Fairway Aeration

Apologies to today's (Monday's) golfers who came to the club today and were surprised about fairway aeration that we began today. As many of you know, I was in Florence Italy until Sunday night and dropped the ball about notifying members of this important process. I will repeat, this time in Italian....Così spiacente!

It will take our contractor two days to complete fairways and intermediate rough. They are using three machines to complete the operation far quicker than we ever could. Fairways will be aerated at the closest spacing possible, and thirteen fairway will be aerated twice.

Aeration is an important process that provides many turf benefits:

1. Aeration helps to remove the 1" thatch layer that is made up of old plant
stems and plant parts that resist decomposition.
2. Aeration provides channels for rainfall, irrigation and oxygen into soil.
3. Breaking up the aerated soil cores provides a fine topdressing layer of soil
that helps keep the thatch layer in check.
4. Aeration will help push root systems deeper into soil.
5. Aeration will help fairways survive the heat of summer.
6. Since disease and insects thrive in the thatch layer, aerated fairways are
less prone to damage from these pests...including Gray Leaf Spot.

In addition to this process, we plan on aerating all fairways with a solid steel tine that brings up no soil before next May. Between these two processes and a chemical program to fight against gray leaf spot, we expect highly improved fairways for 2013 and beyond.

To our Monday golfers we sincerely apologize for beginning the aeration process without notifying you before your arrival. Thanks for your understanding!!

Patrick Gertner CGCS