Fairway Aerification

We started aerifying fairways yesterday on #18. 

Our fairways were very firm and strong this year with a short, tight, dense growth pattern and substantially less dry areas.  This is a result of the diligent fairway aerification we have been conducting the last 4 falls. 

Our thatch layer is now in an acceptable range and not a thick matt (sponge) causing any problems.  We need to maintain this optimal layer we have by aerifying once a year.

Thatch layer at red line, less than 1inch, very good for a bluegrass fairway

We are beginning on some of fairways that have more worm activity in the cooler fall weather with hopes of getting them healed back up faster to create a dense turf canopy that will decrease the amount of worm castings we have in October and November.

Stay tuned and I will blog to you our process of fairway aerification soon.  One trick is to use shaving cream to mark irrigation heads and yardage stones.  Flags are more labor to go back and pick them up, shaving cream stays for about 6-8 hours, does not damage the turf, and and easily disappears when we drag over it.

Shaving cream to mark our irrigation heads and yardage markers

Our schedule for the fall aerification is as follows:
Week of Sept 9 - Fairways
               Sept 16 - Greens - course closed Monday and Tuesday
               Sept 23 - Tees and Approaches
               Sept 30 - Fairways
               Oct 7 - Fairways

I appreciate all the support and understanding with all of this aerification and the importance of what it does for your golf course in the seasons ahead.  If everything goes well in we should have everything completed in the next 4 weeks.