This week on the course

New trees between #1 Tee & #18 Green

This past week featured snow and more cool weather.  Despite the weather we continued to get the course ready for the upcoming season.  Rough aerification has begun and with dry weather we expect to complete this week.  New trees were planted on holes 1, 5, 9, 10 and 17.  Any trees with red flagging will be played as mandatory ground under repair.  We also mowed fairways for the first time on Friday.



Rough aerificaiton



Poa annua seed head. (middle of picture)

Spring is the time that annual bluegrass (Poa annua) produces a seed head in its growth cycle.  The seed heads are especially troublesome on greens by causing the golf ball to roll off line.  While in a perfect world there would be no Poa annua it is an important part of the turf on most of our greens and our management is centered in keeping it alive.

We apply a growth regulator in early spring and when timed correctly most of the Poa is unable to produce a seed head.  The production of a seed head uses up carbohydrate reserves in the plant and generally causes
a much weaker plant.  Plants that don't produce a seed head are able to retain these carbohydrates for other important growth characteristics such as increased rooting.  Sounds complicated?  You bet it is! 

New asphalt cart path #6 tee complex.

Solid Tine Aerifying



With the nice weather last week, the turf care staff got a jump start on spring aerification. As you can see to the right, Francisco deep-tined greens using 1/2" solid tines at a depth of 9".

Deep tine is designed to relieve compaction, while fracturing the soil profile. This process breaks through the hard pan and allows oxygen to get down into the root zone area. It also allows water to penetrate and drain through the soil profile, thus eliminating standing water due to poor drainage. This process will promote deep, healthy, and vigorous roots.


Solid-tine has a minimal impact on playing conditions. After the greens are deep-tined, they will be rolled in several directions for a smooth, non-disrupted playing surface.

After aerification



Green after being rolled

During the same time last week, we also aerifyed fairways and approaches. This process takes a bit longer then aerifying greens due to the increased acres of bent-grass fairways.

Luis aerifyed fairways using 5/8" solid tines at a depth of 4".