When should I aerate my golf course?
Aerating when grass is healthy and actively growing minimizes damage and allows for a quick return to optimal playing conditions. Aerating at other times may be more convenient for the golf schedule, but it lengthens recovery times, increases the risk of an invasion of weeds and could cause lasting damage.
Is aeration on a golf course disruptive?
Aeration can be disruptive, but the long-term benefits of aeration far outweigh the short-lived disruption. The next time you play on greens that were recently aerated, keep in mind that aeration is performed for the long-term health of the course.
What is the USGA's 'aeration model' for golf courses?
Courses also try to schedule greens aerating around big events and vice-versa. And now, the USGA through its course consulting service, has created an "aeration model" for golf facilities and their superintendents, using the course's own data, which includes round history, green fees and recovery times.
Why do golf courses aerate their Greens?
Signs of the aeration holes may remain on the putting greens for longer after that. The bottom line on why golf courses go through the process of aerified greens is that over time it keeps the greens healthier.
How many times a year do golf courses aerate?
This is typically done one to three times a year, depending on the course, the type of greens, and in what part of the country they are located. "The practice of core aeration is done when the grass is growing the most aggressively, so they can have the quickest recovery time," Moeller said.
How long does aeration affect a golf course?
More nitrogen is typically applied following aerification to get the holes to fill in quicker, which can reduce green speeds for three to five weeks or longer.
What is an aerated golf course?
Think of golf course aeration as preventive maintenance: It's the (typically) annual process of punching little holes into greens (and sometimes fairways) that opens up growing room for grass roots and helps keep the turfgrass healthy. (It's also called "aerification.")
Why do golf courses aerate in the spring?
Aeration holes allow excess moisture to evaporate and promote gas exchange in the soil, resulting in stronger root systems and turf that is better able to tolerate golfer traffic. Proper timing of aeration will ensure the fastest possible recovery and return to smooth surface conditions.
Is it worth playing on aerated greens?
Putting greens receive more traffic than any other playing surface. The aeration process helps relieve the compaction caused by all that traffic. It also helps create a firm, smooth putting surface by controlling thatch and promoting healthy turf roots.
How long are greens bad after aeration?
It usually takes a golf course two weeks to recovery from properly done golf course aeration. Once the grass grows back through the aeration holes to a healthy level, the mowers and rollers come back, typically with greens as good as new.
How long does aeration last?
Therefore, to achieve sustained benefits from aeration, courses must routinely aerate – i.e., aerate approximately once every six weeks or more frequently.
Why do they aerate golf courses?
Golf courses aerate their greens for four major reasons, all of which affect turf health. Aeration is usually performed in order to remove organic matter, decompress the soil, improve the drainage of the soil, and help promote root growth.
Can you putt on aerated greens?
The holes punched during aeration are smaller and the greens heal more quickly than the old days of course maintenance. Still, there is no denying that recently aerated greens play differently than greens in peak condition. They roll more slowly and the punched holes can knock a putt off line.
When Should I aerate my lawn?
You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.
How often are golf greens mowed?
How often putting greens are mowed is dependent on staff size and budget, but grass type and weather also play a role. On average, greens are mowed at least five days per week, and in most cases six or seven days per week.
What happens if you don't aerate your lawn?
Grasses gradually thin and eventually die out completely, for lack of the oxygen, water and nutrients available just inches away. Even a single aeration session can open the avenue for these essentials to reach their mark and put your lawn back on an upward trend. Core aerators pull small plugs of soil to the surface.
How often do golf courses aerate?
1 to 3 times a year. A high percentage of golf courses will aerate a minimum of 1 time per year with most courses completing the aeration process 2-3 times per year based on the type of greens and the growing seasons in the location of the golf course.
What can you do as a golfer?
Based on the location of where you live, make sure you have a general idea of when golf courses complete their aeration process. Where I live, it is very common for this to take place sometime in the first 3 weeks of September. A golfer, when making tee time, should inquire when the aeration is going to take place.
Why do golf courses aerate?
Overall, it is about the health of the greens. A deep core aeration process opens up holes on the greens, which helps the soil breathe. It increases drainage and air exchange for the grass.
What is the recovery time of aerated greens?
It can take up to several weeks for the greens to fully recover, however, after the first week or so, the greens start to play relatively fair and most golfers will not mind. The most difficult putting conditions are during that first week.
My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage. I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St.
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
Why do golf courses need aeration?
