COURSE UPDATE

         The Green Department has been busy this week with the Memorial Tournament  behind us.  We have been constructing a 5000ft2 (approx size of #1 Green) Green's Nursery behind #8 Green that will be grassed early next week.  We will be utilizing the plugs we pull off the greens from the aerification process, so this nursery will be made up of the same grass we currently have on our greens.  We have also been repairing a few small irrigation leaks throughout the property.  We should have these repaired by the end of today.

         We will begin our Summer Aerification process on Sunday evening.  We will begin punching the Willow's Greens late Sunday afternoon.  For this reason the afternoon rotation for Sunday afternoon will remain the North Course from 11:00 through the remainder of the day.  Eighteen holes will be available all day.  We will begin aerifying and topdressing fairways on Monday.  This is our aggressive aerification of the year, when we punch the bigger holes.  The reason we do it in August is because the grass is actively growing and will recover much quicker than if we performed this in the Spring or Fall.

          It will take us approximately three to four days to complete the process.  During this time some holes may be closed to allow us to complete this process as quickly as possible so we can begin the recovery process.  We should also expect much slower green speeds during the next ten days due to the reduction in the frequency of mowing and the amount of sand that will be applied to the greens.  This will be our last aerifiction to the greens until early November.

We realize that aerification is never a popular procedure but it is a necessary one to promote strong healthy turf.  We thank you for your cooperation next week and hope to return the golf course to normal conditions as quickly as possible.

Thank you,
Greg Boring,
Golf Course Superintendent