Why are we aerating the greens in the spring when the holes are still open from the October Drill and Fill procedure?

  In late April and early September we aerate with our own machines creating a hole that varies from1/4 inch to 5/8 of an inch and goes down about 3.5 to 4 inches.  We change the hole size depending on what we are trying to accomplish and the time of the year.

 During our aeration procedure, we remove organic matter and soil.  We then try to fill the holes with sand by dragging a brush over the greens or by using blowers to work the sand into the hoes.   Neither of which is a very efficient or effective way of filling the holes.

 The main purpose of our spring and fall aeration is to remove organic matter.  A side benefit is that we relieve compaction and allow for a gas exchange of the affected areas of the greens.

 We adopted the Drill and Fill operation two years ago.  A contractor comes in with specialty machines that do just what the name implies.  Drills a one inch hole and then fills that hole with sand.

 That channel of sand extends down 8 inches.  It is done to improve the soil structure of our greens and to fill the hole up to the top with sand.

 The drill and fill does not remove much organic mater but it does relieve compaction and fills the holes up to the top with sand in a very efficient way.

 After we complete our aeration operation this April, the drill and fill holes will be just about closed up and all holes in the greens will be healed and leveled out by the very early part of May. 

 Early May is the time of the year when all of the different types of turf grasses on the course start to grow uniformly and all of the areas will level up and smooth out.

 As with all our maintenance practices, we try to improve the course for the long term with the least amount of disruption to play.  Aerification is the most disruptive and labor intensive but it is the most important of the maintenance practices.

 Steve Humphreys

April 18, 2008

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