintenance completed in addition to the aeration and topdressing.

Thank you for checking in and we look forward to seeing you out on the golf course.

It's that ime of year again...

Why is it that we always seem to aerate (translation: ruin) the greens just when they are starting to get good? 

I get this question twice each year, often from the same people.  I always figured they were just expressing their frustration with the process, so I never gave it much thought.  Since this is my first aeration at a new course with new greens and new members, it is probably a good time I sit down and give it a little more thought.

There are two answers to the original question.  The one I have some control over is that aeration is usually scheduled during the time when healing conditions are ideal.  In the spring we try to wait until the grass is growing and healthy, which is usually some time in May.  Greens usually take 10-14 days to heal, so we schedule two weeks before Memorial Day.  Later in the season we must wait until the stress of summer is over.  Usually around August 15^th the nights become long enough that the turf begins to recover from the heat of summer.  Generally aeration can take place beginning in late August and can be scheduled through early November. 

The second reason is that Golf Committees always schedule big tournaments just before aeration, and since we are about to “ruin” the greens we try to provide the best conditions possible.  Since the weather conditions are ideal and we are stepping up our grooming practices, the greens are usually the best the day before aeration.

After giving this some more thought I realized that the people asking that question are not concerned with the timing.  They are challenging why we have to do it at all.  The answer to this is really quite complicated.  The simplest answer is to ensure that the turf is healthy enough to withstand the stress associated with producing  playing conditions that exceed the standards and expectations of the membership.  Maintaining firm, fast playing conditions requires us to place the turf under considerable stress: double-cutting, rolling, topdressing, brushing, withholding water and nutrients.  Not to mention the fact that we do all of this during the hottest, driest time of year.

In order for the turf to withstand this torture we must do everything in our power to make sure it has the resiliency to recover from our maintenance practices.  Aeration is one way that we provide a growing environment that will allow us to push for the conditions that we expect. 

Since each course has its unique challenges and priorities, the programs developed to achieve their individual goals will be quite varied.  I have not been working with these greens long enough to establish long term goals and develop a comprehensive program to achieve them.  I do recognize that the greens have been well cared for and are very healthy so I do not see any reason to attempt major surgery.  I have identified two main goals that are part of almost every aeration program, improving gas exchange and managing thatch development.  We will be solid tine aerating the greens to provide open channels for water infiltration and gas exchange throughout the summer months.  We will also be vertical mowing and topdressing the surfaces to manage thatch development and provide smooth, firm playing surfaces.  The combination of these two practices should allow the greens to withstand all the rigors associated with maintaining the conditions you have come to expect at POYCC.

Once I have had more time to see how the greens perform over the course of a season I will establish specific goals and develop programs that will achieve them.  I will go into more detail about the benefits of aeration and what goes into developing the programs in future posts.  If you have any questions that you would like me to address, you can sign up as a follower of the blog and post them in the comments section.