The bottom line on why golf courses go through the process of aerified greens is that over time it keeps the greens healthier. This is the case because: 1 Aeration loosens soil that has been compacted by golfers walking over it and machines rolling over it. 2 This opens up growing room for the roots and increases oxygen to the roots. 3 The roots of the turfgrass thus can grow deeper, creating a healthier putting surface.
What is aeration in golf?
Think of golf course aeration as preventive maintenance: It's the (typically) annual process of punching little holes into greens (and sometimes fairways) that opens up growing room for grass roots and helps keep the turfgrass healthy. (It's also called "aerification.")
What is topdressing in golf?
The holes left behind are filled with sand in a process called "topdressing.". Once topdressed, a course is said to have "sanded greens.". The greens are left alone for a few days (although golfers may still play them) and the grass allowed to grow. The topdressing gradually disappears as watering takes place.
Why do golf courses have aerating greens?
The bottom line on why golf courses go through the process of aerified greens is that over time it keeps the greens healthier. This is the case because:
How does a golf green aerify?
To aerify a golf green a piece of machinery built for the task cores the ground (punches holes and removes the dirt) in a certain pattern. (The small cores of dirt that are removed are called "plugs.") Air and water are thus infused into the ground at root level, and space opened up for new root growth. The holes left behind are filled ...
Where is the ball placed on the putting green?
The most to-the-point part of that local rule is this: "On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.". Because such a local rule would be of limited duration, it would not be printed on the scorecard.
Do you have to putt a golf ball on an aeration hole?
If your golf ball comes to rest on an aeration hole, what's the ruling? Do you have to putt it like that? The answer is a qualified yes, with an exception possibly provided through a local rule.
Why is a golf course aerated?
Aerification (also known as aeration) achieves three important objectives, the GCSAA explains: it provides a method to improve the soil mixture around the highest part of a green's roots; and it reduces or prevents the accumulation of excess thatch.
What does it mean when you show up to a golf course?
Showing up to a golf course only to discover that it has recently underdone an aerification process can be a jolt to the system. You were hoping the golf course, and especially its greens, would be in great shape. Instead you find it full of little holes or covered in sand or other topdressing. It's frustrating.
What is aeration in gardening?
Aerification (also known as aeration) achieves three important objectives, the GCSAA explains: 1 It relieves soil compaction; 2 it provides a method to improve the soil mixture around the highest part of a green's roots; 3 and it reduces or prevents the accumulation of excess thatch.
Why fill aerification holes with sand?
Filling aerification holes with sand improves drainage and resists compaction. The periodic introduction of sand to a green's top layer can, over time, avoid or postpone expensive rebuilding or renovation of greens. "Finally, growing of turf adds to a layer of organic matter on the surface.
What is the process of aeration?
From the GCSAA's explanation of the aerification process (all excerpts appear here courtesy of the GCSAA): "Aerification is a mechanical process that creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting, thus helping the grass plants stay healthy.
When is aerification best done?
To add insult to injury, aerification is best done in many part of the country during mid-summer, at the height of the playing season and when most greens are in prime condition. But a golfer needs to understand how important aerification is to producing healthy turf.".
Is aerification of golf courses frustrating?
It's frustrating. And the golf course aerification process can be especially frustrating to golfers when they don't understand why it's done.
Why is aeration important in golf?
Aeration primarily is performed to control organic matter – i.e., decaying roots and grass stems – relieve soil compaction, stimulate root growth and improve drainage. If organic matter becomes too thick, it acts like a sponge and holds water at the surface after rain or irrigation. Excessive organic matter also inhibits root growth, reduces oxygen levels in the soil, encourages disease and eventually can lead to turf failure. Furthermore, excessive organic matter creates soft surfaces prone to ball marks, foot printing and inconsistent playing conditions. Aeration and topdressing are the most effective ways to control organic matter and maintain smooth, firm putting surfaces.
Why do golf courses need aeration holes?
Aeration holes filled with sand topdressing will allow excess water from the soil to evaporate, promote root development and improve drainage. The word aeration stimulates negative emotions for many golfers. It may come as a surprise, but golf course superintendents also dislike aeration. After all, the last person who wants to disrupt ...
What is the USGA?
The USGA promotes and conserves the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions. It acts in the best interests of the game for the continued enjoyment of those who love and play it. Why Do Golf Courses.
Is aeration good for greens?
Aeration can create short-lived disruption but it is a highly beneficial program that keeps greens healthy and playing well.
How much of a putting green is aerated?
Typically, aeration affects less than 10 percent of a putting surface.
