Going for a Spin.

 

Some of you may not be aware that we had a car drive down the 13th fairway across the green and then return to the tee.  Fortunately, the damage was not too severe and we were able to fix the green fairly quickly.  I think the fact that it has been so dry the last few weeks helped.  The green still has some blemishes on the left front of the green but for the most part it hasn't affected playability.

 

Fairway aerification



Fairway aerification using a walking aerator.



We have been very fortunate to have the long stretch of dry weather the past few weeks.  This allowed us to complete fairway aerification before the remainder of our crew was done for the year.  It was very important for us to get that completed as we were not able to this past spring due to weather and the golf calendar.  Aeration is a practice that is done a number of reasons but for us the most important reason on our fairways is to remove organic matter.  This allows for gas exchange and for water to get into the soil.  Organic matter is the dead grass blades and roots that have not decomposed.  They can create a barrier to water and air movement.  Our Bentgrass also loves to grow horizontally and aeration helps decrease grain (the laying over of turf) by severing the leave/stem tissue.

Dragging the fairway to move the soil back into the turf canopy.

   This year our process started with aerifiying the fairway.  Most of this was done with a roller type aerifier (similar to the ones used on home lawns, only much larger) but we did use a walking unit for some smaller fairways.  After that was completed we vertical mowed the fairway.  This was done for two reasons: the first was to help break up the plug or break the soil off the thatch and second to again sever the leave/stem tissue.  Our plan is to ramp up this practice in spring and fall when the stress to the turf from heat and humidity are not present. We hope to see if we can impact the graininess of the playing surface.  We follow this with a dragging using a large piece of fence, which removes any remaining soil from the thatch.  We finish the process by blowing the thatch into the center of the fairway and cleaning it up.  









Things not as the seem.

   Although I am not thoroughly convinced that skunks were not involved in the damage that took place this Fall, there were definitely others that were.  I spent a couple unproductive nights and a few early mornings doing some scouting for what was to blame for the ravaged turf.  In the end our live trap produced 3 Raccoons and 1 Oppossum.  For now it appears the damage has stopped.  I am not sure if that is because we have gotten rid of the offenders or if the food source (grubs) has moved down in the soil to over-winter.  Next year we will be dealing with the problem through preventative insecticide applications to get rid of the grubs.