Hawk Greens Aeration

The annual Hawk Golf Course greens aeration program is scheduled for Monday, July 7th. The golf course will be closed for the day to provide Turf Care staff the time required to complete this essential procedure.

Greens Aeration Information:

Soil Testing:

• Greens are soil tested 1 month prior to the scheduled aeration to determine requirements for aeration. The soil test provides scientific information that helps to determine what type of aeration is best for our greens. The categories of the soil test include information such as:
• Compaction - How hard the green surface has become over the past calendar year
• Air porosity ratio - Grass needs a correct balance of air & water for drainage and root growth
• Water infiltration - How quick water is able to penetrate the green surface
• Water holding capacity - Too much leads to weak turf
• Organic matter percentage - "Sponginess" that leads to excessive ball marking & slow green speeds

Greens Aeration Process:

• Greens will be aerated with an 11mm diameter hollow tine
• Tines penetrate the surface of the green approximately 4"
• Approximately 3% of the green surface is affected by the holes
• Aeration cores are removed by staff using snow shovels
• Each green is topdressed with approximately 2 tonnes of sand to fill the aeration holes
• One of the most critical aspects of the process is to ensure all aeration holes are filled to the top with sand
• This is a very labour intensive process using brooms, drag mats and blowers
• When this process is completed to the highest standard, the greens will putt smooth even with aeration holes
• Dry conditions are essential for success
• Greens are fertilized 2 times the week prior to aeration and once immediately following aeration. These fertilizer applications maximize specific turf growth that will minimize the recovery process and the length of time the greens have holes in them
• Weather that provides good growing conditions has a significant impact on the turf recovery process, this is why greens are aerated mid-season

Fun Fact:

Putting green aeration is an essential but somewhat disruptive process that golfers are not normally fond of. The only people that dislike the greens aeration process more that golfers are Golf Superintendents and staff. Greens aeration is always a stressful, expensive (overtime), labour intensive process that usually ends up providing less that positive feedback from golfers.

With a well planned and executed process and a little luck from Mother Nature, the greens will be back in great shape within days.