Venting Greens

Aerifier with Tine setup

 Venting greens is one of the many aerification procedures that Superintendents use throughout the growing season to help promote water and oxygen movement into the soils that become compacted during the season. Small 1/4 inch needle tines punch over 100 tiny holes per square foot up to 4 inches deep. The surfaces are mowed after this aerifcation process leaving a smooth playable surface. The tiny holes will disappear after 2 to 3 days.

Two machines complete all 21 greens in 6 hours

Putting surface after Venting

Tools of the Trade

Digital Soil moisture meters are a extremely useful tolls for measuring and maintaining the proper amount of soil moisture in high maintenance areas of the golf course,( greens, tees, fairways).
The Golf and Grounds staff will take daily readings in key areas of each green to determine if the proper amount of hand watering or overhead irrigation has been applied. This meter will also help in determining when grass is at the wilting point and a light application of water, (syringing) needs to take place to maintain the grass plant on those hot and steamy days. Each green is tested to determine a baseline for survival. The use of this meters will help prevent the over watering of key areas to maintain maximum playability and water conservation.

Practice Tee Irrigation Repair

 Occasionally a irrigation fitting like the one pictured will fail. This 2 inch fitting was under full pressure when it failed during the early morning hours and ran for 90 minutes before the leak was spotted during our morning rounds.

The water line the fitting was on was shut down; the pipes were exposed, and a new fitting is installed.

Failures like this one are not common but will happen over time. Most 2 inch lines are glue joint fittings and through normal use and winter freeze thaw cycles occasionally the glue joints will give out. This fitting was installed in 2000.