Source: The Daily Record (Baltimore, Md.)
Now that the weather has finally caught up a little bit to the calendar and it's more spring-like, it clears the way for golfers around the area to hit the links in earnest.
I'm sure you will notice -- if you haven't already -- that the break in the weather also has prompted area golf courses to punch thousands of tiny holes in the greens and fairways of your favorite golf course. If your course hasn't completed the process of aerification, rest assured, they'll be doing it soon.
This biannual process frustrates many golfers. From their perspective, the course looks perfectly healthy and not in need of repair or improvement.
The truth is, aerification is a short-term disruption that has definite long-term benefits for the golf course. Turf on golf courses is stressed from the constant pounding from golfers, carts and mowers that clip the fairways short and the greens even shorter at only 5/32 of an inch or lower. To keep the course in top condition, a deep and healthy root system is absolutely necessary.
To maintain a healthy root system, a good supply of oxygen for respiration is essential to support the grass growing above it. Oxygen for the complex root system is found in small pockets of air trapped between soil particles. Several outside factors tend to lessen or eliminate these air pockets.
The biggest factor in destroying the air pockets is compaction caused by traffic from golfers' feet and mowing equipment. When the soil gets compacted or too dense, the pockets of oxygen on which the roots rely are crushed, leaving very little air in the soil and making it difficult for water to penetrate. The roots are left gasping for air and eventually wither and die, and the whole plant soon follows.
The process of aerification creates more air space in the soil and promotes deeper rooting to keep the grass healthy and durable. The process itself involves removing plugs of grass and soil from the ground and filling them with a special type of sand. The sand contains several components that allow the soil to maintain air pockets better, improve water penetration and promote healthy root growth. The sand is brushed into the holes, which usually heal within several days.
Without aerification, greens, tees and fairways eventually will brown out and die. It is a necessary practice integral to maintaining a top-notch golf facility.
The Baltimore County public golf courses are always striving to improve and perfect their aerification techniques to minimize the disruption to the golfing public. Most of our courses are done with the process until the fall. The day we start aerification and for several days after, we are sure to offer special discounts for golfers who muster through the slight inconvenience of playing during that time period.
Joe Rahnis is general manager of The Woodlands and Diamond Ridge golf courses, two of the Baltimore County Revenue Authority's six courses along with Greystone, Rocky Point, Gunpowder Falls and Longview. For tee times or more information on these outstanding public golf facilities, call (410) 887-GOLF or check out the Web site www.baltimoregolfing.com.