Willow Ridge Country Club Turfgrass Chronicles: Aeration Holes, Shrub Additions, and Pin Placements

The aeration holes are filled in 100% and the greens are smoother and truer than earlier in the season. We here at the maintenance facility want to thank you for your patience through this critical cultural practice. I'd like to reiterate the importance of aeration again to stress just how important this is to the success of our golf course. One often overlooked aspect of aeration is improved water percolation through the soil surface. The channels created from aeration help to move water off the surface of the putting green and into the soil, improving drainage and providing a healthier growing environment for the turf. Another critical reason for aeration is the removal of organic matter which helps to keep the greens firm and provide a better roll for the ball. If the organic matter was allowed to build up the greens would play slower and feel spongy. Keeping up with the proper amount of aeration should be as important to the golfers as it is to us.

A cross cut of an aerification hole showing clean sand devoid of organic matter

Annuals planted oustide the clubhouse by the 18th and 9th greens

Our annual flower beds have been planted across the course, and we have planted some new shrubs. Behind the thirteenth green are three new flowering Viburnums(Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum). This is an aesthetic touch in order to improve the backdrop of the thirteenth hole. After the harsh winter, some of the boxwoods(Buxus) along the cart path at the first tee failed to fully recover. The worst of the bunch were pulled and replaced to keep the uniform look. Having nice ornamentals enhanced the beauty of the golf course.

Three new doublefile Viburnums behind the 13th green.

Just this year we have implemented a new technique for pin placement. This involved breaking the greens up into individual zones containing multiple pin placements each. On some of the greens this proved to be very difficult, notably the 3rd, 8th, 9th, and 15th holes have limited pin placements either because of their smaller size, large swales and/or aggressive ridges. This can be seen in the photos below by the shaded areas, while the labeled sections are available for pin positions. Some of the designated zones are more difficult than others from a playability standpoint as well as the
management side. In order to determine these areas that are out of play we use a maximum slope of 2.7 degrees. This number was developed with help from USGA references comparing greens speed to maximum allowed slope. This method allows us to ensure that every pin placement is in a fair location.