As you know from the last week’s e-mail, we will close the course June 15th and 16th to do our mid-season green aeration. Due to the 365-day growing season, organic matter control is optimally performed three times a year. In the past, we have done the traditional core removal aeration for the mid-season process. As we did last year, this will be performed using a sand injection machine without removing cores. This is accomplished with specialized equipment; therefore, it is contracted out necessitating the need to close for efficiency. The benefits of this are two-fold:
- Inject new sand into the profile with high pressure water, which aerates the soil.
- Benefits the golfer due to minimal surface disruption.
The number one reason for core aeration is the physical removal of organic matter, which enables us to replace this material with uncontaminated sand. If we do not perform this practice on a consistent basis, the organic matter levels will increase causing problems with the physical soil properties of the putting surfaces. This will lead to other problems such as disease, shallow rooting and most importantly to the golfer a soft, spongy playing surface.
The grass is constantly producing organic matter through the normal growth process, so core aeration along with the need to input fresh sand into this environment will continue to be the most important cultural practice performed on a golf course to maintain quality putting surfaces. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this procedure.
Another item we would like to discuss are the protocols that will be in place once we open the grass surface on driving range tee. The rate of recovery on a driving range tee is appreciably slower than tees located on the course. When golfers practice within the confines of a stall, they remove divots from an area until the turf has been all but completely harvested. With so little vegetation left, recovery from underground portions of the remaining plant and/or seed takes much longer. By knowing the area of turf damaged on a daily basis, time of year, and the general rate of recovery, we will have essential guidelines for use to ensure a successful driving range tee program.
Those protocols will include the following:
– Based on the square footage only 12 stalls will be used for all events and usage. Because of current social distancing policies, this may require us to use the synthetic surface until this relaxes based on demand.
– Monday’s and non-member events will be synthetic turf use only.
– The rear of the stall will be outlined with rope and usage must stay within those boundaries.
– During the winter months, we will increase the use of the synthetic surface based on amount of use, cooler soil temperatures and much slower recovery time. Heavy rain events will also require us to use the synthetic surface.
It is very important that we strictly adhere to those guidelines based on our square footage, and climate that we have here in Sonoma. We have attached a great video from the USGA regarding Driving Range etiquette.
Your’s in turf,
Stacy L. Wallace, Golf Course Superintendent
Sonoma Agronomy 