It is that time of the year when scary things happen...
yep
time to aerify the greens.
Check out these torture devices we use to aerify the greens in order to provide excellent conditions the rest of the year.
This contraption shoves sharp spikes into the ground!!!ooohhhh
(This is the Wiedenmann Terra Spike that can aerify to a depth of 10". We will use a 1" solid tine to that depth in order to create a column of sand from the surface down to allow the greens to drain and be properly flushed)
Incredible flesh wounds are their specialty!!
(1/2" solid tines used to push sand and soil amendments into the top 4" of the soil profile. This dilutes the organic matter and adds necessary nutrients to just the right spot.)
Medieval nail boards are still the rage!!
(These solid tines made by Miltona are called Job Savers. They are used to create seed beds for over seeding but are also great for use in tucking sand into the top 3/4" of the green. Again, putting the sand and amendments just where they are needed.)
Better than a wooden stake through a vampires heart!!
(These are the 1" solid tines used to create columns of sand that will provide necessary drainage throughout 2012.)
Lots of man hours and many other torture devices are used to complete this painful (for you and me) task. The greens have thrived over the last several years due to the preventative maintenance practices that are currently in place. The weekly fertilization program keeps the thatch under control and the need to do multiple, major aerifications throughout the year unnecessary. This keeps the torture devices locked up in the barn and a smile on all our faces.
November 7th we will aerify half of the golf course. Tuesday the 8th, half the golf course will be closed and half open for play on the newly aerified surfaces. Surprisingly, we always seem to get a good crowd of players who must love to play on heavily sanded, aerified greens out playing that day.
Look for a posting regarding the fairway aerification program soon. You don't want to miss what we have in store for those 30 acres!!
