Hello GSVPOA Members,
Now that the weather is warming up, the Daffodils have started blooming and it won’t be long before we see new fawns walking around on wobbly legs. It is a wonderful time of year to be in the Appalachians. I’m not sure I have ever seen a prettier part of the country.
The membership seems to be coming out of the wood work to play a little golf. The golf courses have come through the winter in really good shape and the maintenance staff is gearing up for a really good golf season.
I know that you are never thrilled to arrive at the golf course, only to find out that the maintenance staff has just aerified greens. Our goal is to provide you with excellent playing conditions on a daily basis. However, we also need to provide an environmentally sustainable golf course so that we can enjoy those excellent playing conditions for years to come.
Aerating putting greens creates a short-term disruption to your game, but the long-term benefits greatly outweigh the inconvenience. Learning more about why we aerate putting greens can make it easier to be patient during the process. Here are 5 things from the USGA that every golfer should know about aeration:
1. We aerate to improve, not annoy – Putting greens receive more traffic that 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.
2. Scratch the thatch – 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 greens speeds and increases the risk of disease.
3. Timing is everything – Do you ever wonder why aeration is commonly performed when putting greens are playing their best? 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 risk of an invasion of weeds such as Poa Annua and could cause lasting damage.
4. Its not as bad as you think – It may seem like there are more holes than grass on the putting greens right after they’ve been aerated, but this is an illusion. Typically, aeration affects less than 10 percent of a putting surface.
5. Sand is part of the plan – A heavy application of topdressing following aeration may appear to make putting greens less playable. 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.
Stonehaven and Woodhaven will be closed for aerification as follows:
Stonehaven May 9-12 and August 22-25
Woodhaven May 3-6 and September 6-9
I hope that you have enjoyed the golf courses so far this season. It has been a pleasure to talk to those that I have encountered as I have been out and about on the courses. Many of you have taken the time to let the staff know how much you appreciate their hard work which goes a long way towards lifting their spirits and motivating them to continue to work hard for you the membership. Remember to give them a friendly wave as you go by where they are working.
Thank You,
Nathan Armstrong, Class A
Golf Course Superintendent
Glade Springs Village POA
