Dry- Ject Greens Tomorrow May 1st

Sand Injection process

 Tomorrow May 1st a Dry-ject aerification is scheduled for all the greens. Dry-ject aerification is a process by which sand is injected into the growing median at high pressure. The process leaves a column of sand below the putting surface which help relieve compaction in the soil and provide a channel for nutrients, water and root growth.
After the injection process, the greens are brushed, rolled and are ready for play.

The putting surface after injection

Refreshing Bunker Sand

Sand is delivered to the bunkers

 At the start of every season we examine our bunkers making sure the depth of the sand is at an acceptable, playable depth. The bunkers that have sand depths that are too shallow are "topped off" with a fresh layer of new sand. The depth of the layer of new sand usually runs between 1 to 2 inches.
The sand is spread by hand in each bunker; hand watered and then compacted by a plate compactor to attain the proper firmness and playable.
This spring in addition to adding new sand some of the bunker faces on 5 green and 10 green were re-sodded with Turf type tall fescue.

Spreading to the proper depth

Compacting to the desired firmness

Fairway Topdressing

The golf and grounds crew has begun our spring application of sand on the fairways.Our fairway topdressing program consists of applying 40 tons of sand per acre of fairway turf throughout the season,( usually in 2 applications).
The sand applied will aid in the reduction of our organic matter levels; help smooth the playing surface; and aid in drainage. The goal is to apply enough sand over a 8 to 10 year period to smooth and modify the growing environment to provide a firmer and faster playing surface.

Spreading the sand in an even pattern

The spreader holds 3 ton per load

Sand ready to be brushed into the canopy

Practice with the straight line method

 These photos show the preferred divot pattern the golf and grounds crew is promoting to encourage a quicker recovery of the turf on our short game facility and driving range. Almost two thirds less turf is disrupted when you use the straight line method. Place the ball at the end of the previous shot's divot and continue back in a straight line. This enables the golf and grounds crew to quickly fill in the divot pattern and these areas will recover quicker than the large square pattern many players use.

Work schedule for the week of April 21

The following work is scheduled to be completed this week weather permitting;
Fertilization and fungicide treatment on all the fairways on Monday.
Poa seedhead suppression treatment spray on greens and tees on Friday.
Sod installation on stump areas on 18, 16, and 4 tees from hurricane Sandy damage; Tuesday and Wednesday.
Spring application of sand top dressing on fairways 2 through 7
Spring re-conditioning of the tennis facility will start on Tuesday.
Implementation of the spring Poa Cure experimental program:

Greens Aerification

 Today and tomorrow we will be  implementing our spring aerification on greens. The greens will be aerified with 3/8 inch hollow tines; the plugs removed; and a light topdressing with sand will be applied.
Granular micro nutrients and seed will be applied to the greens; followed by a brushing to work the materials into the holes and canopy.  The surfaces are then rolled , fertilized, and watered.
Holes 1 to 10 and the putting green will be completed today. The remaining holes are scheduled for tomorrow.