Despite rainy weather, we have begun the process of aerifying the greens and croquet courts. While the weather is not ideal, waiting for the best conditions could be timely matter. Sometimes you just have to take what Mother Nature gives you and move on. Kudos to our staff as they have maintained a positive attitude while working in the rain.
 |
| Aerating #2 green. |
 |
| Cleaning plugs on #6 green. |
There are several reasons why it is important to aerify greens on a regular basis. First and foremost is that it alleviates compaction and loosens the soil for better water infiltration and air exchange. Secondly it helps the soil to "breath" allowing it to expel harmful gases caused by decomposition. Additionally, aerification removes dead plant and excessive organic matter otherwise known as thatch. Thatch can greatly reduce water infiltration and gas exchange while also providing a breeding ground for disease pathogens.
 |
| Scooping up plugs with the core harvester. |
Aerifying is one of the most important practices we do to provide for the health of the greens. We purposely wait until after the Club closes to aerify because we understand that the Fall is the best time to play golf in the mountains. After we finish the aerification process, please be aware that with the Club officially closed for the season, we will no longer prepare the course for regular play as we will be changing our focus to winter projects and agronomic practices.
 |
| Benefits of aerification |
