Before and after sand topdressing.
Greens healing.
The interns and and Assistant Superintendent Ray applying additional topdressing to smooth the surface.
Below, a quick aeration video. The process that we use here at Ford is unique to our department. I don't know of any other courses in the country using our method to clean cores. Basically, we clean cores directly behind the aerator and really limit the mess and labor involved in cleaning cores. Furthermore, we find that the process is much less abrasive on the putting green grass, a real plus in accelerating healing time. Take a look. This process was invented by our own Assistant Superintendent, Ray. In the video is Assistant Jared operating the aerator and Assistant Matt leading the crew.
Fans Deployed at Greens Sites with Poor Air Circulation
A few week ago, as you all know, our irrigation pump station failed. As a result, many of the greens went through a stress period and got thin in several areas. Not surprisingly, the areas that were most hurt were in the worst growing environments (pocket greens, with limited sunlight and limited air flow). To attempt to encourage these areas to grow back more quickly we have deployed fans powered by a generator at the "weak" sites. The increased air circulation should help eliminate or reduce some limiting factors of turfgrass growth in these areas. We will continue this process and monitor the areas for improvement remarking on the fact if air movement is as large as a limiting factor to turf health as suspected. This process is very common on bentgrass greens and totally overlooked on bermuda greens for reasons I do not understand. This test should be educational.
We simply point the fans in the direction of the weak grass areas to promote healthy air circulation.
Upcoming Major Agronomic Maintenance Practices
The 2nd Fairway Aeration... July 26-30, 2010
The course will remain open but machines will be out operating
