| Yes, dear golfers, it’s that time of year again. The World English Dictionary defines aeration, in part, as: “to expose to the action or circulation of the air, so as to purify.” Doesn’t that sound nice? Don’t your greens need to be purified after another brutal, nasty, miserable, hot, dry, wet, hand watering summer? Be ready for all the questions and comments: “When will you be ‘air-eee-ating’ the greens this year?” “How long will the greens be ‘all torn up?” Or this one which I’ll always remember; “Does putting all that sand down change the elevation of the green?” A couple weeks ago we decided to go ahead and start on the tees because they wouldn’t really be any more messed up by aerating than they already were from the summer stress. Up at the Crown Isle Resort on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, they’re obviously doing a great job aerating, as evidenced by this youtube video posted in January of 2010. Can your greens do this? I’d be happy if I could simply find a drain line or clean out and hook up a blower to it! From the turf blog of Tom Margetts of Innovative Agronomics, a turf consulting firm in the greater Ontario area, a big HIGH FIVE for Superintendents who are performing, or preparing to perform aeration! Thanks Tom. Just once I wish we could get that kind of support from the Pro Shop! Check out his blog HERE. Once again our friends at PACE Turf have come to save the day! Personally I’ve never seen such a great presentation on the aerification process. Dr. Larry Stowell guides us through in a way that will convince even the most skeptical member can understand. Share it with the clubhouse if you’re able. HERE is the link. The PACE Turf website is definitely worth your time as well. Show your members or guests how well you know your stuff! Baffle them with your amazing golf knowledge to divert their complaints about bumpy putts during the healing process this fall. Question: You inadvertently move your ball while clearing a plug that has been produced through the aeration process, do you receive a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2b? Answer: Under USGA Rule 23-1, a player incurs no penalty if a ball on the putting green moves while he/she is in the process of removing a loose impediment. Rule 23-1 overrides Rule 18-2b in this case. |
