Aerification Process

This is the Step by Step Process for the Greens:

                                                        1.

                        Deep Tine to a depth of at least 8 inches.

2.

Second the 648's pull a core at a depth of 1.5 inches

3. 

The crew pushes off the material 

4.

The green gets rolled 

5.

The Green receives amendments as per the soil tests

6.

We top dress to fill all holes with clean sand

7.

Drag in the sand to fill the holes

8.

Finished Product with all holes filled

9.

Water in!

This would conclude one green and we will continue this process 20 more times. Also the rough is being aerified and a picture follows. 

Rough 

Rough Cores

Aerification

     It has been a while since my last post and we are continuing to catch back up. Just a few updates: The fairway topdressing program has ended for the year and you will notice some areas with sand and others that have worked in really well. Thank you for allowing us to complete this and I do apologize for any inconvenience. Our next fairway maintenance program will be our deep tine aerification. What this entails is punching a hole to a depth of at least 6 inches. You will notice these holes that will not disturb your round and will heal very rapidly. What we are striving for with this program is to fracture the soil to decrease compaction and allow the water to move through the profile at an easier rate. Currently we are working in the bunkers to prepare them for the season such as checking depths to provide the proper amount of sand, sharping the edges and re-leveling any areas that have been built up through out the years. They will continue to be maintained as last year by providing a smooth surface with minimal hardness at the bottom. This will be a lengthy project but if the weather goes well, we would expect to be done in May.

Just a few reminders:
      Tee Aerification is scheduled on Monday April 12,
         Driving Range Tee will have a delayed opening at 3pm.
                      
      Green and Rough Aerification is scheduled for
         Monday April 19, The Course will be Closed on this Day.

As we proceed with these maintenance programs I will be continuously posting pictures of the whole process. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 301-762-0570 or
by email: phil.desbrow@lakewoodcc.org

Course Maintenance Update 3/24/2010

To say that we have a few projects going on is an understatement. We have started to mulch around the trees which you will notice on #18 and #1 and we anticipate to be finished in a few weeks. Our current major project has to deal with the on going puddle left of the #18 green. The cart path has a severe low in this area and to remedy this we are installing a drain basin to divert the water to drain down the path towards the tees with the help of our friendly gas pipeline employees. Also in this area we have relocated the Japanese Maple to its new location in front of the gold tee on #10.  Some outstanding drainage issues that we hope to complete are located in the areas of  #12 right of the green and #14 approach. Usually we have already started the bunker preparations for the up coming season but the plant for the sand has been down due the winter snows in West Virginia. I anticipate starting the work next week and will move as quickly as possible to edge and add sand to the appropriate depths.  The fairway topdressing is going very well, the holes that have been  completed are 11-18. You will notice slight differences as the sand works its way down and the grass begins to grow.


On a topic of course etiquette we have not been open very long and I have noticed that we are not repairing our ball marks. This time of the year it is extremely important because of how wet we tend to be. So please keep an eye out for yours and others that you may see.  Stay tuned for more enhancements.

Course Opening

This past weekend we have a received over 3" of rain, with minimal damaged to the golf course. We are currently working to get the golf course in a playable condition. The scheduled day to open is Thursday March 18th, please remember we are behind on our winter projects and I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.