Aerifying Greens

                  Action today prepares for quality conditions in the months ahead.

We have aerifying  the fairways this week with solid tines.  This process opens the turf surface without pulling out soil cores.  The main purpose of this is to relieve compaction, reduce the thatch layer and provide open channels for oxygen availability and exchange in the turf rootzone.

Fairways are topdressed with sand for thatch reduction

                                      
This sand will be applied to the fairways to make them "tighter and firmer" over a period of time
                                                                      
We are also deeply solid tining the greens for the same reasons.  These areas will all heal very quickly and will not interfere with play but for several days.  These are the tines we use on the greens
                                                    
 The greens are rolled following the aerification to smooth the surface and it also covers the holes

The holes are less than pencil size one they are rolled

 Notice how the aerification holes allow us to work sand into the older white soil and clay based rootzones of the greens.  This allows for better drainage and air oxygen availability

 Notice the healthy, white roots that are growing in the aerification channels.  This is a very healthy grass plant.  These practices in the spring prepare the turf to endure and survive the stressful summer weather conditions.
                                         

Notice the small dark green circles on the green running from top to bottom in the photo below.  Two of the circles are just to the left of the pennies.  These are the aerification holes from the fall.  The circular areas are greener today because of the air channels we made available to the roots

 

Augusta National - No Place Like It

If you have never been to Augusta National then you cannot fully appreciate and realize how remarkable it really is.  For example, here are just a few facts that set it apart from any other golf facility:
The course is closed all summer - from June through mid-October
Regular course renovations are done to exact GPS locations
Heating and cooling units under some of the greens
Every green renovation is rebuilt to the exact inch of its previous shape
Some greens are rebuilt every 3 to 4 years.
There is no published operating budget for the golf course maintenance department
Due to the firmness and undulations of the greens, the golfer may have only a 2 or 3 foot circle to land an approach or chip shot to keep the ball on the green!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For those who wonder how everything looks so perfect at The Masters......these "workers" are actually golf course superintendents that volunteer to do the various chores during the week of the Masters and probably just over 100 make the pilgrimage every year at this and the other major golf events around the world.  Plus, there is no budget for the operation. 
                                           

The non-areas of the turf at Augusta National are overseeded with a cool season turf for the Masters.
This turf type, combined with the strong television filters give you the rich green color on your screen

The green television filters really mask the true color of the greens as they purposely dry them out, withhold the water and roll and mow them multiple times to challenge the players.

In the photo below, Adam Scott missed his 2 foot putt and had a 5 footer for a comeback.
Putting the Augusta National greens is like putting a ball on your granite counter top.  Combine that with challenging undulations and slopes and you cannot believe how significantly difficult the course can play.

The greens are allowed to dry out and turn off-color (bluish-purple)to achieve the desired speeds.

The golfer has a 10 foot birdie putt

Even the one of the best players in the world has a 5 foot come-back for par

The player's approach shot hit 20 feet short of the flagstick with spin on it and it still went over the green. Notice the lush ryegrass surrounds and the grayish color of the drying and wilting greens.

His shot was virtually perfect and it looked as though the ball was going to stop within a few inches of the hole.  No such luck.  His ball rolled 50 feet past the hole and almost off the green.

Notice the total discoloration of the putting surfaces.  This is done intentionally to challenge the best players in the world.  This is not for private club membership play. 

Most golf courses will have 2 or 3 fairway mowers to mow the fairways.  Not Augusta National.

Course Opening 2014

                                               Season Course Opening

The driving range will opening on Wednesday April the 9th.  We will be using the artificial hitting surfaces until the temperatures moderate and the turf begins to grow.  There is also some cold temperature damage on the driving range tee surface.  I will need to do some work in these areas to restore the turf. 

The golf course will be open beginning Thursday April 10th.  I am monitoring the firmness and foot-printing of the new #3 and #9 red greens on a daily basis.  We may open white and blue for play and delay opening the red nine for a few days until the surfaces are firm enough for traffic.

Keep in mind that we will be incurring early morning frosts for at least a few weeks.  Expect course opening delays on those days when frost is present

The photo below shows evidence of frost damage from when a person walks on a frozen green
                                                      

Please view the video below on frost