This week was the 5th aerification that I have performed at LaRinconada and somewhere around the 25th for my career. It is always a lot of labor, and generally involves a few drops of blood and tears to go along with the sweat.
The amount of aerification we perform at LaRinconada is based on laboratory testing of the amount of organic matter present in the green. Based on that test result, both the USGA and the testing lab make a recommendation on the amount of aerification to perform to maintain the health of the greens.
This years aerification was aggressive, but went very smoothly and we will see quicker than normal recovery due to our above average temperatures and the quality of the work.
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| Aerified and topdressed green prior to rolling |
There is a lot of sand that is purposely left on the greens to aid in recovery and it will enhance ball roll by smoothing out imperfections.
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| Topdressing sand in the rough and fairways |
The entire course received topdressing including the rough and fairways. This is a big undertaking that went very well. 1,000 tons of sand was applied in 2 days, and these topdressings are making a positive impact in the firmness of these playing surfaces.
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| Rolling of the greens |
The final touches on the greens are multiple rollings and waterings. Mowing will be kept to a minimum to allow the sand to stay in place and not damage the mowing equipment, and in the place of mowing, rolling will be performed.
These maintenance practices are critical to the long term health and playability of the course. The fact that this spring's course maintenance went so well is reassuring in the face of the recent drought and the challenges that we will face this coming summer.
Kevin
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