Successful Greens Aeration Operation Completed

The weather couldn't have been better for this week's scheduled greens aeration.  The dry weather leading up to and during the process, helped ensure firm conditions to minimize surface disruption on the greens and enable a full core to be pulled.  Last year with the damp weather leading up to the scheduled timing, there was trouble pulling a core in some locations.  This year's results were excellent and go down as one of the best two day aerations on record!

The 1/2" cores were pulled to a 2 1/2" depth with the Toro 648 aerator.  The cores were removed by the crew, shovelled into the back of the workman carts.

One of the challenges during the aeration process is getting the holes filled with fresh sand topped up to the surface.  A new strategy was experimented with this year to accomplish this goal.  The greens were topdressed heavy before the aeration, which allowed for the sand to be pulled back into the holes using the Turf Pride core collector attached to the the back of the Toro 648.  The process went well, especially on the back 9 the second day when we doubled the sand application rate.  The holes in the greens were getting near fully filled and the sand that remained could then be further matted-in to the holes once the sand dried.

Click here for the YouTube video of the Turf Pride Core Collector in action.

Turf Pride core collector in action helping drag sand into holes during aeration

Today, the day after aeration, using this method the greens are smoother then they normally are after this process.  More sand was brought to the surface after this morning's greens rolling.  The sand on the surface will need to be matted in this morning which will further top up the holes.

Buffalo turbine blower being used to further move sand into any open holes

Approximately 70 tons of new sand was applied in total to fill the open holes. These new sand channels represent the optimum growing medium for growing bentgrass roots and providing added drainage and firmness for improved playability for players.

With the holes 'topped up' the recovery process should be minimized and will have less impact on the playability for the start of next week's summer season events.