Aerification is Complete

Aerification Holes Allow Air to the Roots

We are ahead of schedule and have completed the aerification process ahead of our normal plan.  Thankfully this is the last aerification for this year and now we will be focusing on getting the golf course ready for the upcoming overseeding. 

Monogo Valley Fire

Silver Lake Fire

Near Morongo Casino

Last week we had to close the golf course twice and even send the crew home thanks to a large fire near Morongo Casino.  As I was driving by we snapped these pictures and as you can see the smoke was heading towards the Coachella Valley.  This is the second time this summer the ash and smoke have rained down on Avondale.

Day Three of Aerification

Dragging in Topdressing in the Early Morning

 On Tuesday we finished up the aerification of the greens and drug in the topdress sand.  On the greens finished on Monday we started the "excess" sand removal.

Aerifying 1's Fairway

Yesterday, we also started the aerification of the tees and fairways.  We were able to finish all of the front nine tees, the roughs of 2 - 4, the fairways of on 1 - 5, and the practice floor, tee and rough.  This means we have finally finished the roughs on Monday.  On Tuesday, we finished the front nine fairways, and completed 18 and 17 on the back nine.  We will be starting in the morning again and our hope is to be completely done by Friday.

Dragging with Coca Mat & Green Brush on 10's Green

As part of the dragging process, two team members drag the greens at the same time; one using a courser brush and the other using the "coca" mat.  They have to drag the greens several times and in several directions to work the sand into the aerification holes.

All the Sand that Remains .. Cut It Close

In our efforts to save funds we ordered the minimum amount of sand to complete the job.  As you can see by the above picture we just barely made it, but we made it.   

We finished the greens fertilizations, and sprayed Monument on select areas of nutsedge.  So if you see this sedge dying it is on purpose.  This year the summer weeds have been the worst I have seen in quite some time.  Between the higher humidity and especially the foregoing of the Barricade application in February the weeds have gone on a rampage.

Aerification -- Day Two

Starting Up Aerification in the Dark

We start up in the dark to take full advantage of the cooler night time temperatures when we start aerifying the greens.

Heading to the Next Green

Adrian Topdresses 13's Green

Yesterday, things went smoother than the normal first day of aerification and today the greens should be completed.

Main Line Break, Fairway Heads & Aerification

$'s Nursery Aerification

Working the Little PG

 Topdressing Large CG

 

Aerification for August has begun and the outlying greens such as the nursery and chipping greens have been completed and will be ready if there is necessary repairs.

 Water Rolling Off Instead of Being Absorbed

These aerifications are a necessary evil to address the issues of water penetration that we already are seeing on several greens.  The roughs will start tomorrow.

Head Damaged by Aerifier

If you wonder why we take the edging of the heads down to the dirt the reason is simple ... so we do not damage them during the aerification.  Every year we lose head to growth and cause hundreds of dollars in damage.

Aerification Again??

Yes, this is the last in the series of aerifications for the health of the golf course for today and tomorrow.

Working Repairs on 15's Surround

Removed Sod During Last Green Adjustments Is Already Taking Hold

Today we are only aerifying the "repair" greens (both chipping greens, small putting green, and the nursery on 4) so they will be recovered in case we have to repair the course greens during the aerification.

Repairs on the greens, approaches and surrounds continues and will continue into next week.  Speaking of next week, the roughs aerification will start again next week as well and soon this aerification and repairs will be completely done.

Roliing, Rolling, Rolling

Oh My Gosh -- Twinkies Are Back!!

The best news ever ... Hostess Twinkies are back!!!


Ernie Tapia Taking the New Roller to the Greens

Recently, we finally replaced our 20+ year old roller and yesterday we finally got time to test it out.  The results were fantastic.  Not only is it extremely fast, easy to use, but it also made the greens roll so nicely. 

Ernie Rolling 15's Green

This rolling will be performed once per week along with the weekly light topdressing.  By the way we are lightly topdressing today.

16's Approach Before Sod



16's Approach in Work

16's Approach Complete

 

Transition is not only ugly for the greens, it also impacts the approaches and surrounds of the greens.  We are addressing these areas this week and the next two weeks until we can fully recover these areas.  The good news is that we are using sod from the range thus other than labor is no fiscal impact to Avondale.