Aerification & Other Cultural Practices

By Golf Superintendent Ben Larsen

Question: “Why are you aerating?  The greens are perfect.”
Answer: “The greens are perfect because we aerate.”

Playing conditions are of the utmost importance, and aeration is needed to keep turf healthy and playing well.  Aerification, verticutting and topdressing can be disruptive, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-lived disruption.  These cultural practices allow the greens to putt smoother, drain better and stay firmer.

This Monday, September 18th, the course will be closed for our semi-annual verticutting, topdressing and aerating of the greens.  After the greens are completed and throughout the remainder of the season, we will verticut, topdress and aerify tees; plus, verticut and aerify fairways.

This time of year, it’s all about turf roots and drainage.  Getting oxygen deep into the soil profile through punching holes and adding sand is the best way to promote a healthy and functional root system.  The nonexistence of any major turf issues and great playing conditions on our greens, tees, and fairways this past summer is a tribute to the success of our aerification and verticutting programs.

Pictured below is a broad overview of what aeration, verticutting and topdressing does to the soil profile.