Why do putting greens need aeration?
Putting greens receive more traffic than any other playing surface. The aeration process helps relieve the compaction caused by all that traffic. It also helps create a firm, smooth putting surface by controlling thatch and promoting healthy turf roots.
What is thatch in putting greens?
Thatch is a layer of old plant material that accumulates at the soil surface. If thatch on putting greens is not diluted by aeration and topdressing, it will act like a sponge, holding water near the surface. Excessive thatch creates soft playing conditions, inconsistent green speeds and increases the risk of disease.
What is the USGA green section?
The USGA’s Green Section has been helping golf courses deliver the best possible playing conditions for nearly 100 years. USGA agronomists work with golf facilities across North America to help them create and maintain environmentally and economically sustainable golf courses that give you the best playing experience, even if you have to occasionally play on aerated putting greens. (Click on the image above to get a full-screen view.)
Does sand help putting greens?
However, filling aeration holes with sand actually helps create a smoother surface. Sand also creates channels for water and air movement, dilutes thatch and helps putting greens recover from aeration more quickly.
How many different types of aerating are there?
First of all, there are probably as many as five different types of aerating practices, according to Adam Moeller, director of education for the USGA Green Section. The least invasive small-tine aerating hardly disrupts the playing surface at all and is usually very playable immediately afterwards, but its effectiveness is certainly debatable.
What irritates golfers more than anything?
What irritates golfers more than anything, of course, is when they show up for their tee time, only to find out then that the greens were recently aerated, or worst yet, don't discover it until they get to the first green. The latter is certainly rare, and the former is becoming less common, too, as courses know this doesn't exactly create good will with their customer base. Letting golfers know before they show up to the course should probably be the minimum practice, and most courses are trying to do that.
Do you putt on greens that have been aerated?
Most golfers know the importance or aerating greens. Even if they don't understand why, they know it's necessary. Still, no one likes to putt on greens that have been recently aerated, especially a deep-tine aeration with core removal and top dressing. Trying to putt over holes is frustrating at best, and often golfers who do play in such ...
When is grass growing in the North?
"In the north, spring and the tail end of summer are ideal for cool season grasses.". Courses also try to schedule greens aerating around big events and vice-versa.
Who is the head golfer at Elkview Country Club?
Jared Cottell, the head PGA professional at the Donald Ross-designed Elkview Country Club near Carbondale, Pa., lets his members know well in advance when the greens are going to be aerated. But before he came to Elkview three years ago, he employed a different practice at the semi-private/resort-like Woodloch Springs Country Club in Hawley, Pa., where he was head professional for seven years.
Do golf courses send out alerts?
As all of us have become more tied to our phones and computers, and facilities have extensive emailing lists, many courses send out alerts to their regular customers, letting them know when greens are going to be aerated. And most courses will inform golfers who reserve a tee time by phone if greens have been recently aerated. (It saves a lot of potential grief for shop personnel later).
Can you play rough greens after aerating?
Golfers looking to save a little money on green fees who don't mind rough greens would be well advised to check out course websites and get on mailing lists. Sometimes, the greens are surprisingly playable following an aggressive aerating, especially if you wait a few days after the procedure when the maintenance crews have had a chance to "whip" the sand off the greens and run the mowers and rollers.
When to aerate golf courses?
Certain courses may not be able to complete the aeration in the late Spring due to play volume. In those cases, aeration in the early Fall followed by less aggressive aeration in the early Spring will achieve solid results. However, it is twice as much work.
Why is aeration important in putting greens?
This is because aeration is most effective when the grass is healthy and actively growing. Greens recover more quickly and weeds don’t have the opportunity to invade because the turf quickly recovers. This minimizes the amount of time the green will be sub-optimal for play. However – even at its worst the aeration only impacts 5-10% of the putting surface.
Why do you need to apply sand to aerated holes?
The sand used to fill the aerated holes must be carefully applied to avoid abrading the turf to the potentially abrasive nature of the sand. Generally, the sand should be applied in stages to avoid causing damage.
Why do you aerate greens?
With all this traffic the greens suffer from “compaction” which can weaken roots. Aeration clears out space on the greens to promote healthy roots and reduce thatch. Aeration will enable root systems to grow deeper into the soil. Thatch is basically old plant material that accumulates on the surface of the soil. It acts like a sponge, holding water near the surface which creates inconsistent green speeds and increases the likelihood of disease.
What is topdressing in aeration?
Topdressing, the process of filling the aeration holes with sand or other organic materials.
