Aerification Recap

Here is a recap on the Aerification process that took place earlier in the week.  Perfect weather (with the exception of some heavy frost delaying our start each morning) and a dedicated staff played a vital role in completing tees, approaches and fairways on all 27 holes and practices areas.

Tees/Approaches:

The process began on Monday morning by pulling a 5/8 inch core on the tees and approaches of the Highlands nine.  The depth of 1-1 1/2 inches into the profile was addressed to remove thatch and organic matter while providing a channel for sand to be introduced while topdressing to improve drainage and firmness.

The staff used blowers, shovels and tools to push the cores into piles during the clean-up process.  Of course, Rutger kept a watchful eye on the entire process.  The cores were stock-piled in dumps and at the shop to be used later on cart path edges, stump holes and other imperfections in the rough as a fill material.

Following clean-up, our newly hired Assistant Superintendent, Matt Wolfe amended each surface with a product call Renovate Plus.  This combination product will help to open tight soils (improve porosity/drainage), speed up recovery and stimulate soil biology.















After amending, George Manos (our Golf Course Superintendent) conducted the process of topdressing both playing surfaces to improve the profile for drainage, rooting and firmness.  A drag mat was then used to work the sand into the holes that had been created.  With the frost, the process took about 2 days to complete as we wrapped up 3-6 on Flynn early Wednesday morning.  8 and 17 approach on Flynn along with the Driving Range tees will be topdressed early next week.     





Highland Greens:

Like the week before on Flynn, we took advantage of the weather to conduct the practice of deep tinning on the Highland greens this past Monday.  We were able to penetrate the profile at a depth of 8 inches to encourage oxygen exchange for root development and deeper channels for infiltration within the putting surfaces.  This practice will be performed again on Flynn in a couple of weeks in conjunction with aerification of all greens on April 8th and 9th.

Fairways:

Our Contractor, Aer-core, began the process of fairway Aerfication on Tuesday morning.  All 27 holes recieved a 5/8 inch core removed to address the thatch and organic material build-up similar to the practice conducted in-house on tees and approaches.  They took two full days to complete the process.

Following the completion of pulling cores, a member of the Aer-core team would drag the fairways with a tine harrow to break off the thatch and help work any soil from the cores into the holes.

Once the dragging was complete, they used sweepers to pick up the left over material while providing the clean finished  product.  We provided some operators to help speed up the process by hauling off the material to our dumps.  In addition to fairways, the practice was completed on the Driving Range tees and short game fairway.

Overall I couldn't be happier with the week!  Not just the finished product but how the staff stepped up knowing that we were under a narrow window to complete prior to the rain on Thursday.  Mission Accomplished!  Next week, will start with fertilizing all playing surfaces that were aerified on Monday.  We will topdress the remaining approaches and practice areas before shifting gears on prepping Flynn to open.  Bunker work, first cuts and additional clean-up of debris will be our additional focus.  

Again, thank you for your cooperation and understanding of this bi-annual process of aerification on playing surfaces.  With the exception of greens, there will be minimal impact to the course throughout the season.  

Aerification Preview

The past week has provided the opportunity for the staff to complete a lot of tasks throughout the property.  Much of the week was dedicated to cleaning-up the courses from all of the debris that occurs during the winter months.  In addition to wrapping up any loose ends with tree work.  We rolled Highlands greens to smooth any imperfections from the winter prior to placing our first cut on greens with another roll this past Friday.  On Flynn, we cut fairways for the first time of the year in preparation of next weeks aerification (more on that in a minute).  The Flynn greens also received their first deep-tine in years with our newly purchased piece of equipment:

The deep tine will be a valuable resource to our operation and plant health of all playing surfaces.  The practice will be utilized with each cultural practice throughout the year in addition to the winter months on fairways and greens when the ground isn't frozen.  The objective is to fracture the profile at depths of 8-10 inches to encourage oxygen exchange for root development while providing the added benefit of channels for drainage.  A pivotal resource to improve drainage, health and firmness of all playing surfaces moving forward.

Aerification Week (3/18-3/22)

As March Madness begins, so does the start of our bi-annual process of cultural practices to Tees, Approaches and Fairways next week.  Here is a quick preview:

Tees/Approaches:

All three nines will receive a core aerification beginning on Monday.  We will start on Flynn, by going hole by hole and removing a 5/8 inch core at a depth of 3/4 to 1 inch to address any thatch and organic material build-up.  Following the clean-up process, both playing surfaces will be amended with Renovate Plus to start building the profile and introducing my new philosophies.  Renovate Plus is a 50/50 combination including Eco-Lite to open tight soils (improve porosity/drainage), speed up recovery from aerification and stimulate soil biology.  This allows for oxygen movement through the soil and promotes an active microbial generate nitrogen cycle. Once amended, we will lightly topdress both playing surfaces to improve the growing medium and firmness.

Fairways:

We have a hired a contractor to complete the process of removing 5/8 inch cores on all fairways throughout the property.  Work will begin on Flynn starting Tuesday and weather depending, the Highlands should be finished Thursday afternoon.  Following removal of the cores, the contractor will drag each fairway to break up the soil and thatch content.  The thatch will then be removed with sweepers to provide the finished product.  Cores have not been removed on fairways for numerous years, so this will help address the top layering and thatch while setting the foundation towards firmer and healthier surfaces.  If weather cooperates, we plan to start fertilizing fairways on Friday.


Highlands Greens:

On Wednesday, we plan to start the process of deep-tinning Highland greens.  Depending on frost hindering the start, the process should take one full day and greens will be immediately rolled following completion, limiting the impact on play.

Turf is starting to wake up through out the property and on behalf of the entire grounds department, we appreciate your understanding and cooperation with this necessary bi-annual process.  You'll notice moving forward that I tend to take a bookend approach to our major cultural practices (weather depending) to limit the impact on play in season.  Therefore, the second phase of the program will take place in November.

Till next time, Think Spring and enjoy filling out those brackets!  We look forward to seeing you on the course!

Welcome

Welcome to Lancaster Country Club grounds department's official blog page!  Here you will find periodic detailed posts to inform the membership and friends of LCC of all the happenings within the grounds department.  What to expect:

• Updates on course conditions
• Preview, Progress and Recaps of cultural practices
• Explanation and Progress of on and off the course projects
• A look inside the operation - meet the staff, see what we do
• And much more....

On the bottom right of the page, you'll find a "Follow By Email" box.  There you can submit your email to receive post via email as the blog is updated.   

Think Spring and we look forward to seeing you on the course!