Avondale's Greens During Transition

The "Green" Spots are Where We Recently Aerified 4's Green's Bad Area

Sometimes I get asked why we aerify and more over why we transition on the greens the way we do here at Avondale compared to other places.  It is a simple answer the addresses both questions - relieve compaction, and thanks to compaction.  The picture above shows the "green" dots where the aerifier pulled the compacted core and was filled with looser sand.  This allows air movement to the root zone thus allowing the plant to breath and thrive.

Some other golf course do not have the compaction issues that we have here at Avondale, thus it isn't as difficult to transition the greens.  We sadly have "heavy" soils with 40 years of overturned organic matter ... so we face those compaction issues.  The good news is that I know how to address those issues that use to kill Avondale's greens every summer before my arrival.


Back of 15's Green - Best It Has Looked Ever at this Time of Year

Last year the Green Committee, GM and the Board allowed the maintenance staff to repair the greens of 11 - 13, and the back of 15 early in May.  This year, that decision has resulted in the best that those greens have looked since converting them to bermudagrass.  Are they flawless, no ... but they have very dynamic differences compared to last year.

12's Green - WOW, 100 days of Growth Last Year Has Positive Results This Year

The differences in year's past especially on 12's green are amazing.  There has been discussion in the Green Committee and Board level about re-constructing 12's green correctly with a potential cost of $15 - 25K that may not be necessary for quite some time.  This is great news.


5's Fairway - Starting Transition

Transition was started somewhat earlier this year thanks to 60 - 70 mph winds at the end of April and start of May, but will really start in full force very soon.  We are handling these transition issues as soon as they come.

12's Fairway

Lastly, today we are tilling the greenside bunkers and with the projects mostly done we will go to a two week rotation as per request of the Green Committee.  Additionally, hopefully starting tomorrow we will start the triplexing of the greens along with double cutting them.  This will not speed them up since we are in heavy fertilization mode to fill them in, but it will help smooth them out.