This year we are implementing a number of changes to
our greens maintenance programme that our consultant agronomist Jay Dobson has recommended.
In his last report Mr Dobson was extremely
complementary about the condition of the course and was particularly impressed
with the improvements to the putting surfaces. In that report it was
recommended that we should increase the amount of aeration and sanding and also
the timing of these operations, primarily to reduce further the amount of
organic matter in the putting surfaces.
Mr Dobson felt that if we could increase the amount
of disruptive aeration and double the amount of sand top dressings to 120
tonnes annually, with a target amount of 150 tonnes within three years, the additional maintenance would in time further improve putting surfaces,
increase playability and ultimately give us a longer playing season.
Normally, provided ground conditions are suitable the greens are aerated every three to four
weeks with a slim 8mm diameter tine. This type of aeration is not disruptive and recovery is normally only a few
days. Additional they are hollow cored in the spring with a small 8mm diameter
tine and again in the autumn with a 12/14 mm tine.
In the autumn they are also deep tinned with 12mm
diameter solid tines to a depth of 200mm. When we use the larger 12/14mm
diameter solid and hollow tines, the disruption to the putting surfaces sometimes is
considerable, but it does mean we can apply large quantities of sand, which is
then worked down into the aeration holes.
Normally we apply approximately 60 tonnes of top
dressing sand annually.
This spring as part of our revised programme the
greens were hollow cored with 12mm diameter hollow tines and deep tined with
12mm solid tines, 40 tonnes of top dressing sand was also applied.
Although the recovery period was longer than we
expected mainly because of the extended cold spring/early summer weather, it
was the first time in many years that this type of maintenance work had been
carried out on the putting surfaces at this time of year. I am quite confident
that as we apply more sand over the next few years that recovery period will be
shorter and hopefully less painful.
Our next disruptive aeration and sanding operation
begins week commencing July 13th and on this occasion greens 1-8 and 12-18 will
be solid tinned with 12 mm diameter tines to a depth of 100mm. Greens
9,10&11 will be hollow cored with 12mm diameter tines to a depth of 75mm.
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| Aerating & sanding the with 12mm diameter solid tines |
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| Brushing in sand after aeration |
Because of the enhanced soil temperatures and sunlight at this time of the year we expect recovery within 7/10 days, on greens 9,10&11 the recovery might be slightly longer because we are removing a core/plug.
I have included a short video on why golf courses aerate
