Hole 16

It has been a productive week for the maintenance staff. The fairway aeration was completed. The driving range was aerated. The fairways and rough were fertilized. All turf areas were also mowed at their usual frequency for this time of year.

Jerry aerating 12 fairway with a drum style aerator

How did we finish the fairway aeration so quickly? We finished using a drum style aerator, which is not as effective as the powered aerator we typically use. The drum style aerator does not penetrate hard ground as well. Compacted areas and localized dry spots are not easily penetrated, and the powered aerator can punch through the hard ground. The drum style aerator tends to ride right over the top of  the hardest areas, or in other words, does not aerate those areas. The drum style aerator however is quite a bit faster.  The powered aerator we typically use required some repairs before it could be operational. In order to remain on schedule, and get all of our aeration finished this fall, it was necessary to use the drum style aerator while the powered aerator was being repaired. The powered aerator should be up and running for tee aeration, which is scheduled for completion next week.

Two deer next to 12 green