It's that time of year for that necessary evil! We are aerating greens with 5/8" hollow tines. You may be asking yourself, 'why don't I see plugs laying on the green in the photo above?' Sky Valley CC allowed us to barrow a steel box that is mounted to the aerator. As the machine moves along, the box drags the aerification plugs with it, until the operator gets to the end of a pass. It save many man-hours worth of labor by not having to manually push the plugs to the end of the green, where they can be picked up by staff with shovels. It is a very simple attachment to the aerator that I hope to purchase next year at Highlands CC.
So how long will it take for the greens to heal? That is completely dependent on the temperatures between now and opening day, April 15th. Until night temperatures reach 50 degrees, active growth of creeping bentgrass will not resume. However, we have had some unseasonably warm days this winter and the greens appear to be farther along than anytime I've seen them this time of year. I remain optimistic that we'll be well on the way to recovery once the golf course opens in mid-April.
According to the USGA, here are a list of 5 things every golfer should know about greens aeration:
1. We aerate to improve, not annoy
Putting greens receive more traffic than any other playing surface. The aeration process helps relieve the compaction caused by all that traffic. It also helps create a firm, smooth putting surface by controlling thatch and promoting healthy turf roots.
2. Scratch the thatch
Thatch is a layer of old plant material that accumulates at the soil surface. If thatch on putting greens is not diluted by aeration and topdressing, it will act like a sponge, holding water near the surface. Excessive thatch creates soft playing conditions, inconsistent green speeds and increases the risk of disease.
3. Timing is everything
Do you ever wonder why aeration is commonly performed when putting greens are playing their best? Aerating when grass is healthy and actively growing minimizes damage and allows for a quick return to optimal playing conditions. Aerating at other times may be more convenient for the golf schedule, but it lengthens recovery times, increases the risk of an invasion of weeds and could cause lasting damage.
4. It’s not as bad as you think
It may seem like there are more holes than grass on the putting greens right after they’ve been aerated, but this is an illusion. Typically, aeration affects less than 10 percent of a putting surface.
5. Sand is part of the plan
A heavy application of topdressing following aeration may appear to make putting greens less playable. However, filling aeration holes with sand actually helps create a smoother surface. Sand also creates channels for water and air movement, dilutes thatch and helps putting greens recover from aeration more quickly.
To learn more about aeration and other important course care topics, visit the Course Care section of USGA.org.
