Aeration Update

Here is a quick update on where we are with aeration. Tees, approaches and fairways 2, 3 & 9 were complete by the end of the day Wednesday. Rain yesterday and today has had us at a standstill. A total of 1.5 inches of rain has fallen this week. 

We plan to begin greens aeration on Sunday afternoon. The 1st tee will be closed at 4pm allowing me to follow the last groups and begin aeration on greens. This will give us a head start for Monday when we intend to finish the process. We will not perform the deep tine as we would normally due to the forecast for more rain next week. This process will be made up later in Spring. As always our work with aeration is weather dependent and if we receive too much rain in the next 48 hours we may not start on Sunday. It will be a game time decision. 

Please have a look at the attached articles for more information regarding aeration. Also attached is a brief USGA video on why we aerate greens. The question of why we aerate comes up each year. The simple answer is that we need to if we want healthy greens that will stand up to the pressures of golfers and maintenance. Our focus is on the long term health of our greens. Our cultural practices over the years have paid off with consistently firm, fast and healthy greens conditions. Conditions that have improved year after year. The second article speaks specifically to timing and recovery. Timing is key if we are to make the most out the practice. Aeration in March is a crap shoot here in the Bay Area. Low soil temperatures and possibility for heavy rains can result in delays in recovery and potential damage to the turf and soil below. The club events calendar dictates our timing which is not ideal but reality. 

http://www.usga.org/course-care/forethegolfer/why-do-golf-courses-aerate-so-much-.html

http://gsrpdf.lib.msu.edu/ticpdf.py?file=/article/gross-easing-11-16-12.pdf

Thank you. Have a great weekend and P.S.  The word is out... 4 feet of fresh in Tahoe by end of the day today!!!

Double rainbow all the way

Following a significant cold and dry period, rain has returned to Northern California just in time to to throw a wrench into our spring aeration plans. Rain is forecast to begin this Saturday and continue off and on all next week.  The Drill and Fill aeration that was planned will not take place this spring as a result. As many of you know, we set aside a four week period each spring for weather dependent aeration. We thank the Club for supporting the Turf Department in such a way knowing this important practice must be completed with cooperation from Mother Nature. There is a chance we will go forward with our traditional coring and deep tine aeration on greens Monday the 12th but that will be a game time decision. A detailed rundown of our spring aeration plans can be found in the March newsletter article. The important dates are March 12 to April 6 when we intend to complete aeration and sanding of the entire course. Fairways sanding dates are set for March 26 & 28. We cannot perform these practices if its at all wet and we will update the membership as soon as we make a decision to move forward.

We've been hard at work this winter on various projects both large and small. The most significant being the Eucalyptus removal along hole 11. The dry weather in January and February allowed us to spend weeks pruning and removing about half of this grove. While it may seem like just a dent was made to the stand, work here will result in significantly more sunlight and air movement across holes 9, 10 and 11 and we should see improved turf conditions as a result.  In the coming weeks a new fence will be installed and we will begin work to establish natural Fescue grasses in the area.

Keep an eye on the blog and in your inbox for communication regarding spring aeration. We will do
all we can to minimize impact to golfers and we appreciate your understanding during this important time on the golf course. We are looking forward to a great season of golf and recreation at the club!