18 June 2012

We are two weeks removed from our first aerification of the summer and things are healing up nicely. We are currently over 85% healed and we will be close to 100% by the end of this week. I have included some pictures to show a few of the practices involved in our aerification procedures here at TPC Eagle Trace.

This years Spring aerification went off with out a hitch and we were able to punch holes in all the in play areas except the roughs. The tees and approaches were aerified with ½” hollow tines (Small Machine) and we drug the tee surfaces with our steel drag mat then blew the remaining debris with our Buffalo Blower. We will be applying a granular fertilizer on Monday (25 June) followed by an insecticide application later in the week.

The fairways were punched with our tractor-mounted machine (Big Machine) coupled with ¾” hollow tines. We then dragged and blew the fairways like we did the tees and approaches. We also used the “Big Machine” to punch some of our special needs areas, like the approaches on # 2 and # 14.  We will have some future posts in regards to these “intensive care” areas so stay tuned to the TPC ET blog to keep up with our on-going adventures.

We did things a little bit different this year on the greens and we are very pleased with the results. We were able to remove a lot of material and they showed an immediate response after we punched them. The greens just love a good aeration as it opens up the pore space in the soil profile allowing air and water to penatrate the soil and get to the roots which in turn leads to healthier turf. We also applied a product for the fairy ring that has shown up on some greens. Since fairy ring is a soil-born disease, the product is more effective when we spray right after aerification. When coupled with a wetting agent, the holes allow the product to reach the areas of the soil where the disease is active.

Again, we are looking at the end of this week before the holes are 100% closed. We and the turf appreciate your patience during these times of year when we need to perform these much needed agronomic practices. Rest assured we could not provide the tournament ready conditions we all enjoy without executing these “intrusive” exercises a few times a year.

Skip Connolly | Golf Course Superintendent
TPC Eagle Trace
wconnolly@heritagegolfgroup.com
www.tpceagletrace.com