Course Update 9/12/20

Aerification season is underway and all 29 greens were DryJected this week.  You may be wondering why we don't DryJect more often and stop pulling cores.  The answer is that DryJect is just another "tool" we use to help manage the organic matter (thatch) in the greens.  The process injects sand or other porous material to dilute the thatch, but does not actually remove anything like traditional core aerification does.  We've found that DryJecting heals considerably faster compared to core aerification and is the best process for this time of year, while still accomplishing our goal of diluting the thatch.  Later this fall we plan to pull cores to physically remove the thatch and topdress to fill the holes.  The healing process in late fall is relatively slow, but open holes during the winter helps water drain from the putting surface, limiting the amount of ice buildup and potential for winter injury.

Click Here To Learn More About DryJect And How It Works

Core aerification of fairways is next on the schedule beginning Monday 9/21 thru Wednesday 9/23, with 9 holes closed each day.  Stay tuned for more information...

Here is the DryJect machine in action.  A little root zone amendment remains on the putting surface around each injection hole, but 95% is in the rootzone where it is most beneficial.

Once the putting surfaces dry out, they are brushed to work the extra material into the turf canopy then rolled to smooth out any tire tracks.  Rolling also helps to firm up the surface.

Here's a profile of the rootzone showing the injection column and depth of penetration.  We were getting 5"-6" deep on most of the greens.  By using high pressure water to create channels in the rootzone, the DryJect process can break thru the layers created by years of regular core aerification, which allows for better drainage and deeper root growth.

Here's the finished product after brushing and rolling.  Regular mowing has resumed as of today and all greens have been rolled 2x.  The weather forecast calls for warm days, cool nights, and plenty of sun in the near future so the greens should be fully recovered in a few days.