For the next two weeks, we will be performing some routine cultural pracices on the golf courses. This week, we are verticutting and topdressing greens. This is a normal process we complete every 2-3 weeks during the growing season. Verticutting is the process of cutting grooves into the greens which removes grass and helps keep the greens smooth. It also helps remove the seed from the poa annua. We then come behind with a very light application of sand to fill in the grooves. That night, we will water the greens to get the sand worked into the turf, then we will roll the next day. There is a slight slowing of green speeds for a day or two after this process, but the process will actually help improve green speeds and smoothness after that. We are verticutting and topdressing the South greens today, and will be doing the North Course tomorrow.
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| Pedro Diaz verticuts the green prior to mowing. |
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| Bryan Willment mows the green after it is verticut. |
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| Jose Salgado applies a light topdressing of sand to the green. |
Next week, we are aerifying the South fairways and roughs. Although this process is messy and difficult to complete in play, it is critical to the playing conditions of the fairways. Aerification helps decrease the compaction of the soil, helps with water penetration and drainage and also helps produce a better playing surface. We will be working on one hole at a time, and will completely clean-up the hole before moving to the next. Please bear with us through the process next week.
