GOLF COURSE AERIFICATION

Like many things, the quality of a good putting green is more than skin deep. In fact, the condition of a green has a lot to do with what goes on below the surface. In order for Bentgrass and, especially, Poa annua putting greens to be mowed at just over a tenth of an inch, they must have deep, healthy roots. Good roots demand oxygen which they get from tiny pockets of air trapped between soil and sand particles.

This spring the greens will be aerified by “punching” small holes in the top few inches of the greens surface, allowing for an infusion of air. The holes will then be filled with sand “topdressing” that helps the soil retain the newly formed air spaces making it easier for roots to grow downward.

For those of you unfamiliar with the term, Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the turfgrass plants stay healthy. This process of aerification achieves three important objectives. It relieves soil compaction, provides a method to improve the soil mixture around the green’s roots and reduces or prevents the accumulation of excess thatch.

Over time, the traffic from golfers’ feet, mowing equipment, and even irrigation and natural rainfall tends to compact the soil under the greens. When soil becomes compacted, the air pockets on which the roots depend are crushed, and the tiny grass plants are essentially left gasping for air. Without oxygen, the turfgrass becomes weaker and will eventually wither and die.

Older greens, like yours at Chantilly National, were constructed of soils with significant amounts of clay and fine organic particles that are prone to compaction and are plagued by poor drainage. Filling aerification holes with sand improves drainage and resists compaction. The periodic introduction of sand to a green’s top layer will, over time, amends the growing medium and eventually improve water infiltration, effectively shortening the amount of time a green must be closed after a period of heavy rainfall.

Finally, actively growing turfgrass generates a layer of organic matter on the greens surface. This layer, called thatch, is an accumulation of dead stems, leaves and roots. A little organic matter makes for a resilient green, but too much invites diseases and insects. Topdressing with sand can prevent thatch buildup, and aerification is one of the best ways to reduce an existing layer and prevent an excess of thatch from becoming established.

Preventative maintenance is an integral part of successful golf course management. Unfortunately, aerification is often viewed as an inconvenience that takes the greens out of play for a day or two, and leaves holes that affect putting for many days before healing. To add insult to injury, aerification is often best done when greens are in prime condition. 

The bottom line is that aerification is a necessary practice. So, the next time you see those little holes that make the greens bumpy and unsightly and your round less enjoyable, consider also that aerification is merely a short-term disruption that has long-term benefits for the course.  Just remember that without them, the greens would eventually die, and then finish playing your round knowing that this small inconvenience will pay huge dividends in the health of the greens for weeks, months and even years to come.

In the image above a “sand vein” from a previous aerification hole that was filled with sand can still be clearly seen.  Also of note are the healthy white roots protruding from the bottom of the sand vein.

SPRING 2015 AERIFICATION SCHEDULE

Greens - Monday, April 6 & Tuesday, April 7 (Rain Date April 8)

Tees and Fairways - Weeks of Monday, April 6 & Monday, April 13

*Golf hole will be temporarily closed while work is in progress

For more information (and videos) on the aerification process we will employ on your greens next week, check out this post from April 2014. We felt like the process was very successful last year and plan to implement the same process again this spring.