The Randolph Golf Complex is a busy place. Located in Tucson, Ariz., its 36 holes host some 120,000 round of golf each year. In years past the facility has hosted both PGA and LPGA tour stops.
Superintendent Matt Kimball works hard to maintain quality putting surfaces amidst the heavy traffic. The Air2G2, a machine that performs Soil CPR, helps him do just that.
Manufactured by GT AirInject of Jacksonville, Fla., which brought it to market in early 2011, the Air2G2 enhances turf performance via Soil CPR:
• Compaction relief
• Porosity increased
• Respiration enhanced
In practice, the machine injects compressed air into the soil which opens up the soil at depths of up to 12-inches below the root zone while only minimally disrupting the surface. Kimball became a believer in the machine after Pete Evans of Air2G2-SW, a distributor, conducted a demonstration for him at Randolph.
“They have you turn the water on,” Kimball says, “and see how long it takes for the water to pool and run on the surface. In my case, with old pushup-style greens, it was a matter of two minutes and I had water running on the green. They worked on the front half of the green and I let the water run for 45 minutes. I never had water running.”
The heart of the Air2G2 consists of three tines, either 7 or 12 inches in length at the superintendent’s discretion, which are set 24 inches apart.
“You’re only affecting every 3 or 4 square feet with a hole,” Kimball points out.
The compressed air radiates laterally to a diameter of 6-9 feet, fracturing hardpan layers while at the same time creating additional space to improve both drainage and root growth. As the air moves through the soil, the flow of oxygen is enhanced while carbon dioxide and other gasses are expelled.
“You’re not pulling material out of the ground,” Kimball says, you’re injecting air into the root structure and the growing profile of the turf.
“The thing I thought was most interesting about it was it you put the long tines on the machine (12 inches) you’re injecting air into the soil at a depth that hasn’t been disrupted probably since the greens were built. If you can get those roots down in that cool earth, the less inputs you use altogether, water, fertility, and everything else.”
The machine can be used during play; there is no need to shut down the golf course as there would with a traditional aeration. “I’ve had a gentleman operate it during play,” Kimball says, “and as long as he’s keeping an eye out for play, he can run it.”
Kimball has been in the turf industry for 27 years and at Randolph for four. He is also responsible for two other golf courses In Tucson.
“I’ve seen a lot of things come and go,” he says. “I honestly struggle to think of a machine that I think has had such an incredible positive impact.
“The roots that I have now compared to four years ago, it’s night and day. Our greens are better than they have ever been.”
No more results found. Superintendent Matt Kimball works hard to maintain quality putting surfaces amidst the heavy traffic. The Air2G2, a machine that performs Soil CPR, helps him do just that.
Manufactured by GT AirInject of Jacksonville, Fla., which brought it to market in early 2011, the Air2G2 enhances turf performance via Soil CPR:
• Compaction relief
• Porosity increased
• Respiration enhanced
In practice, the machine injects compressed air into the soil which opens up the soil at depths of up to 12-inches below the root zone while only minimally disrupting the surface. Kimball became a believer in the machine after Pete Evans of Air2G2-SW, a distributor, conducted a demonstration for him at Randolph.
“They have you turn the water on,” Kimball says, “and see how long it takes for the water to pool and run on the surface. In my case, with old pushup-style greens, it was a matter of two minutes and I had water running on the green. They worked on the front half of the green and I let the water run for 45 minutes. I never had water running.”
The heart of the Air2G2 consists of three tines, either 7 or 12 inches in length at the superintendent’s discretion, which are set 24 inches apart.
“You’re only affecting every 3 or 4 square feet with a hole,” Kimball points out.
The compressed air radiates laterally to a diameter of 6-9 feet, fracturing hardpan layers while at the same time creating additional space to improve both drainage and root growth. As the air moves through the soil, the flow of oxygen is enhanced while carbon dioxide and other gasses are expelled.
“You’re not pulling material out of the ground,” Kimball says, you’re injecting air into the root structure and the growing profile of the turf.
“The thing I thought was most interesting about it was it you put the long tines on the machine (12 inches) you’re injecting air into the soil at a depth that hasn’t been disrupted probably since the greens were built. If you can get those roots down in that cool earth, the less inputs you use altogether, water, fertility, and everything else.”
The machine can be used during play; there is no need to shut down the golf course as there would with a traditional aeration. “I’ve had a gentleman operate it during play,” Kimball says, “and as long as he’s keeping an eye out for play, he can run it.”
Kimball has been in the turf industry for 27 years and at Randolph for four. He is also responsible for two other golf courses In Tucson.
“I’ve seen a lot of things come and go,” he says. “I honestly struggle to think of a machine that I think has had such an incredible positive impact.
“The roots that I have now compared to four years ago, it’s night and day. Our greens are better than they have ever been.”