Venting Greens for Thanksgiving

Over the last couple of months we have been on an aggressive maintenace program to allow us to have surpurb putting conditions here at the foundry.  The greens have been rolled 3-5 days a week along with daily mowing and a fine tuned growth regulator program to enhance greens speeds.  This type of schedule does cause the surface to become compacted and sealed off.  This prevents water and nutrients from getting to the root zone  I have elected to perform a venting/solid tine aeration.  The hole size is only 9mm.  The concept is to break the surface tension which will allow water and nutrients to reach the root system.  Even though it is three days from thanksgiving greens management is still key!   

Applying a light coat of sand topdressing to the putting surface

Venting greens with 9mm tines

3 inch hole spacing

Rolling/Smoothing out the green after venting

Brushing the sand into the canopy

Putting surface after watering in the sand

Here are a few pictures of the turf care staff clearing wetlands, native areas and pruning up trees.  These are just a few of the task that we get to accomplish during the winter months. 

Cutting down the native areas behind 2 green and the creek at 3 fairway



Knocking down the tall growth in the wetlands at #3

knocking down the high growth in #3 wetland.  We use brush blades to make sure we do not harm the wetlands or get a tractor stuck

Fine creek after the native vegatation and fescue have been mown down

Limbing up the cedars to the left of #1 tee area

Here is a section that the canopy has been raised.  This allows for better air movement,better turf conditions and a cleaner look