Deep-tining Fairways

Recent budget cutbacks forced us to eliminate the previously scheduled core aeration on our fairways.  I anticipated that the sandy profile we've created over years and years of continuous topdressing would still allow them to drain well enough to avoid forming any standing water and that they would still remain relatively firm and fast.  Unfortunately, this is not the case and I've been quite concerned with what I'm seeing on our fairways recently.  Recent rains, some heavy and some not, are not penetrating our thatch layer as quickly as we'd like, which is resulting in standing water on many of our fairways.  Some standing water is forming in areas where we have never seen it form before.  I've also noticed an increased presence of dollar spot, a turf disease that like many fungal infections, thrives under cool and moist conditions.

Deep-tine aerator

That being said, we have struck a deal with our aeration contractor, FarmTek, to complete a deep-tine aeration on the fairways on one of our upcoming scheduled Maintenance Mornings.  Monday, October 17th, FarmTek will be bringing in 4 deep-tining tractors to complete the process well ahead of the first tee time at 11am.  The deep-tining process creates channels 10"-12" deep and 3/4" in diameter that will allow moisture to penetrate the thatch layer in our fairways and work its way into our extensive drainage system.  These channels will eliminate the majority of the surface water and will help the fairways continue to drain efficiently over the rainy winter months.  Here are some other benefits of deep tine aeration:

If the weather on October 17th is not suitable for completing the deep-tining, we will do so immediately as the conditions improve.  The good thing is that this process can be completed under less than ideal conditions, just not during torrential downpours on already saturated turf.