Saturday night rain

2.6 inches of rain fell on the golf course Saturday night bringing our year-to-date total to 14.95 inches.

Root pruning

We root pruned behind #5 & #18 greens.  This picture is from behind 18 green.  The roots are from the cypress.  5 was just as bad.

April Aerification

We completed our first aerification of 2013 on Tuesday.  Fortunately we were able to aerify tees and fairways along with the greens.  On the greens we pulled a 5/8 inch core 8 inches deep on 4 inch centers, cleaned off the material, topdressed and rolled.  The process went smoothly.  On the tees we pulled a 5/8 inch core 4 inches deep.  We verticut the material back into the tee then mowed and blowed the tees.  On the fairways we used a machine called an Aerovator which punches a solid hole while vibrating, effectively widening the hole and shattering the soil immediately around the hole.  All our processes went smoothly and I expect a full recovery.  Our next aerification is scheduled for June 17 and 18.  Overnight into this morning we received 1.5 inches of rain bringing our total year-to-date to 12 inches.  The timing of the rain was great coming after our aerification.

Rain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We received 1.55" of rain overnight.  Our team is working hard today to get the course and bunkers back in shape.

Aerification

We have our first aerification of the year coming up on Monday and Tuesday, April 8 & 9.  This will be a deep-tine operation which means a 3/4 inch diameter x 10 inch deep core will be removed every 3 inches.  This deep aerification on the greens will encourage root growth by allowing for more gas and water exchange  to take place deeper in the soil profile.  The benefits of aerification are many, including improved air and water exchange which helps rooting, thatch removal which allows for more efficient water infiltration into the soil profile which helps decrease surface wettness and sponginess and minor compaction relief.  Once the cores are pulled, the greens will get cleaned off, heavily topdressed with sand to fill the holes and smooth the surface and rolled.  The following pictures are from a similar aerification we did last April.

deep tine aerifier

material cleanup

dragging sand into the holes

green cleaned and ready for play

New driving range tee line.

Update

The new surface is down on the left side of the tee.

The new tee line is taking shape.  The rock border on the left side is complete.

Herb Garden

Thanks to the Bay Oaks Garden Club the herb garden is planted and growing.