Aeration, Verticutting and Topdressing

The wet start to spring the past two weeks has posed many challenges for us, especially in regards to aerating the greens and fairways. The poor weather forced us to get creative. We needed to remove organic matter from the greens, but also had to take into consideration whether the greens will heal quickly while minimizing disruption to play. Our solution was twofold, aerate the greens with solid tines and follow up by verticutting the greens. The solid tines do not remove any material from the greens making the operation much less disruptive. The verticutting does remove organic matter from the greens while minimizing disturbance to the putting surface.

The process involved multiple teams of Willow Ridge employees to synchronize their work in order to efficiently cultivate the greens. It begins with mowing the greens so that we start with a clean and even surface. As soon as the mowers were finished the aerator starts to punch holes into the greens. The solid tines help to alleviate compaction in the soil and improve soil qualities.

After the aerator is finished on the greens it is time for the verticutter. This machine uses many vertical blades that act as a saw blade to pull organic matter out of the surface. The organic matter is left on the greens and needs to be blown off and removed. The open grooves allow sand to be incorporated into the surface of the green eliminating grain and providing firmer conditions.

Verticutting

Blowing off debris from verticutting

Grooves from verticutting before topdressing

Once the verticutting is finished, we topdress the greens with sand in order to fill in the grooves. The sand is brushed in with a tow-behind brush to ensure its spread equally across the greens. Sand is spread on the greens to help dilute organic matter and to ensure the greens are true and uniform.

Topdressing

Brushing the topdressing into the grooves

We understand that aerating the greens can be disruptive to the golfers. However it is imperative that we continue this process to ensure the long term health of the greens. We thank you for your patience while we strive to provide the best playing conditions possible. Within 7-10 days the greens will be healed and ready for another great season.

Final result with small aeration holes and verticutting grooves filled with sand

New Sod Updates

With the warmer weather looming we have begun to install sod on our winter projects. The fourth tee is completed and currently growing in. The temporary tees are located in front of the forward tee for the red, gold and white tees and behind the back tee for the blue tee. Due to the amount of play seen in the late fall and early spring, the forward tee was being over played with minimum recovery. Because of this we temporarily closed the forward tee so that both tees can be opened under optimum conditions. The good news is that both tees will be open for play in just a matter of weeks.

4th tee

The seventeenth middle tee has its playing surface completely sodded with a majority of the rough sod around the edges in place. By having the playing surface sodded already we will be able to open the tee up sooner. Currently the white tee markers have been moved up to the forward tee.

17th tee

The fairway expansion and rough to the right of 8 green has also been fully sodded. This project began with the removal of a rotting oak tree. With the tree gone the area was not pleasing to look at and offered little in terms of play. A small mound was constructed to challenge golfers and provide better aesthetics. The right side of 8 also had new irrigation installed which will keep the rough dense and lush throughout the season. The fairway has also been expanded to the right of the approach. It is important to remember to keep off of new sod while it is rooting to the ground, please follow all signs and markers to direct traffic. The current path to the green from the cart path is to go around the back right bunker.

Right side of 8th green from cart path

Right side of 8th green from fairway