The greens were then topdressed with straight sand and brushed in. The first couple of days the weather was ok, a few showers which didn't stop progress. The end of the second day we had only 1 and a half greens to collect cores from when we had a very severe thunderstorm. Fortunately it wasn't long lasting and we got off lightly as only 1 mile further north received more rain and more damage. 9mm fell in 20 minutes which created softer than ideal conditions to collect the rest of the cores and to start topdressing. We have now completed the work to all 1-9 greens, we now are looking to promote recovery and return the greens to a playable condition. To help increase the surface smoothness and encourage good growth the greens will be rolled regularly, cut when possible and an application of fertiliser, amino acids, biostimulants and wetting agent will be applied next week.
As holes 1-9 are closed until Friday morning to carry out the work we are taking full advantage and carrying out other tasks to the course. All the grass has been cut on holes 1-9 in the afternoon when we are not able to work on holes 10-27 and we have edged all bunkers on the closed course as well. All 1-9 tees, walk ways, worn areas and hopefully approaches and greens surrounds will be solid tined too. The team have worked really well this week to complete all necessary tasks.
I must stress this type of aeration is a once a year operation that has to be done at some point in the year. We feel this time of the year is the ideal time as recovery is the quickest it can be. I appreciate golfers will wonder why the greens are done right in the middle of the playing season, but to be honest the playing season is a 12 month cycle nowadays. So there is no 'good' time to do it from that point of view. The rest of the year maintenance is planned to be of 'minimal' disruption, however it is ongoing throughout the year. We have had a lot of compliments regarding the course and the greens over the last few years and it all boils down to the work that is put in, to get the course that way and make play on them possible on the greens for a 12 month season.
The picture below is the front putting green only 7 days after the work has taken place, another 7 days and I would expect the surface to be back to a near normal state.
This is what it was like 7 days ago
As you can see from the picture the sand we apply every year is beginning to show in the soil profile, the upper portion of the green core is dominated by sand and the roots penetrate deeper below this through the aeration holes. The amount of organic matter in the upper profile is not thick, matted or excessive and it smells aerobic (anaerobic soil smells like rotten eggs).
The full profile shows the problems we face regarding drainage, the lower profile is quite heavy soil which drains very poorly. With no drainage on the majority of greens, this can lead to poor upper surface drainage once the water table rises sufficiently during heavy rain, however during moderate amounts of rain the nature of the sandy top layers can cope and remain firm, the work we are doing can only improve this.
Next week we are starting on holes 10-18, repeating the same process as above. Greens on holes 1-9 will be back in play however will not be regularly cut until the sand on the surface reduces as this causes severe damage to the mowers when cutting in wet conditions. A poor cut due to blunted blades will quickly increase disease.
