course conditions sell aeration program

Director of golf course operations Tom McCarthy says, "Cultural practices are just as important as fertility programs. They're the foundation of a well-conditioned course."

Fall 2004 - Director of golf course operations Tom McCarthy tried something new this fall when he aerated the greens at Inglewood Golf Club. He used 3/4-inch tines on the Kenmore, Washington course.

“That’s huge,” McCarthy says. “We have a lot of play in summer and mow our greens at 0.1 inch. With the summer heat and stress from play, we try to keep the greens pretty firm. But by September the wear and tear is starting to show. This aeration opens up the greens to get more air in the root zone. Bigger holes give us a good infiltration rate, so when it rains the water goes through the soil profile.”

Each nine is closed for one day to complete the process. Recovery time can be three to four weeks.

“Not many superintendents do this because of golfer complaints,” McCarthy says, “but I told the club this is what we have to do to get the conditions they want. It’s one of those tradeoffs.”

‘Pay me now, or pay me later’

McCarthy has been at Inglewood for six years. He explained to the board of trustees that if they wanted a better golf course they’d have to give him the authority to close the course when necessary. 

“It’s pay me now or pay me later,” he says. “Cultural practices such as aeration, topdressing and verticutting are critical for the long-term health of the turf. I’m not necessarily thinking about today when we aerify. Instead, I’m looking ahead to get through the winter and have a good start in spring.”

Ultimately, the quality of the golf course sells the aeration program.

“Superintendents have to put on a black hat every now and then,” McCarthy says. “If golfers want to enjoy the course yearround, they have to take their medicine. Cultural practices are just as important as fertility programs. They’re the foundation of a well-conditioned course.”

The education of boards, committees and members is ongoing. McCarthy uses a staffing schedule to break down every task and its frequency. For example, 8,068 man-hours will be required next year to maintain 125,000 square feet of greens; 3,888 man-hours for 180,000 square feet of tees and collars; 4,872 man-hours for 28 acres of fairways; and 5,966 man-hours for 35 acres of rough.

Specifically on greens, the staff requires 3,840 hours a year for walk-mowing; 320 hours for rolling; 1,680 hours to change and set cups; 288 hours for verticutting; 81 hours for topdressing; and 236 hours to repair ball marks. 

“We are a golf club,” McCarthy says, “and to compete with other facilities our golf course must be the top priority. As a result, maintenance is always at the forefront of decision-making. I develop a business plan and that’s what sells our programs. Having a plan and presenting it professionally gets respect and consideration.”

Aerate twice a year

Greens aeration at Inglewood is scheduled for April 15 and September 15, weather permitting.

“I don’t want to spread it out too far,” McCarthy says.

“Sometimes the golf calendar pushes it earlier in spring and later in fall, but then the fall recovery isn’t as good, and fall really sets us up for spring. In the Northwest we get a lot of rain, so when we aerify and get sand back in the holes it gives good infiltration rates through the greens. The surfaces stay relatively dry and firm. This equates to healthy turf and reduced disease pressure, so we don’t have to use as many chemicals. Aeration is a cultural practice that is very important.”

McCarthy doesn’t fertilize heavily. Ten days to one week before aeration, the staff puts down 3/4 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.

“This gets the greens growing so when we aerate they recover more quickly,” he says.

Next comes sand and calcium for the root zone. Ten days after aeration the staff applies another 3/4 pound of nitrogen.

“We want to regenerate the Poa annua leaf tissue because fall is a perfect time here for growing grass,” McCarthy says. “There is high light intensity during the day and cool evenings for optimum soil temperature. If we get too far into the fall, soil temperatures drop and light intensity decreases. That’s why I insist on these dates.” 

Fairway aeration is contracted so it can be completed in one day. About 800 tons of sand is used in fall.

“We try to extend the season for golf cars and give members good, firm playing conditions for as long as we can,” McCarthy says. “We don’t verticut much in winter and try to topdress greens and tees once a month. During the growing season we topdress every two to three weeks, depending on the golf schedule. We bring in dry sand because it spreads easily. It’s more expensive, but the quality is better and it works very well.”